Why I Like Milk
Written by Mark Riebel 

For most of us who want to optimize our health and performance, what to eat and drink is a major concern of ours. And as those of you familiar with our community know, CrossFitters are big proponents of the Zone and Paleo diets, or at least some combination thereof. I just finished reading The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain, Ph.D. and am in the first few weeks of experimenting with it myself. But, as with all diets, there are a few things I don’t agree with, and in this case it’s the Paleo Diet’s exclusion of all dairy and dairy-derived products.

Cordain bases this assertion on the fact that our Paleolithic ancestors never consumed milk past the infant stage, and most assuredly never created their own cheese or other dairy products. He also notes that milk contains significant amounts of saturated fat, which by conventional wisdom is thought to increase one’s risk of heart disease (I say ‘conventional’ because in the six years since Cordain wrote his first book, this link has come under scrutiny, but that’s another post in itself). Others dislike milk because of allergies or lactose intolerance, caused by a reduction in the body’s production of lactase, the enzyme required for breakdown of lactose, the sugar in milk.

I am not a nutritionist, nor do I believe I am more knowledgeable than Cordain. However, I and many others believe that milk has far greater benefits to health that outweigh any possible side effects, and should be included in one’s diet. First of all, milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium, both incredibly important for active people. Second, for those of you Zoners, milk is a perfect 1-block food, which conveniently comes with varying amounts of fat for however much you include in your diet. Milk is also very convenient. A bottle of milk from the store is very portable and saves you from having to do any Zone math when you’re in a hurry. Finally, milk is a great post-workout recovery food. It contains ample carbs to replace your spent glycogen levels, the aforementioned protein, and is easy to consume. I think a lot of you can attest to not wanting to eat a meal for quite some time following a beast of a WOD, and delaying post-workout nutrition can have a significant effect on your recovery.

If you spend even a short amount of time researching milk consumption on your own, you’ll find thousands of voices on both sides of the fence. I am definitely one who will keep sporting his milk moustache.