![]() ![]() It is what is known as a ‘hypothyroid’ state, which leads to weight gain and mood swings. Persistently low levels of iodine lead to depletion of this hormone and the slowing down of vital bodily functions, including burning energy. Iodine is needed to make thyroxine, a hormone released by the thyroid gland that controls how effective your body is at converting food into energy, also known as metabolic rate. A 2011 study of British teenage girls found nearly 70 per cent had iodine levels well below the acceptable minimum. Sadly, young women tend to have the lowest levels – and this is the same demographic most likely to shun animal foods in favour of plant-based alternatives. Given the fact that we are one of the most iodine-deficient countries in the world, many of us need every scrap we can get. But cow’s milk remains by far the main source of iodine in the average British diet. You can also get your iodine ‘fix’ from eating seaweed and it’s abundant in shellfish and other white fish. Studies have shown ‘milk’ derived from plants contains just two per cent of the amount found in cow’s milk. One small glass of cow’s milk (full-fat, semi-skimmed or skimmed) contains almost 70 per cent of our recommended daily intake of iodine – essential for brain development in babies and regulating mood and metabolism in adults. Almond milk won’t protect your brainĬow’s milk contains lots of essential nutrients that nut or oat milks don’t high levels of protein and Vitamin B12, for instance.Įveryone knows dairy is an excellent, natural source of calcium, essential for healthy bones, but not many are aware of another, equally important nutrient, called iodine. After weighing up the evidence, I’ve recently switched to the full-fat variety again – and after reading this you may want to do the same. And, rather ironically, opting for skinny versions could even make you fatter. If you are thinking of switching away from dairy, for health reasons, then there are a few things to know, because unless you really understand what it is you are doing, switching from dairy could actually be bad for your bones, heart and brain. So I understand why the alternative milk market is booming. However, the vast majority have minor symptoms and even those with severe lactose intolerance can usually tolerate a tiny splash in their tea.īut for some people, even the odd builder’s tea can cause crippling stomach cramps, not to mention embarrassing wind. For these people, guzzling milk can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as stomach irritation, gas and bloating. About 60 per cent of the global population lack the enzyme lactase that helps us digest the sugars in cow’s milk, called lactose. Cow’s milk makes her uncomfortable and bloated, so in a bid to reduce her symptoms, she made the switch to almond milk. My 18-year-old daughter Kate is one of them. Instead, they opt for plant-based alternatives such as soya, almond or coconut ‘milk’. A recent survey found a third of people under 35 are now considering cutting back on dairy, citing health or moral reasons. Me included.Īs a result, Britons are drinking a third less milk than they were 30 years ago, and consumption rates continue to fall. Then, in the 1970s, we were warned saturated fats found in dairy would block our arteries and make us fat.Ĭoncerned about our health, many made the switch to foul-tasting skimmed milk, or gave up cow’s milk altogether. When I was a child almost everyone drank full fat milk. ![]()
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