Dairy – Bovine and Otherwise

Evolutionary Context of Dairy Consumption

Wrangham, R. W. (2009). Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human. Basic Books.
Discusses the late adoption of dairy in human diets compared to long-standing reliance on plant-based foods.

Gerbault, P., Liebert, A., Itan, Y., et al. (2011). “Evolution of lactase persistence: An example of human niche construction.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 366(1566), 863–877.
Examines the genetic evolution of lactase persistence, highlighting its relationship to dairy farming as a culturally driven nutritional adaptation.

Cordain, L., Eaton, S. B., Sebastian, A., et al. (2005). “Origins and evolution of the Western diet: Health implications for the 21st century.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(2), 341–354.
Discusses how dairy consumption represents an evolutionary mismatch, highlighting its introduction into human diets as a factor contributing to chronic health issues in modern populations.

Species-Specific Nutrition and Lactose Intolerance

Campbell, T. C. & Campbell, T. M. (2006). The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted. BenBella Books.
Highlights casein’s association with chronic diseases and critiques dairy’s role in dietary guidelines.

Mattar, R., de Campos Mazo, D. F., & Carrilho, F. J. (2012). “Lactose intolerance: Diagnosis, genetic, and clinical factors.” Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 5, 113–121.
Explores lactose intolerance, detailing its genetic basis, diagnostic methods, and clinical implications, highlighting lactose digestion as an evolutionary norm rather than an anomaly.

Goldman, A. S. (2000). “Modulation of the gastrointestinal tract of infants by human milk: Interfaces and interactions. An evolutionary perspective.” Journal of Nutrition, 130(2), 426S–431S.
Discusses the species-specific adaptations of human breast milk, highlighting critical differences from bovine milk and their implications for infant digestion, immunity, and long-term health.

Dairy and Chronic Diseases

Ganmaa, D., & Sato, A. (2005). “The possible role of female sex hormones in milk from pregnant cows in the development of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers.” International Journal of Cancer, 118(3), 450–451.
Discusses how hormones present in dairy products can disrupt the human endocrine system, potentially elevating the risk of hormone-related cancers.

Papadimitriou, N., Markozannes, G., Kanellopoulou, A., et al. (2021). “An umbrella review of the evidence associating diet and cancer risk at 11 anatomical sites.” Nature Communications, 12, 4579.
Systematically reviews associations between dietary patterns, including dairy consumption, and cancer risk across multiple anatomical sites, highlighting links with hormone-sensitive cancers.

Casein and Its Health Risks

Ding, M., Li, J., Qi, L., et al. (2019). “Associations of dairy intake with risk of mortality in women and men: Three prospective cohort studies.” The BMJ, 367, l6204.
Examines the relationship between dairy consumption and mortality risk, highlighting how high dairy intake may influence chronic disease outcomes and overall health.

Heaney, R. P., & Layman, D. K. (2008). “Amount and type of protein influences bone health.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(5), 1567S–1570S.
Discusses how dietary proteins, particularly casein from dairy sources, affect bone health through their impact on metabolic acid load and calcium balance.

Willett, W. & Ludwig, D. S. (2020). “Milk and health.” The New England Journal of Medicine.
Critiques the historical narrative of dairy as an essential food and discusses its impact on modern health.

Calcium Misconceptions

Lanou, A. J., Berkow, S. E., & Barnard, N. D. (2005). “Calcium, dairy products, and bone health in children and young adults: A reevaluation of the evidence.” Pediatrics, 115(3), 736–743.
Critically evaluates evidence linking dairy consumption to calcium intake and bone health, challenging the conventional belief that dairy is essential for optimal skeletal development.

Lanou, A. J. & Castleman, M. (2009). Building Bone Vitality: A Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis. McGraw Hill Professional.
Advocates for plant-based calcium sources and highlights the risks of dairy consumption.

Hormonal Disruption and Fertility Issues

Ganmaa, D., & Sato, A. (2005). “The possible role of female sex hormones in milk from pregnant cows in the development of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.” International Journal of Cancer, 118(3), 450–451.
Explores how hormonal constituents in dairy products can disrupt human endocrine balance, potentially leading to hormonal imbalances and fertility challenges.

Melnik, B. C. (2015). “Milk: An epigenetic inducer of mTORC1 signalling.” Journal of Translational Medicine, 13, 206.
Examines how hormones present in dairy products activate metabolic signalling pathways such as mTORC1, contributing to increased risk for chronic metabolic diseases.

Galactose and Metabolic Burden

Jensen, R. G. (1995). Handbook of Milk Composition. Academic Press.
Explores galactose metabolism and its contribution to oxidative stress and aging.

Melnik, B. C. (2015). “Milk: An epigenetic inducer of mTORC1 signalling.” Journal of Translational Medicine, 13, 206.
Discusses how galactose from dairy contributes to metabolic strain, activating pathways like mTORC1, potentially increasing the risk of chronic metabolic diseases.

Plant-Based Alternatives to Dairy

Willett, W. C., & Ludwig, D. S. (2020). “Milk and health.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 382(7), 644–654.
Examines the health implications of dairy consumption, advocating plant-based alternatives as healthier and more environmentally sustainable dietary choices.

Conlon, M. A., & Bird, A. R. (2015). “The impact of diet and lifestyle on gut microbiota and human health.” Nutrients, 7(1), 17–44.
Discusses how plant-based dietary patterns beneficially influence gut microbiota, reducing inflammation and enhancing digestive and systemic health.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

Steinfeld, H., Gerber, P., Wassenaar, T., et al. (2006). Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Highlights the significant environmental impacts of dairy production, advocating for more sustainable dietary alternatives, including plant-based options.

Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). “Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers.” Science, 360(6392), 987–992.
Highlights the substantial ecological benefits associated with reducing dairy consumption, advocating dietary shifts towards plant-based alternatives to lower environmental burdens.

Springmann, M., Clark, M., Mason-D’Croz, D., et al. (2018). “Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits.” Nature, 562(7728), 519–525.
Evaluates the environmental sustainability challenges posed by dairy production, emphasising the benefits of dietary shifts toward plant-based alternatives.