Children who drink more milk do not necessarily develop healthier bones, researchers said on Monday in a report that stresses exercise and modest consumption of calciumrich (含钙丰富的) foods such as tofu and broccoli (花椰菜)．
The report drew its conclusions from previously published studies and was written by researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which advocates a strict vegetarian diet. “Under scientific study, the support for the milk myth is defeated. This analysis of 58 published studies shows that the evidence on which U. S. milk intake recommendations are based is scant.” said study author Dr. Amy Lanou in a statement.
The U. S. government has gradually increased recommendations for daily calcium intake, largely from milk products. But the Physicians Committee's report said increasing consumption of milk products was not necessarily the best way to provide the necessary calcium intake of at least 400 milligrams per day. Other ways to get the absorbable calcium found in one cup of cow's milk include a cup of orange juice, two packages of instant oats (燕麦), two thirds cup of tofu, or 12/3 cups of broccoli, the report said. And it also pointed out that milk products provide 18 percent of the total fat energy and 25 percent of the total fat intake in the diets of American children who are developing increasing rates of obesity.
Frank Greer, who specializes in children's illnesses at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, said the ideal way to achieve the goal of healthy bones is to make sure children exercise and consume up to 1,300 milligrams a day of calcium.
