“He no longer has violent behavior, tantrums, [or] speech impediments ...”

My nephew was diagnosed as autistic at 3 years of age. My sister was young and, like most, knew next to nothing about the disorder. Over time, she got to know others with children like Rhaeden and finally, shortly after Rhae’s fifth birthday, [it] was recommended [that she] get him off dairy. It’s been three years now, but within just days, he showed marked improvement. He no longer has violent behavior, tantrums, [or] speech impediments and is functioning on a second to third grade level—in some ways even above average. Whenever he does somehow [eat] dairy [products], Rhae becomes very difficult behaviorally, gets glassy eyed, and goes off into his own world. [H]e also gets physical symptoms. …

I, too, decided to rid my diet of dairy [products and] … I now know [that] the headaches; thick, nasty mucus; and aggravation of my asthma are because of the double-scoop strawberry cone, not [because of] my kitten. …
—Tricia W., New Port Richey, Florida

“… milk makes antibiotics useless.”

My daughter was in the hospital for pneumonia for the second time in her three-year-old life. It was shattering for me. She was hooked up to [an] intravenous [tube], had a dangerously high fever and heart[rate], was pretty much lifeless, and was put in a crib bed with a dome on it. It all looked like a parent’s worst nightmare, really. As she ate her supper … I read an article [that said that] milk makes antibiotics useless. I looked over, only to see that my girl was drinking milk for the third time that day. … The hospital sent juice and milk with every meal. I went out that day and started experimenting with soy. I tried some, [but it was] hard to take at first when [you’ve been drinking] greasy pus … all your life. I found [a brand] that was good—[with] non-genetically modified soybeans [and] some cane sugar for flavor—and brought it to the hospital. My daughter loved it! [She] called it a yummy shake, actually. I was so happy. It took me about three months to get used to … it. It took my daughter about three minutes.

I now … bring [soy milk] to daycare every week, as they only supply [cow’s] milk. … [When] there is a school fundraiser [involving ice cream or other diary foods], I send money to the fundraiser and a fruit snack with my daughter. The very best news is: She has [not] had a chest cold since [she gave up dairy products at] the age of 3! She is now 6 years of age. …
I would like to send a message to all the dairy drinkers out there: Even if you decide to stick with milk because you grew up with it, please give your children [nondairy] milk. … It is a very selfless and rewarding gift for your child.
—Stephanie L., Stony Plain, Canada

“We don’t need cow’s milk, calves do!”

My daughter began getting ear infections after I stopped nursing her. For a year and a half, I had her in and out of doctors’ offices and put on several different antibiotics. … Finally, one day, when she was 2 … one of my doctor’s partners … explained that she had an intense sinus infection that could damage her brain. He needed to give her a penicillin shot immediately. Then he told me what no other doctor had: “Try taking her off of milk.” He told me that milk causes overproduction of mucus and [that] children’s sinus passages and ears cannot properly drain it. I put her on soy milk and have never looked back. She is 13 now and very healthy. … We don’t need cow’s milk, calves do!
—Jennifer M., Chandler, Arizona

“I’d warn anyone to stay away from milk to avoid getting this painful disease.”

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with dairy products. I would drink endless amounts of milk a day. I ate so much cheese [that] my dad used to jokingly tell me that I was going to turn into a mouse. I never did, but instead I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 9. Neither [I nor] my parents knew that there was a link between milk and Crohn’s disease. I’d warn anyone to stay away from milk to avoid getting this painful disease.
—Jessica B., Binghamton, New York

“So before you reach for the Ritalin, grab the milk carton, and flush that milk down the toilet …”

[T]he doctors said to Mrs. Williams, “You know, Johnny is really hyper. If you give him this little black pill, he’ll calm right down.” … So, Johnny took the little black pill for over two years … when, in fact, Johnny’s problem wasn’t ADD [attention deficit disorder], his problem was milk! It turns out that Johnny was lactose-intolerant. … Johnny grew up … but [his] little boys, who have the same genetic predisposition to [ADD] … don’t take the little black pills because they don’t exhibit the same hyperactiv[ity] [and] lack of attention to detail that Johnny did when he was a kid. The reason why Johnny’s little boys don’t have these problems is because they don’t drink milk! … So before you reach for the Ritalin, grab the milk carton, and flush that milk down the toilet because there are only two places cow’s milk should ever be poured into: the body of a calf and the gapping mouth of the sewer!
—John W., Kapolei, Hawaii