Milk is a natural and is good for a body - if you are a calf. Although the American Dairy Board is paid millions to tell people that they must drink milk and eat dairy products, humans do very well on a dairy-free diet. Even the late Dr. Spock, the famous pediatrician, advised that children be raised without dairy products.

Human infants need breast milk, not cow's milk. In fact, milk consumption is a cause of childhood onset diabetes (Type 1) and of anemia due to its interference with iron absorption in the digestive tract. Researchers have linked dairy product consumption to ovarian cancer, acne, arthritis, migraines and the development of cataracts. Milk-drinking men have a significantly higher risk of prostate cancer.

There is evidence that calcium from plant source (dark leafy greens, beans, fortified juices and soymilk, etc.) is actually better absorbed than that from dairy.

In today's dairy industry, cows are forced to produce so much milk they are "spent" at 3 to 4 years and slaughtered for fast food hamburgers. Male calves born to dairy cows are torn from their mothers at birth and raised for veal, chained in tiny crates for 16 weeks with no exercise, bedding, and in almost total darkness. The cruel crated veal farms could not exist without the dairy industry.

Go dairy-free. Vegan foods contain zero cholesterol, and you will discover a whole new world of delicious nut and soymilks, non-dairy desserts and entrees from around the world. For free recipes and nutritional information, phone 224-1361 or 888-VEG-FOOD or go to goveg.com, tryveg.com.

BARBARA BONSIGNORE

Concord