It’s pretty rare to find someone who doesn’t like cheese. But is the addictive dairy product good for your health? A group of physicians says no, and especially not for women, as cheese can lead to increased risk of developing breast cancer.
These doctors, who are members of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine have put in a request with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are asking that the FDA require a warning label on all cheese products connecting them to an increased risk of breast cancer.
If approved, the label would read: “Dairy cheese contains reproductive hormones that may increase breast cancer mortality risk.”
This group of doctors has been advocating for preventative medicine. Their request was only submitted earlier in the month. If the FDA approves it, all cheese manufacturers would be required to include the label on its dairy cheese products.
Is cheese really connected to breast cancer?
Studies have linked dairy products to breast cancer. Since dairy contains estrogen from cows, women who consume it on a regular basis can have an increased risk of developing the cancer. Dairy products are very concentrated, which means that the hormones in them are also concentrated.
A study performed in 2013 showed that women who were diagnosed with breast cancer did eat at least one serving of high fat dairy each day. This factor led to a 49% higher risk of death from the cancer. A recent study from 2017 also discovered similar results.
Breast cancer is unfortunately one of the most common diseases in the United States. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 41,487 women died of the disease in 2016.
October is the dedicated “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” and many companies take the time to show their support for those fighting the disease. They do so by making donations and placing pink ribbons on their products to spread awareness.
While spreading awareness of the disease is good, it’s not enough, and it may not be doing much. In fact, that’s what the doctors from the Physicians Committee believe. According to them, dairy manufacturers like Kraft could utilize the breast cancer warning instead of including a pink ribbon on their products. In their minds, the warning would do much more to prevent the disease than the pink ribbon.
Their overall goal is that women know eating cheese could put them at risk of dying from breast cancer.
I always wonder what the cause is when meat and dairy are blamed. Most feed contains high amounts of soy read up on soy. Corn and soy are usually the first 2 ingredients. Are they GMO? Sprayed? (and usually with you-know-what). We need to see a study of grass fed, organic products to see the whole picture. When my friend had breast cancer the Doctors told her to cut out soy. Just sayin’ that a lot of conclusions are drawn, but the research is not always complete.
Ps I have multiple family members who are intolerant of soy. Therefore chickens that are fed the regular feeds lay eggs that are higher in soy and causes issues for them.