It may be time to switch to soy. Or almond. Or oat.
Drinking regular cow’s milk could increase your risk of developing ischemic heart disease (IHD), a condition that can lead to heart attacks, according to a new study published in BMC Medicine on Friday.
Researchers found that risk also went up the more milk was drunk — but only about half the population has to worry about it.
A team at Uppsala University in Sweden determined that women’s chance of developing heart disease was greater if they consumed dairy, but men’s heart health wasn’t impacted the same way.
Looking at data for about 60,000 women and 40,000 men, they found that women who drank 400 ml (13.53 oz) of milk a day had a 5% increase in the risk of having heat disease. To put that in perspective, a grande latte from Starbucks in made with 12 oz of milk.
Upping that intake to 600 ml (20.29 oz) had a 12% increase in risk, while downing 800 ml (27.05 oz) had a 21% risk increase.
The researchers believe that the lactose in milk may trigger inflammation, which can damage the heart.
People with ischemic heart disease (also called coronary artery disease) have a narrowing of the heart arteries, which restricts blood flow and oxygen to the heart. It can cause chest pain and, in severe cases, heart attack.
“A healthy diet is essential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases,” said study author Professor Karl Michaëlsson.
“Our analysis supports an association between milk intake higher than 300 ml per day and higher rates of ischaemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction [heart attack] specifically, in women, but not in men.”
“The higher risk in women was evident irrespective of the fat content of the milk. Replacing non-fermented milk with moderate fermented milk intake could lower the risks,” Michaëlsson added.
Consumption of milk in the US has been declining since the 1940s. According to USDA data, Americans drank an average of just 0.33 cups (2.64 ounces) per day in 2017 to 2018.
