A Doctor Challenges a Common Argument Against Adult Milk Consumption

The argument that adults should not drink milk is often based on a comparison with other animals. In a video discussed by the newspaper AS, Argentine doctor Sebastián La Rosa said that this comparison cannot establish whether dairy is beneficial or harmful. He distinguished between a food’s perceived naturalness and evidence about its effects.

La Rosa used products such as matcha and sauces to illustrate that human eating habits are not necessarily shared by other species. He said that a statement may sound logical without demonstrating either a health advantage or a health risk. His comments did not treat all dairy products as equivalent: the relevant factors include the product, the amount consumed and how an individual’s body responds.

Human use of dairy foods extends back thousands of years. A 2022 study in Nature examined about 7,000 preserved fat residues from pottery found at more than 550 archaeological sites in Europe. The researchers reconstructed patterns of milk use over roughly 9,000 years and reported that dairy consumption was widespread from the Neolithic period, although it differed across regions and time periods.

Genetic variation also helps explain why adults differ in their ability to digest lactose. Some populations have a higher frequency of variants associated with continued lactose digestion after childhood, while reduced lactase activity is common in others. This variation provides context for differences between people, but does not establish a single dietary rule for all adults.

Lactose is a sugar found naturally in milk and dairy products. The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that about 68% of the world’s population has some degree of lactose malabsorption. Malabsorption does not always produce symptoms. Lactose intolerance can involve gas, abdominal bloating and diarrhoea after consumption, while milk allergy is an immune-system response and is a separate condition.

NIDDK dietary guidance states that many people with lactose intolerance can consume some lactose, with individual limits varying. Small portions taken with meals may be tolerated better by some people; yoghurt and hard cheeses generally contain less lactose, and lactose-free products are another option. People who reduce or stop eating dairy may obtain calcium from fortified foods, tofu and sardines with bones. The appropriate choices depend on the nutrient content of the products and each person’s dietary requirements.