Drinking milk and restricting fruits and vegetables are both associated with increased risk for premature death, according to a Swedish study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
The study of more than 106,000 men and women found the following:
More milk, fewer vegetables decreased life expectancy. Women who drank three or more glasses of milk and ate fewer than two fruits or vegetables per day were three times more likely to die than those who drank fewer than two glasses of milk and ate at least five fruits and vegetables per day.
More milk, equal vegetables decreased life expectancy. Women who drank three glasses of milk and ate at least five fruits and vegetables per day still had a 60 percent higher risk of early death compared to women who consumed the same amount of fruits and vegetables but drank little or no milk.
Decreased risk for men compared to women. Men who drank three or more glasses of milk per day were 30 percent more likely to die than men who did not drink milk.
Previous studies have shown increased association between milk and premature death and increased bone fracture risk, but this is the first study to show that drinking milk harms women more than men. The authors speculate that women have more estrogen, which changes the way their bodies react to the milk sugar galactose.
Milk May Increase Risk
Milk is a high-sugar drink. We know that galactose on its own can cause the same oxidative damage and chronic inflammation that is associated with diabetes, heart attacks, certain cancers, and bone loss.
