Is dairy healthy for humans?

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This is a much bigger question than lactose intolerance. Don’t presume that the ability to digest lactose with ease also means that you’re meant to consume tons of dairy. And don’t presume dairy is either “good” or “bad”.

Nobody knows all the effects of dairy, either positive or negative. Dairy is linked to acne, and has mixed evidence[1] related to heart disease, but effects seem to vary widely.

We do know that humans are unique in drinking milk past childhood, and also in drinking the milk of other animals routinely. This arose due to physiological benefits, such as the ability of dairy products to provide water, protein, vitamins, and calcium in times of low food availability. While dairy products remain an excellent source of all of the above, they’re currently far from being the only dependable source of these nutrients. Thus, it might be prudent to test whether you feel better with or without dairy, if you suspect that one or more dairy products may not agree with you.

References
1.^Alexander DD, Bylsma LC, Vargas AJ, Cohen SS, Doucette A, Mohamed M, Irvin SR, Miller PE, Watson H, Fryzek JPDairy consumption and CVD: a systematic review and meta-analysisBr J Nutr.(2016 Feb 28)