Mother to two wonderful children, Dubai based Vineeta Punjabi shares how she decided not to give her children dairy and the effects thereof

My daughter was about 9 months old and my son was 4 years old when I decided to remove dairy products (milk, butter, ghee, paneer, etc.) from their diet. This was after I came across SHARAN and Dr. Nandita’s work.

I went through the works of other plant-based doctors – Dr. Neal Barnard and Dr. Michael Greger, and understood the connection between dairy and lifestyle diseases, including cancer. My sister was very young when she passed away due to cancer, and once I learnt that dairy is linked to it, there was no looking back. I learnt how milk is a cocktail of pus, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and urea. It is a known fact that countries with the highest per capita milk consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Hormones in milk can promote breast and prostate cancers. It was also an easy decision to make once I learnt how cruel the dairy industry is. I just didn’t want to support a product that separated mothers from their babies. Shifting to a plant-based lifestyle raised concerns about calcium, protein, and overall growth. I spent many hours researching on the topic and found that a plant-based lifestyle is the healthiest way to live, even for infants. Dr. Benjamin Spock, one of the most esteemed paediatricians of all time, who lived till the age of ninety-four, recommended that children be raised on a plant-based diet with no exposure to meat or dairy products. “Children who grow up getting their nutrition from plant foods have a tremendous health advantage and are less likely to develop health problems as the years go by.”

My children are thriving on the plant-based lifestyle. They have reached their milestones; Their immunity is good (we barely visit the doctor). If they get a cold or flu, within a few days they recover, without the need of medicines or antibiotics. Both are active in sports and academics. I am so grateful to have been able to provide them a healthy foundation.

Dates, Nuts And Seeds Shake

This is a great replacement for your child’s glass of milk.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp sesame seeds – raw, organic, unpolished
• 6 – 8 almonds
• 6 – 8 dates, pitted
• 1 cardamom /⅛ tsp cinnamon /4 – 5 strands of saffron (for flavour)
• ¾ cup drinking water

Method

In a small blender, blend sesame seeds, almonds and the flavouring together, until it forms a powder. Then, add the dates and blend until you obtain a thick paste-like consistency. Add some water if required, to make it smoother. Add more water to obtain the consistency of a shake. Transfer to a tall glass and serve.

Serves 1

Food For The Mind

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Milk for Kids?

Yes…when their own mother produces it. No…when the cow produces it.

Milk is food for growth, which every mammal produces for her young. When it’s not needed, nature automatically stops its production. Humans are the only species that consume another mammal’s milk lifelong. Cows are manipulated in various ways and treated as mere milk machines. They are artificially inseminated; their babies are taken away from them so all their milk can be sold, and they are often injected with hormones to force them to produce more milk. Cows are also routinely given antibiotics to deal with injuries to udders due to the milk machines. Toxins from the plastic and other garbage that cows consume also affect the quality of her milk.

So what will happen if your child doesn’t have milk and milk products?

1. Higher IQ Studies suggest that children who stay off animal products have a 5-point higher IQ than those who consume animals and animal products. George Bernard Shaw stated ‘A mind of the caliber of mine cannot derive its nutrients from cows’ while Benjamin Franklin stated that an animal-free diet resulted in greater clarity of mind and quicker comprehension.

2. Less likely to suffer from obesity, heart disease and high cholesterol All animal products contain fat and cholesterol. Milk is an animal product and has both. Fatty deposits in arteries can begin in childhood, leading to heart issues at an early age. Childhood obesity can also be prevented by avoiding milk.

3. Will get enough calcium Our body is alkaline. High protein foods such as dairy are acid yielding in our body. These acids must be neutralized by leaching calcium from the bones. Countries with the highest per capita consumption of dairy have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Greens, beans, and sesame seeds are more than enough calcium for our needs. After all, the cow, too, gets calcium from plants!

4. Freedom from hormonal issues Milk, being the natural secretion of a female mammal, is full of hormones. This affects our own hormonal balance causing various hormonal issues that we see today – obesity, hypothyroid, PCOD, prostate enlargement, infertility, menstrual problems, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer. Avoiding dairy will keep your children free from these.

5. No Food Allergies Cow’s milk is second to eggs as the cause of allergies in children.

6. Less doctor visits The common cold and cough in children is mainly caused by the consumption of dairy products. Dairy milk is mucus forming.

7. Have a more variety in their diets Since all dairy and dairy products have alternatives, your child can have milk, butter, cheese, ice-cream, cakes, cookies and more made from plant-based foods.

8. Active & Energetic Our bodies are not designed to digest another mammal’s milk, and it takes a lot of energy to digest it. When we avoid milk, we conserve energy.

9. Healthier and Happier Cows go through immense stress when forced to produce milk, and these stress hormones end up in milk and affect us as well. Children who are off dairy are healthier and happier too.

10. Feel more Compassion Since a vegan diet is also based upon compassion, you will be raising children who are caring, patient and aware.