The dairy-free movement is officially mainstream! A CSIRO study revealed that millions of Australians are choosing kinder, animal-free milk, cheese and yoghurt.
Everywhere you look these days, you will see evidence of changing times … cafes throughout Australia offer a variety of plant-based milks, Coles and Woolworths have their own ever-growing range of meat-free and dairy-free delights, and Australia welcomed its first all-vegan pub to Sydney!
And it’s all because people are choosing kinder, healthier options. The CSIRO has said that 1 in 6 Aussies are steering clear of dairy, with the majority making this choice because they simply feel better without it. Anyone who has suffered bloating, gas or congestion from dairy would understand why. But then it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many people don’t feel their best after dairy when you consider that cow’s milk was never designed for humans.
The purpose of cow's milk is to turn a 65 pound calf into a 400 pound cow as rapidly as possible. Cow's milk is baby calf growth fluid. It's for baby calves. Are you a baby calf? If not, then don't drink baby calf growth fluid. There's nothing in it people need.
With over 3 million Australians opting for dairy-free food, a huge market has opened up for delicious dairy-free products. As a result, it seems almost daily that we hear of a new milk, cheese, yoghurt, or ice cream product exploding into this space. Food retailers are embracing the movement too with dairy-free offerings for pizza, burritos, plant-based burgers, doughnuts, gelato and other dessert options popping up at rapid speed.
It’s never been easier to try dairy-free. And regardless of why you make the choice, the impacts are astronomical — for yourself, for animals and for the planet.
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Pictured above is little Jordy. Jordy’s mother’s milk was intended to help him grow strong. But the more milk Jordy drinks, the less the dairy industry can sell to humans. So, in Australia and around the world, millions of calves are taken from their mothers and sent to slaughter, at only days old. Fortunately, Jordy was rescued by our friends at Brightside Farm Sanctuary. Choosing dairy-free spares the lives of more calves like Jordy.
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Animal agriculture is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change globally. The biggest percentage of the sector’s emissions is produced by cows raised for meat and dairy. Eating dairy-free is a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint and help protect our planet.
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Dairy consumption has been linked to increased risk of some types of cancer — particularly prostate, breast and ovarian cancer. One study found that in people under the age of 65, a diet high in animal protein (including dairy) could make you four times more likely to die of cancer or diabetes. In contrast, plant-based foods are generally high in protective anti-oxidants, fibre and phytochemicals.
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A cow in the dairy industry will be impregnated and, once she has given birth, have her newborn baby taken from her within a few short days. This will happen every year, over and over. After around 4 to 6 years, her body usually weakens, she may become lame or ill, and she will be sent to the slaughterhouse to be killed for cheap ‘beef’.
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A major Oxford University study found that a glass of cow’s milk takes 22 times more water to produce than a glass of soy milk. Even almond milk production uses less water than dairy milk. And when it comes to meat, the University of Michigan found that plant-based burgers used 99% less water to produce than their beef counterpart.
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There is no doubt that calcium is needed for healthy bones, but recent science raises some questions about the long-held belief that dairy is the best source of calcium for humans. A 2014 study published in the British Medical Journal found that women who consumed three or more glasses of milk per day were 60% more likely to suffer a hip fracture and 16% more likely to suffer any bone fracture. (Additionally, women with a high dairy intake also had an increased risk of dying from heart disease and cancer.)
The good news is that there’s plenty of calcium in plant-based foods. In fact, kale has more calcium per gram than milk does. Other dark, leafy greens are also great sources of calcium, as is broccoli. Many nuts, seeds and legumes contain calcium and a lot of soy milks are calcium-fortified.
There is a compelling argument that today’s pasteurized milk, in all its guises, has virtually no redeeming features at all, and serves only to cause disease and poor health. By simply switching from dairy to non-dairy milk we will make a dramatic and long-lasting improvement to our health.
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If you’ve been thinking about joining the movement of people going dairy-free, there’s never been a better time than now. Get started with our deliciously dairy-free shopping list. Or find out more about how your choices can have a positive impact for animals, the planet and yourself by ordering your free Veg Starter Kit today.
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