Is yogurt an animal protein?

by Laurie Morton
(Phoenix, AZ)

Question: Based on the information I read in The China Study, I want to know if yogurt is an exception to the animal-protein rule? Does the benefit of yogurt make it acceptable if I am trying to eliminate all animal-based foods?

Answer:
Hi Laurie,
I think you are referring to the fact that at the beginning of the Dr. Campbell's, he allowed a small amount of yogurt to be eaten each day. By the time he found that animal protein doesn't add to our health, that part of the diet was dropped.

Yogurt is made with cow's milk, and the animal protein in that milk is casein. Though cow's milk is high in calcium, casein actually leaches calcium from the bones, reversing the benefit. Some people like to eat yogurt for the healthy probiotics. Unfortunately, almost all yogurt produce and eaten today no longer has those healthy probiotics in it. Instead, it's full of hormones and antibiotics which are not good for you.

So, in short, you definitely do not need yogurt to have a healthy diet. You can get everything you need from plant products.

Hope that helps!