Just a heads up to my FTM brothers. Something I felt I need to pass on concerning hormones in dairy. Now most of you may be familiar with the growth hormone labeled Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), also known as Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST). It is a estrogen based growth hormone administered to dairy cattle in order to mass produce milk. Marketed to farmers under the brand name Posilac by Monsanto, and marketed starting in 1993. Milk companies are now required by law to label their milk containers if they are rBST-rBGH free, but did you know that there are six different kinds of steroid hormones that are currently approved by FDA for use in food production in the US that DO NOT have to carry labels?
These include estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, trenbolone acetate, and melengestrol acetate. Estradiol and progesterone are natural female sex hormones (mainly used in dairy production); testosterone is the natural male sex hormone (mainly used in beef production); zeranol, trenbolone acetate and melengesterol acetate are synthetic growth promoters (mainly used in beef production). Melengestrol acetate is also available in a form that can be added to animal feed. Estradiol, progesterone and testosterone are sex hormones that are made naturally by animals. No regulatory monitoring of these hormones is possible, since it is not possible to separate or tell the difference between the hormones used for treatment from those made by the animal's own body.
The FDA has also been notoriously lax in dealing with the misuse of antibiotics and other drugs in the dairy industry. It is estimated that there are more than 80 different drugs currently used by milk producers. Several of these drugs are passed on to people through milk, as well as through meat from slaughtered dairy cows and calves. Bet you didn't realize that 1/3 of the hamburger meat that you buy is made from what the dairy industry refers to as "spent or culled dairy cows". These are cows that are no longer capable of milk production. Considering that the average life span of a cow is 25-30 years, and most dairy cows in America are "spent" in just 4-5 years, imagine what sort of stressful, unhealthy and taxing short life they must lead? In addition cows are kept pregnant every year, as to provide the next round of future dairy cows, as well as veal (little male dairy cattle = an unfortunate by-product of the dairy industry). So, in addition to the already generous amounts of synthetic female hormones that the dairy industry is providing us with, they are also making sure to extract the milk from re-currently pregnant animals. Simply put....pregnancy hormones such as ESTROGEN and PROLACTIN are circulating at high levels throughout the animals body. YUM! A word to you folks that shop at Whole Foods to buy ORGANIC milk free of hormones, this includes you too. Organic cows are KEPT pregnant as well. OH BOY!
Monsanto and the FDA claim that rBST-rBGH is a protein hormone and is digested into smaller fragments (peptides and amino acids) when eaten. The rBGH hormone used on dairy cattle is effective in promoting growth in cows, but does not work that way in humans. They claim the same argument concerning any other "natural" hormones found in milk. Be sure to tell yourself this the next time you walk by a 10 year old girl with full breasts and a menstrual period, or heck a 10 year old BOY with boobs for that matter! Wonder why breast cancer, prostate cancer and male impotence are on the rise?
So, the claim that hormones contained in milk do not survive digestion has been incorrectly applied. Science has ignored a general principle and universal wisdom applied to all mammals. Milk IS a hormonal delivery system. Mechanisms in milk insure that lactoferrins, immunoglobulins and protien hormones do indeed survive digestive processes, and excert biological effects. Mankind might very well wake up in the 21st century and respond to the GOT MILK query with this conclusion: GOT CANCER?
Myself, I avoid ALL dairy. When I started testosterone I was dairy free, and noticed as I progressed through my transition that my boobs where starting to de-flate and sag a bit. Which was great for me, easier to smash them down into my binder! About 3-4 months into my transition, I decided to addition dairy back into my diet, feeling that I may be missing some important amino acids and other minerals. Stupid decision considering that I was raised on a ranch, and know first hand what goes on with cattle production. I bought organic thinking this would be a "SAFE" choice. Within a month of adding dairy back into my diet, my boobs started to "fill out" again, and I actually had tender breasts! Correlating the dairy addition, I swipe it right back out of my diet ASAP! Within a few days, and I mean literally a few days, my boobs started to de-swell a bit, and I also had some menstrual spotting! I have been on testosterone for 6 months now, and my periods ended within the first couple months of me taking it. My testosterone levels last checked were within the normal range, and my free testosterone was well within the normal range as well....so no aromatizing going on here....this was brought on purely by DAIRY! Don't try to convince me that my estrogen levels were not affected!
This being said, I would suggest for all transmen to drop dairy! If you feel you must have some sort of dairy in your life, please limit your intake of it, and buy organic, at least you will limit the amount of female hormones that you are exposed. Look around, there are lots of dairy replacements made from rice, coconut and soy to fulfill your dairy wants. Be aware that soy is a phyto-estrogen, meaning it mimics estrogen, it will effect you, but the effects of it are short lived. Might not want to eat a big Chinese lunch with loads of soy the same day as a "big date", or you will spend time stuffing your boobs back into your binder!
As for you MTF you might in fact like the way dairy "perks" you up, as long as you are prepared to deal with all of the other CRAP that's in the milk (not very healthy). Hope this reaches everyone...be sure to pass it along!
Cheers, August
