There has been a 75% increase in the "twinning" rate since 1980 and a new study published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine is saying that it has to do with dairy consumption. In a study that compared omnivores, lacto-vegetarians and vegans, omnivores were the most likely to have twins. The scientists attributed this to the fact that they had much higher levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in their bloodstream, and that those levels, which were also lowest in the vegan women, directly corresponded to the likelihood of having twins.
Common sense should tell you that humans have been consuming animal products - including dairy - for thousands of years. A change in the birthrate over the last two decades is indicative of something that happened in the last several decades, not with dairy in general. And, in fact, the physician in charge of the study noted that the increase "may also be a consequence of the introduction of growth-hormone treatment of cows to enhance their milk and beef production." This seems like a logical explanation, since it offers a reason why dairy may now be having an effect on the birth rate of twins.
Doctors in the study suggested that women consider non-animal protein sources during their pregnancies to help decrease the risks associated with multiple births. It sounds like they should be recommending that women increase their non-animal diet before becoming pregnant, as well.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-24-2006 @ 3:56AM
Jeff said...
It's always seemed a little odd to me that humans drink cow milk. I've heard that humans are the only animals that regularly consume milk after being weaned; and, we are the only animals that consume the milk of another animal.
I don't know how true this is, and I've yet to see this information cited or disputed. Off the top of my head, I believe ants actually colonize aphids for their milk.
But you gotta admit, it makes you go "Hmm..." Maybe drinking cow milk isn't such a good idea, especially since it's full of unnatural hormones? I'm undecided.
I've recently been enjoying vanilla vitasoy soy milk, which is enriched with calcium and other good stuff. It sometimes tastes better than cow milk in cereal, which I probably consume 2-3 times a day. In particular, vanilla soy milk goes really well with Trader Joe's shredded frosted mini wheats, and with Total. Raisin brain and cheerios are better with cow milk in my book.
And there's nothing like cow milk to chase chocolate chip cookies and brownies... here, soy milk just doesn't cut the muster.
-Jeff
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6-09-2006 @ 11:11AM
Spoonman said...
If the PETA whackos are to be believed (and, I ain't sayin' I do), they suggest that all of the cow's milk is responsible for a lot of our cancer issues.
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