What is milk?

(One of the ten most popular industries in the dairy market around the world) From the beginning, all milks
contain carbohydrates, proteins and fats as well as vitamins, minerals and water. Also, some products like cheese,
yogurt, butter and other derivatives are obtained. Milk is characterized by their opaque white color, sweet taste
and slightly acidic pH, close to neutrality, that’s why it is the ideal food in all mammals after birth.

What are vegetable milks?

(Obtained from a well know webpage of definitions: WORDREFERENCE) drinks obtained from a vegetable source;
With an appearance similar to milk of animal origin but without being a dairy product, they are prepared by
cereals, nuts, and seeds mixed with water; and are sweetened as the consumer prefers.

Properties of cow’s milk: (National Center for Biotechnology Information which advances science and health by
providing access to biomedical and genomic information)

 Milk naturally contains 9 essential nutrients, but the most important are:

o Calcium
99% of the calcium in the human body is found in the bones and teeth; it is essential for the
development, growth, and maintenance of bone
o Phosphorus
It´s common function in human´s body are to filter out waste in our kidneys, manage how our
body stores and uses energy, produce DNA and RNA and facilitate nerve conduction
o Vitamin A
It´s essential for many processes in your body, including maintaining healthy vision, ensuring the
normal function of your immune system and organs, and reduce your risks of acne
o Vitamin D
It´s function in our body is to regulate insulin levels and aid diabetes management, support lung
function and cardiovascular health and Influences in the expression of genes involved in cancer
development.
o Vitamin B12
Our body needs but cannot produce, and help us to boost our energy, improve our memory,
helping prevent heart disease

“Soy milk”: Negative effects on men´s body (Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences of Oregon
State University)

 Soy isoflavones are chemical compounds derived from heterocyclic phenols, which have a closed structure
very similar to the structure of estrogens and it is found only in plants, because they use this compounds
to defend against external invaders such as fungi, worms and bacteria.

 This could be especially useful for menopausal women, although their effects are still being studied and
there are still very few medical orders on this issue.

 In the case of men, there are studies that determine that isoflavones do not alter their function depending
on sex; that is to say, the cells of the body of the men interpret that they have more estrogen.

1. (First study) It was performed by researchers at Harvard University and the Massachusetts General
Hospital. In it, the scientists described the relationship between isoflavones and the male body:
"There is an inverse relationship between soy intake and sperm concentration." This questions the
contributions to male fertility of soybeans"
 2. (Second study) Other scientists at Harvard University focused on "hypogonadism and erectile
dysfunction associated with the consumption of soy products." The symptoms found were "loss of
libido and erectile dysfunction." Also, they discovered that testosterone levels were below normal
and advised to avoid the consumption of soy in its most common form: soy milk

It is beneficial in humans and mammals of any ages (European nutritionists from a National Geographic article)

 In cow's milk the happiness hormone: serotonin is founded, explains dairy businessman Josef Stemmer, So
the higher level of serotonin we have in our body, we feel more calm and relax, which makes it easier to
fall asleep. This is because milk contains the main element for the production of serotonin, an amino acid
protein called tryptophan, which the body itself cannot produce. Something that many older adults need
to suffer from insomnia or imbalances in their sleep schedule.

References:
Retrieved on August 18, 2019 from: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/soy-
isoflavones#food-sources

Retrieved on August 18, 2019 from: https://www.ndtv.com/food/6-incredible-benefits-of-cow-milk-that-you-may-

not-have-known-1820729

Retrieved on August 18, 2019 from: https://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/seven-reasons-to-choose-cows-

milk/

Retrieved on August 18, 2019 from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-a-benefits#section3

Retrieved on August 18, 2019 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/guide/chemicals-bioassays/

Retrieved on August 18, 2019 from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248958.php