FOR JIM, A DOUBTING THOMAS

DAIRY AND DISEASE

ACNE: Dr. William Danby who is an adjunct professor at Dartmouth Medical School has shown that dairy products negatively impact acne. The acne is likely mediated through a chemical known as IGF-1. This is a growth factor that exists in dairy products and has been implicated in acne development and cancer.

CANCER: My work outside the office has centered on how the high levels of estrogens and IGF-1 contained in dairy products are producing the epidemic of breast and prostate cancer. I have had men with early prostate cancer and enlarged prostates that have reversed their disease on total dairy avoidance. Fibrocystic disease of the breast has disappeared in most women on a dairy free diet. The cancer development is likely caused by an imbalance in the ratio of good to bad estrogens. Bad estrogens are produced in response to the large amount of estrogens ingested in dairy. Good estrogens can be produced by daily ingestion of broccoli or whole soy products. Kudzu ingestion can have a similar impact.

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES: These diseases include psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases in which the body “attacks self”. There is evidence that patients with these diseases have up to 10 to 16 times higher levels of the bad estrogens compared to individuals who do not have these diseases.

A dairy free diet includes eating nothing made from cows. This would include beef, milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and butter. Anything containing these products should be avoided. In addition one should become a label reader and avoid whey and casein which are condensed dairy proteins which are used as “food glues.”

For additional information go to the web at: www.askdrbibb.com

Vitamin D3: Vitamin D3 is the active form of vitamin D. The deficiency of vitamin D3 puts a person at risk for osteoporosis and increases the risk for cancer development. The dose for women after menopause who are not in sunlight is 2000 units per day or higher. If you are in sunlight more than 15-20 minutes per day this is probably adequate but you might want to have your level of the vitamin checked. This vitamin can be purchased without a prescription. African-American persons or those with naturally dark skin may be at particular risk of low levels of D3 because their dark skin prevents absorption of the sunlight that generates this vitamin. Dr. Bibb or your health care provider can be consulted regarding a prescription to have your levels of vitamin checked.

ALTERNATIVES TO MILK: Soy Silk milk ( do not take if on Temoxifen or other estrogen blocking agents used to treat breast cancer), Rice Dream and Almond or Coconut milk.