Think before you drink

A group of concerned consumers poured out this glassful of warning as far back as 1995: A genetically engineered hormone, called recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), has been injected into dairy cows, thus increasing the concentration of IGF-1 in cow’s milk and humans’ risk of acquiring breast and colon cancers.

The topic of many a heated debate across America, rBGH is manufactured by mega-chemical corporation Monsanto Co. based in St. Louis. According to Ben Davis, who spilled all this hidden info about milk (which a caring Dr. Rebecca Singson, ob-gyne at Makati Medical Center and Asian Hospital and Medical Center, shared with us): "At the time of approval, rBGH (brand name Posilac) was heralded by many dairy executives as a boon to the industry; some boasted it would increase milk production in cows by five to 15 percent. But from the outset, consumer and farm advocates were concerned about how the product would affect family farms and what it would do to the quality of milk. Independent scientists criticized FDA for ignoring substantial scientific evidence associating increased human consumption of insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), which increases in milk from rBGH-injected cows, with an increased risk of breast and colon cancers."

For some basic info: IGF-1 is a hormone that appears naturally in both humans and cows in identical chemical composition. This hormone is what regulates cell growth – it causes cells to divide, particularly in children. Research shows that rBGH injected into dairy cows substantially increases the concentration of IGF-1 in cow’s milk. FDA scientists have admitted that rBGH-tainted milk has higher levels of IGF-1. Another manufacturer of rBGH, Eli Lilly & Co., has noted a tenfold increase in IGF-1 levels. Thus, what unsettles the viscera is this question: Will an increase of IGF-1 genetically modified milk cause increased cell division in humans, which in turn could accelerate tumor growth?

There’s growing disturbing evidence that the IGF-1 in rBGH milk affects the human body differently from non-hormonal milk.

And contrary to all that hype about IGF-1, the sad news is it’s not destroyed by pasteurization. Neither does it break down during digestion. Even rBGH manufacturer Monsanto admits that this hormone is readily absorbed into the intestinal wall ... and into the bloodstream, according to another research, where it can affect other hormones. A recent study links unusual increase in IGF-1 to increased malignancy of human breast cancer cells and their ability to spread to distant organs. IGF-1 has likewise been linked to colon cancer.

Particularly susceptible to hormonal influences are the breast cells of fetuses and infants, according to a British medical journal, who may increase their future breast cancer risks. Such concerns are not new. As far back as 1989, in a letter to the FDA, Dr. Samuel Epstein warned that IGF-1 could cause premature growth stimulation (breast enlargement) in infants and young children, and breast cancer in adult females."

"Haven’t you noticed that our kids today develop breasts at a young age, well before puberty – and even boys have breasts?" Dr. Singson points out.

So, once more with much more feeling: Breast(milk) is best. The recently concluded Nutrition Month 2003 sought to drive home the benefits of breastfeeding, to wit: Breastmilk is all the food and drink the baby needs from birth up to six months old. It has all the essential nutrients to help the baby grow; is easily digested and absorbed. Colostrum (the thick, yellowish substancefrom the breast produced in the first few days after birth) contains antibodies that protect against infections, allergies and diseases. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (Waba) says that breastfed infants are 15 times less likely to be hospitalized than formula-fed babies, and less likely to die before their third birthday. More, breastmilk has been shown to enhance brain development – according to Waba, seven- and eight-year-old children who were breastfed as infants had an average IQ that was 10 points higher than that of their bottle-fed counterparts.

Add to all that the fact that breastmilk is economical (no need to buy infant formula, feeding bottles, etc.), time-saving (no need to sterilize and wash bottles), ready to drink, kid-safe, mother-friendly (breastfeeding lowers risk of breast and ovarian cancers) and environment-friendly (no disposable bottles, etc. to dispose of).

And best of all, breastmilk strengthens the emotional bond between baby and mother. Bless the breasts and the children!

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We can go on and on about the benefits of breastfeeding except for space constraints. For more info, call the National Nutrition Council at 844-7971, 818-7398 or 816-4211; fax no. 816-4280; e-mail nncelsa@i-next.net.