PERSUASIVE ESSAY ON MILK (a sample student essay)

Got milk?

You most probably do.

The reason for this is because milk is regarded as the most nourishing of all food and is

the favorite drink of most people throughout the entire world (Hutjens, 2011, p. 545). Fresh

cows’ milk, in particular, has gained the popularity and approval of majority of society.

According to Lee and Wei (2002), “milk is a familiar one of a kind beverage. And humans are in

the odd position of being the only animals that consume milk after the weaning period.

Moreover, humans do not drink human milk, but drink the milk of other species and do so

commonly throughout their adult lives” (¶ 2). Although all true, this little detail has not stopped

humans from continuing their milk consumption. Since the beginning of the discovery of the so-

called health benefits of fresh cow’s milk, this beverage has become an essential addition to

almost every household refrigerator. All the benefits and positive information concerning milk

have grown to be accepted as general truths and are rarely questioned. However, with the

advancements of science and the discovery of new information regarding milk, negative reports

about this beverage have become widespread in a span of merely a few years. With the rise of

these researches and reports, it can now be argued that fresh cows’ milk is, in fact, harmful to the

health of an individual.

It has been argued that milk freshly squeezed out of a cow’s udder is completely natural,

therefore safe for consumption. Although, when looked into, a single source supporting this

claim cannot be seen. Instead, various articles and studies have proven otherwise. As stated by

Kradijan (2005) 50,000 pounds of milk are produced through the means of using drugs,
antibiotics, hormones, specialized feedings and breeding on cows as opposed to fifty years ago

where only 2,000 pounds of milk per year were produced (¶ 24). Based on the research of

Goldschmidt (2011) strong antibiotics are given to cows used for milking. In fact, most are also

injected with rBGH, a genetically engineered form of bovine growth hormone used in order to

artificially increase milk production. Blood levels of the insulin-growth factor 1 (IGF-1) increase

in those who drink rBGH containing milk. IGF-1, when in high levels, is linked to several

cancers (¶ 23). Also, Lee and Wei state that the same hormone causes udder inflammation which

can contaminate the milk with secreted pus (¶ 12). Even if the milk was free from these

antibiotics, it contains cows’ blood. One may be shocked to learn that the USDA allows the

selling of one to one and a half million white blood cells per millimeter in milk, which is about

1/30 of an ounce (Kradijan, 2005, ¶ 26). These articles are enough to prove that cows’ milk is

neither fresh, nor natural, contrary to the advertisements.

It is the contention of Teagasc Dairy Research Centre (2011) that “the beneficial

health nutrients of milk are mandatory for the human body and helps in prevention of chronic

ailments” (¶ 2). Milk consumption, so this argument goes, is very essential to maintain good

health (¶ 5). However, as Kjadiran states, “milk is not just milk. The milk of every species of

mammal is unique and specifically tailored to the requirements of that animal” (¶ 17). Although

it is asserted by the Teagasc Dairy Products Research Centre that cows’ milk is a source of

nutrients such as vitamins A and B, calcium, carbohydrate, phosphorus, magnesium, protein,

zinc, and riboflavin, the research of Kjadiran concedes to that fact, but shows that cows’ milk is

lacking in terms of the amount of nutrients the human body needs. Indeed, cow’s milk is not

designed for humans because it lacks essential fatty acids needed by humans compared to the

fatty acids content in a human mother’s milk. Furthermore, whole milk has high cholesterol
content and is discouraged by doctors to those with a high amount of cholesterol in their

bloodstream (Hutjens, 2011, p. 546). Lastly, as confirmed by Lee and Wei, one 240 mL of milk

contains 35% calcium but is relatively calcium-poor compared to the amount calcium needed by

humans in order to fully develop a strong skeletal structure (¶ 8). This merely shows that there is,

in fact, a mismatch between the nutrients contained in cows’ milk and the needed supply by the

human body.

The last misconception concerning cows’ milk is its compatibility with the human body

in terms of nutrients absorption. Milk-lovers such as Marshall (2001) wish to have us believe that

all the nutrients present in cows’ milk will be absorbed by the human body without any conflict

in the digestive system whatsoever (p. 423). However, as Goldschmidt explains, “it is very

important to keep in mind that mother’s milk is excellent nourishment for human babies but its

composition is very different from cows’ milk” (¶ 12). One reason why cows’ milk is not

compatible with the human body’s digestive system is because it weakens the pancreas.

According to Kradijan, lactose or sugar are disaccharides which are too large to break down and

be absorbed in the bloodstream without being broken down first; a process which needs many

bodily enzymes (¶ 87). Based on the same study, newborns are equipped with an enzymatic

mechanism to metabolize lactose but this ability often disappears by age 4 to 5 (¶ 86). Now that

the enzymatic mechanism has faded, the human pancreas is no longer able to deliver the

enzymes needed to break down the milk because the human pancreas is not designed to break

down milk from other species. People who have the pancreas unable to break down the milk are

known as lactose intolerant. Lactose intolerance can be developed at any time of your life when

the pancreas is overworked because of milk consumption, because it produces more enzymes in

order to try to break down the milk (Winslow, 2008, ¶ 3). Furthermore, calcium absorption is
interfered by excessive calcium amounts. Cows’ milk has a positive potential renal acid load

(PRAL), a damaging acid to the kidneys and urinary tract. Due to the fact that the human body is

built for survival, PRAL then triggers a reaction to protect the kidneys and urinary tract from the

acidic protein. Bones contain the most readily available source of acid neutralizer; therefore bone

density is commonly sacrificed in these protective reactions (Goldschmidt, 2011, ¶ 19-20). Given

these points, it can be said that cows’ milk is damaging to the body because it is not compatible

with the digestive tract, and as a result weakens the pancreas and depletes the bones of calcium.

With the idea of milk inflated as a nearly-perfect substance, one can expect it to be

difficult to openly explain otherwise. However, with the increasing number of researches and

studies debunking the milk myth, many are realizing the harms milk poses to ones health. Milk,

as presented, is neither fresh, nor natural, does not meet the nutrients requirement of humans, and

weakens the body due to the fact that it is incompatible with the digestive system. Though most

may be surprised to discover that milk causes more harm than good to a person’s health, what

else can one expect from a secreted substance of another animal that was never meant for our

consumption?
References:

Goldschmidt, V. (2011). Debunking the milk myth: why milk is bad for you and your bones.
Osteoporosis Nutrition. Retrieved on November 12, 2012 from http://saveourbones.
com/osteoporosis-milk-myth/

Hutjens, M. (2011) Milk. The world book encyclopedia. Ohio: RR Donnelley Publication House.

Kradijan, R. (2005). The milk letter: A message to all my patients. Not Milk Org. Retrieved on
November 12, 2012 from notmilk.com/kradijan.html

Lee, J. & Wei, R. (2002). Milk, doing your body good. Journal of Young Investigators, 6.
Retrieved on November 12, 2012 from www.jyi.org/volume6/issue3/features/

Marshall, R. (2001). Milk. Grolier International Encyclopedia. USA: Grolier International Inc.

Teagasc Dairy Products Research Centre (2011). Health Benefits of Milk. Organic Facts.
Retrieved on November 12, 2012 from www.organicfacts.nect/health-benefits/animal-
product/health-benefits-of-milk.html

Winslow, L. (2008). 6 reasons to stop drinking milk today. Reality of Nature. Retrieved on
November 12, 2012 from: www.realityofnature.com/eating-habits/6-reasons-to-stop-
drinking-milk-today/