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Are dairy products safe?

Page last modified on: October 1, 2008
Question from Devon: Are dairy products safe?
Answers —David Grotto, R.D., L.D.: “Safe” is an interesting way of asking. It's somewhat of a mixed bag when it comes to fighting cancer. About dairy products, there was an interested study in The Lancet that showed that premenopausal women who had a small increase in insulin growth factor (IGF1) had up to 7 times the breast cancer risk of women with lower levels. The reason I bring that up is there was a study of dairy benefits showing insulin growth factor can possibly increase breast cancer. The casein in dairy can increase IGF.

There are some wonderful aspects of dairy we applaud—calcium is necessary to fight osteoporosis, so it's about calcium balance. We also know that dairy contains CLA, conjugated linoleic acid, which is a good transfat that may fight breast cancer, and whey protein which may have profound benefits. (By the way, the “runny” part of cottage cheese is whey and the chunky part is the “curds.”) But because of the IGF, we don't promote dairy for people with breast cancer.
Penny Block, M.A.: IGF1 is not a chemical that's added by the dairy industry. It's a component of cow's milk, but it can contribute to the growth of breast cancer cells.

On Wednesday, July 20, 2005, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Buying Healthy Food and Drink.  Penny B. Block, M.A., David W. Grotto, R.D., L.D., and moderator Judith Sachs answered your questions about finding, buying, and preparing the healthiest food and drink for people with breast cancer and their families.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Penny Block, M.A. is the co-founder and executive director of the Block Center and is a leader in designing and implementing complementary care in a medical setting.

David Grotto, R.D., L.D. is a registered dietician and has served as the director of nutrition education at the Block Center for the past 10 years overseeing all nutrition services provided at the Center.

Judith SachsJudith Sachs is a health educator, writer, speaker, and former member of the Breastcancer.org editorial team.

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