NAYS TO MAYO

The Mayo Clinic Health Newsletter has added an anti-soy agenda to their
strong pro-milk position. Here is the most recent example of their
(im)propaganda. Note the final sentence of their column:
_______________________________________________________________
Liz from Minnesota Asks the Mayo Dietitian:

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/mayo/10/04/calcium.soymilk/index.html

Q. I've recently heard that calcium that is added to soymilk might not
be absorbed as well as the calcium found in milk. I switched to soymilk
after hearing that soy has many health benefits, including reducing risk
for heart disease and reducing hot flashes due to menopause. Is it true
and should I switch back to milk?

A. According to researchers at CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY in Omaha, Neb., the
amount of calcium absorbed from soymilk is about 25 percent less than
that from cows' milk.

Is this significant? Possibly. Calcium is a mineral that is important
for strong teeth and bones and for muscle and nerve function.

The CREIGHTON research indicates that 500 milligrams of calcium is
needed in a serving of soymilk for it to be comparable to the more
absorbable calcium in an equal amount of cows' milk.

Most nutrition professionals recommend 2 to 3 daily servings of cows'
milk, or foods made from milk.
_________________________________________________________________

WHO IS THE "EXPERT FROM CREIGHTON?"

If you were to call the dairy industry toll-free number (1-800-WHY-MILK)
and leave your name and address, you would be sent their brochure which
contains "expert opinions." The National Fluid Milk Producers marketing
brochure was "developed with the help of a variety of experts,
including top chefs, registered dietitians, leading physicians and
scientists." The back cover lists an impressive scientific advisory
panel of doctors and nutritionists. One of those doctors is:

Robert P. Heaney, M.D.

Dr. Heaney is also listed as a calcium expert and Professor of Medicine
at CREIGHTON University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska.

The milk processors tell us that Robert P. Heaney, M.D., is in the
select group of experts whose advice one should follow. Although Dr.
Heaney must have, at one time, believed that milk provided the best form
of dietary calcium, he no longer believes what the brochure represents.
Heaney recently was asked whether milk is the best form of calcium, and
replied, "That is not the case."

This milk expert has accepted the evidence published in the June, 1995
issue of the American College of Nutrition. That paper reveals that
people absorb only 25 percent of calcium in milk while absorbing 42
percent of the calcium in apple juice.

HOW MUCH CACIUM CAN BE ABSORBED?

The Mayo Disease Letter ignores the fact that calcium cannot be absorbed
without magnesium. Their unnamed expert from CREIGHTON actually
established the 1:1 proportion.

There are 119 milligrams of calcium in a 100 gram portion of whole milk,
but only 13 milligrams of calcium. The lowest common denominator is 13,
which means that only 13 milligrams of calcium is absorbed.

There are 19 milligrams of magnesium in soy milk, more than cows milk.
However, there are only 4 milligrams of calcium in soy. Therefore, one
must not expect to get a lot of calcium from unfortified soy. There are
better calcium/magnesium sources.

EFFICIENT SOURCE OF CALCIUM

Dark green leafy vegetables include calcium and magnesium in more
absorbable percentages. For example, a 100 gram portion of kale
contains more than 2 1/2 times as much magnesium (34 mg) and
thirteen percent more calcium (135 mg). The amount of calcium absorbed
from kale (remember the 1:1 proportion) is 34 milligrams, or nearly
triple that of milk (13.44 mg).

THE CREIGHTON CONSPIRACY

I recently wrote a column about a the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

http://www.notmilk.com/deb/052399.txt

This organization has deep connections to the dairy industry and Bozell,
the public relations firm of the dairy industry. Last year, this
phony organization raised over $9 million dollars, including nearly
$800,000 in federally funded grants. Only $145,000 was spent on actual
research. That's less than two pennies out of every dollar.

Their agenda is to promote milk, and the CREIGHTON RESEARCHER (Robert
Heaney) is on their Board of Directors.

Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com