"Is dairy good or bad for you?" Post that question to social media and you'll find so much debate about this food group, that you might mistake it for a political campaign.



On the pro-dairy side, you'll see answers such as:



* "I've been drinking a gallon of milk a day since I was a little kid."* "It's one of the food groups."* "My dietitian told me to eat it/drink it."* "I need it for strong bones."



On the anti-dairy side, you'll see people respond with answers like:



* "It causes digestive problems."* "Dairy causes cancer."* "Humans aren't cows and therefore shouldn't consume cow's milk."* "It's not fair to the cows."* "It's an animal product and animal products are bad for you."



Ask them how they came to their conclusions and you'll find most people don't really know why they believe what they believe. Maybe a friend told them something. Perhaps they read an alaramist's blog post. Maybe they saw a biased advertisement.



Like many of the polarizing topics in nutrition, the answers lie in the middle. There are actually few topics where you can generalize across the population...eliminating gluten, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding BPA being part of that very short list.



In this article, I'll outline the most common concerns and exaggerations related to dairy consumption. "Dairy" is a broad category of food as well. Where it's appropriate, I've differentiated between milk, cheese, whey protein, and fermented dairy.



If you're looking for a specific topic, click on one of the shortcuts below.



Article Shortcuts* 4 Reasons Dairy Is Good For You* 1. Muscle Growth and Improved Body Composition* 2. Heart Health* 3. Convenience* 4. Enhanced Immune Function* 8 Reasons Dairy Might Not Be Good For You* 1. Lactose Intolerance* 2. Biogenic Amines* 3. A1 Casein* 4. Hormone Imbalance* 5. Digestive Problems* 6. Arthritis* 7. Sinus Congestion* 8. Skin* 3 Myths About Dairy And Health* Myth 1: Dairy Causes Cancer* Myth 2: Dairy Enhances Bone Health* Myth 3: Dairy Causes Diabetes And Obesity* Summary



4 Reasons Dairy Is Good For You



I'll start by explaining why dairy is good for you, provided you can eat or drink it. Then, I'll get into the reasons why it's not for everyone.



1. Muscle Growth and Improved Body Composition



Muscle growth or maintenance is important at any age. From a toddler developing strength and coordination so he can walk without falling over, to an elderly adult, trying to maintain strength and coordination, so he can walk without falling over, and all of the quality-of-life between those two stages of life, the more muscle you have (naturally), the better you'll function.



That's why I weave this statement into as many articles as I can...