Panel 5 - Milk and dairy in human nutrition Humans are the only
free living animals that consume the milk of other species, and
do so even beyond weaning. Three quarters of adults in the world
are lactose intolerant, that is, lack the enzyme (lactase)
needed to break down the sugar found in milk (lactose); this
makes them unable to digest milk properly and leads to more or
less serious digestive disorders. The nutritional profile of
milk is similar to that of meat. Both foods have similar amounts
of saturated fat and protein. Like meat, milk completely lacks
the fiber and hundreds of phytochemicals which are contained in
plant-based foods, and which have been found to be protective
against degenerative diseases such as coronary heart disease and
cancers. [Goodland2001] The production of meat and the
production of milk are strongly linked; one can be called a by-
product of the other. The effects on health of an increased
consumption of milk and dairy products are similar to those of
an increased consumption of