regarding whole milk... It turns out that the fat is where the hormones
hang out. I read an interesting article - I wish I could remember where
- that compared hormone levels in children who drink milk from
"traditional" cows (my terminology) with those who drink milk from
"modern" cows. Traditional cows are defined to be those who are milked
only after producing a calf, and then stop being milked when their calf
weans, and then are milked again when they have another calf. Modern
cows are those who have one calf and then are milked continuously
thereafter, and are the norm on modern American "factory" farms.

Anyway, the kids who drank whole milk from modern cows had much higher
hormone levels (I think they were measuring estrogen) than kids in other
groups. The study was a preliminary one and was conducted on children
in, perhaps Tibet? The researcher involved was very eager to return to
conduct further studies to get at what was really going on, since many
variables were NOT controlled for in the preliminary one.

If you want to look the article up, I'd guess I read it in either The
New Yorker or else the New York Times Sunday magazine. It was
interesting.

--Beth Kevles
-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

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