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Milk may cause breast cancer
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Women who drink more than 200 ml of milk daily can be considered to be at risk of developing breast cancer. This information was announced by scientists from Loma Linda University Health in California (United States).
According to the recommendations of nutritionists from different countries, milk is considered completely safe for health: it is allowed to consume it optimally about three glasses a day. But Professor Gary E. Fraser conducted a study in which he discovered that drinking milk even in smaller quantities can cause the development of breast cancer.
During the experiment, specialists analyzed the diet of more than 50,000 American women who had no problems with their mammary glands at the time of the study. All participating women filled out special questionnaires in which they indicated how often they drank milk, whether they had a hereditary predisposition to developing oncological diseases. Among other questions, the following were indicated: the degree of physical activity, medication intake (including hormonal ones), alcohol consumption, reproductive and gynecological anamnesis.
In total, the study was conducted over eight years, after which the specialists drew some conclusions. Among the participants of the control group, over 1,000 cases of breast cancer were recorded over eight years. After an additional assessment of the results, the scientists concluded that all the detected cases were associated with regular milk consumption. Moreover, it was enough to drink up to 100 ml of the product for the risk of developing a malignant process to increase by 30%.
Drinking 200 ml per day increases the risk by 50%, and drinking 400-600 ml increases the risk of developing cancer by 75%.
Experts have not noticed a connection between the development of tumors and the consumption of yogurt, cheese or soy milk.
Experts believe that the connection may be due to the presence of certain hormones in milk. It has previously been proven that dairy products and other protein-rich animal foods lead to an increase in the insulin-like growth factor-1 in the bloodstream. This factor is associated with the development of some types of cancer.
Dairy products do contain many useful substances. But do we know everything about them? Perhaps some effects of milk are not so useful?
Professor Fraser advises that if possible, it is better to replace cow's milk with soya milk.