Soy milk or cow milk?

[jenwexler]

Which is better for hair? Soy or regular? I hear they are both good but why? Should I drink both for their benefits?

[prosperina]

I've never heard of putting milk on hair, but then I'm hardly the expert on natural hair treatments since I rarely do them. I like mayo on hair as a deep treatment and that has soybean oil in it.

I won't drink soy milk though because I'm suspicious of all those plant estrogens. I don't want them in my body.

Edit: oh, you're talking about drinking them... maybe this is in the wrong forum? :confused:

[Saturnia]

It's the Vitamin D added to both that helps hair, iirc, so either should be good. The amounts of calcium are also the same, though I think soy milk has higher protein. I drink soy because it's better for cows, but helping my hair is a plus too =)

Here's a post from a LiveJournal longhair community that talks about it:
http://community.livejournal.com/longhair/3089822.html

[Nightshade]

I'm allergic to dairy so cow milk is out, and while I do love soy milk I am concerned about the photoestrogens, so I keep it to small amounts.

May I toss out a vote for Almond milk? Tons of health benefits and it's great!

[jenwexler]

What are the benefits of Almond milk?

[Intransigentia]

I don't know but it is really yummy. That's benefit enough for me!

[jenwexler]

I had almond milk before I left for college. It's not bad.

[Honeylove]

For me, it's definitely soy milk. Consumption of dairy has an unpleasant impact on my digestive system which may result in loss of minerals and vitamins. :p

Sorry for the TMI.

Anyone who has no issues with dairy might consider the high amount of calcium in dairy products, which is especially benefitial for bones and teeth, but also for the hair. I'm trying hard to get my daily amount of calcium, as there are only few sources left in my diet since I've given up on dairy.

[jenwexler]

I actually think I need milk for the calcium since my bones are starting to seem week due to medication. However, I do have athsma and when I get phlegmy from too much milk, it get's really unpleasant. I love milk though. I used to drink a lot of soy milk too.

[leslissocool]

Almond milk has less calories than soy and regular,healthy fat that helps lower cholesterol, more calcium, and is good for skin too.. .we drink almond milk at my house since my step son is lactose intolerant... His hair grows like weeds (So unfair he just cuts it off!), I recently changed from nonfat cow milk to almond... we'll see if mine grows like that too!

EDIT: It has a lot more protein,magnesium and vitamin E and phosphorus. It also helps lower blood pressure.

[jenwexler]

I'm definitely going to buy almond milk and regular milk today. Let's see how this works out!

[Lianna]

I hear coconut milk is great for hair. And that milk fades hair dye...don't know if all kinds do that though.

[Bonkers57]

I'll have to give almond milk a try. I'm lactose intolerant and drink soy milk now.

[Maverick494]

Read this (http://www.truthaboutabs.com/soy-foods-make-you-fat.html) article about soy foods and milk.

I've never been an advocate of it (my Chinese grandmother told me it was bad) and I've read plenty of bad things about it. Cow's milk is my choice. I just don't drink too much of it.

[StarryNight]

Personally I prefer rice milk. :)

[CaityBear]

Both have pretty good benefits. You can't really say one is better than the other (unless you have an allergy...) I drink both. Sometimes I get cows milk, sometimes I buy soy milk instead (I'm still waiting to see almond milk where I live! I want to try that). I've tried Rice milk but can't stand too much of it at once.

[TrudieCat]

I drink some cow's milk, but I will put in another plug for almond and rice milk. Soy messes up my system, plus I'm also nervous about the phytoestrogens that others have mentioned.

If you are looking to increase your calcium intake, there are lots of ways to do that besides consuming more dairy. Broccoli is an excellent source, as are many of the green leafies. Many other veggies like beets, artichokes, and snap peas also have significant amounts of calcium in them. I do eat a lot of dairy and love it, so this isn't intended to be a knock on the industry - but the industry has aggressively marketed the high calcium content of dairy as a selling point. Green veggies haven't really been marketed that way, so they aren't always what people think of as high-calcium foods, even though they actually are. :)

[jenwexler]

I hear coconut milk is great for hair. And that milk fades hair dye...don't know if all kinds do that though.

Do you mean drinking it or putting it on your head??

[Bonkers57]

Whoa! :shudder: I'll find an alternative!


Read this (http://www.truthaboutabs.com/soy-foods-make-you-fat.html) article about soy foods and milk.

I've never been an advocate of it (my Chinese grandmother told me it was bad) and I've read plenty of bad things about it. Cow's milk is my choice. I just don't drink too much of it.

[TinaDenali]

We drink raw milk around my house; we eat no soy anyway, anyhow. No, no, no.

Almond milk is delish, though, too. :)

[jenwexler]

I've been drinking raw milk since I got to Penn State because the Amish sell it.

[jaine]

My hair has become finer in texture since I stopped drinking cow's milk about a year ago. Same number of hairs I suppose, but the individual strands are finer. I think it's related to the cow hormones present in milk. It's very noticeable on my shed hairs...I used to be a heavy milk drinker, at least 4 cups a day.
I don't drink much soy milk so I can't comment on that.

Vegetables are a better source of calcium than milk....milk creates acidity in the body when it's digested and the body takes calcium away from bones to keep the pH in a good range. Vegetables don't do that. Countries that consume milk also have the highest rates of osteoporosis. Just some food for thought. :)

[misspriss]

I think humans are the only species that drinks mothers milk (from another species) after they are weaned. Cows milk is made to feed baby cows and make them much bigger and fatter very quickly. I personally see no point in drinking milk now that I am grown.

I don't drink cows milk, soy milk, almond milk, I just don't drink milk. I have no taste for it.

And worrying about bones, I haven't drank milk since I was 6 years old, and I've never broken a bone. I didn't even have cavities until I got to college.

[Witchy]

Read this (http://www.truthaboutabs.com/soy-foods-make-you-fat.html) article about soy foods and milk.

I've never been an advocate of it (my Chinese grandmother told me it was bad) and I've read plenty of bad things about it.
If you believe that, I should warn you about dihydrogen monoxide (http://www.dhmo.org/cancer.html)! Ok, in all seriousness, note the total lack of citations, lack of references to published studies, and frantic style of presentation that makes the reader feel like their life is in danger. Everything in that article is false, its the sort of FUD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt) that circulates through chain mails. You might find "dangers of soy" alongside claims that vaccines cause autism (false (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/07/p.autism.vaccine.debate/index.html)) or that talking on cellphones causes brain cancer (also false (http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/Interphone2010Results)).

Start here:

Is Soy Bad For You? (http://www.vegfamily.com/health/is-soy-bad-for-you.htm). Here's an interesting comment:

In 2000, the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association published a major statement in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation, officially recommending the inclusion of 25 grams or more of soy protein, with its associated phytochemicals intact (i.e., not in the form of an isolated soy protein supplement), in the daily diet as a means of promoting heart health. This recommendation is consistent with the FDA's recent ruling allowing soy protein products to carry the health claim: "25 grams/day of soy protein, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."

What do the soy pooh pooh-ers say to this? They say that lowered cholesterol levels, even those lowered by diet, are dangerous. "Studies in which cholesterol levels were lowered through either diet or drugs," claim Fallon and Enig, "have consistently resulted in a greater number of deaths in the treatment groups than in controls." To document this remark, which is entirely unsupported in the scientific literature, the authors provide a footnote to an article written by themselves.

Elsewhere they write: "The truth is that cholesterol is your best friend? When cholesterol levels in the blood are high, it's because the body needs cholesterol? There is no greater risk of heart disease at cholesterol levels of 300 than at 180."
So, the people arguing against soy are the same ones who argue that there's no link between cholesterol and heart disease. Why would you trust anything they say?

Another Interesting Soy Article (http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/soynorris), which contains some interesting information on the subject.

Now, as other people have already mentioned phytoestrogens, see wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean#Phytoestrogen), which states that plant estrogens are so weak and in such small amount that they have no detectable physiological effect on humans. In case you still have reservations, consider that phytoestrogens are also found in soybeans, tofu, tempeh, soy beverages, linseed (flax), sesame seeds, wheatberries, fenugreek, oats, barley, dried beans, lentils, yams, rice, alfalfa, mung beans, apples, carrots, pomegranates, wheat germ, rice bran, soy linseed bread, ginseng, hops, bourbon, beer, fennel and anise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogens#Food_sources). If you aren't worried about the "danger" of phytoestrogens when you eat those foods, odds are that you have no reason to worry about soy either.

[jenwexler]

I drank soy milk straight for 1.5 years and when I think about it my strands were thinner.

[Nightshade]

Another thing to consider is that the USA drinks the most milk and has the highest rate of osteoporosis.

One developing theory is that we get so much more calcium than we need that our bodies put the extra in bones to get it out of the bloodstream, and in so doing trigger hormones that tell the body to flush out more calcium it should, leaving the body's osteoblasts exhausted sooner and leading to MORE brittle bones later in life.

From what I'd read here, they say that for milk-drinkers about one glass a day is good. After that point you risk calcium depletion (unless you're pregnant, obviously, and all that calcium is building bones in a baby, then the flush doesn't happen as much).

I can't find the study I read, but here (http://www.4.waisays.com/ExcessiveCalcium.htm)'s a close summary of the same data.

[pennyroyal]

I use soy milk in cooking, for cereal, etc & my son is a soy boy. (well he also drinks regular chocolate milk sometimes too) We all have healthy hair & no ill effects. I love soy milk but i don't just drink it straight.
Regular chocolate milk is so yummy, on a side note. :p

[summergame]

I am a bit afraid now..I drink daily soymilk,eat soy burgers(once a week) and take almost every day a soy youghurt because i am lactose intollerant. Maybe i have to search another kind of milk that i like..I had read also the opposite on a forum where i'm also active( alopecia forum) .They think it is just good to slow down the proces of alopecia androgenetica(hairroot damage because of testosteron hormones).
i also read read both scients proved articles on a scients website,they also say ther oposite,once is about soy and hairlost and the other is speaking soy just good for hair.

When i am back home i will search the website,it('s clinicly proven.

[RachelRain]

for Honeylove: calcium's in all kinds of veggies :) and I found a list for you. Hope there's a few in there you like.

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/appendixb.htm

I don't drink cow's milk because of what's in it (among other things), and soymilk depends on the company that makes it (for example, I used to love 8th continent but now I think it's chalky and disgusting).

I love love love hemp milk and almond milk - and hazelnut milk isn't bad either. Hemp milk has the added benefits of having some amount of omega 3's in it, I've heard, but I'm unsure of how much or if that's even really the case. Doesn't really matter to me cuz it's good and it's not cow's milk.

[aisling]

Why should you drink milk at all? I find it disgusting with food actually and prefer water, milk is used in cooking, coffee and sometimes, but rarely, over cereals.

[summergame]

This is about the benefids of Soybean on alopecia,its a scientific article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15808899
This one is positive to:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12631244

I don't find the negative article but is was a study to with rats,these lost more hair when they get soy products..

[freznow]

Many humans are allergic to the protein in A1 milk (the most available milk); less humans are allergic to A2 milk (goat and some breeds of cows) but there's still the issue of lactose, which, again, many of us are mildly allergic to and don't know it. So, for probably 90% of the people out there, milk won't do anything for your hair.

Now, I'd be interested in seeing what Vitamin D would do for it. I know Vit. D plays a much larger role in bone health than calcium in our modern D-deficient diets, and a brief google shows that it can cure hairloss. I don't know if it would make growing hair any stronger, though.

I'd think, but this is pure speculation, that coconut milk would be a good thing to drink, seeing how it's so good for the outside of our hair too.

[jenwexler]

I actually just remembered my my Cousin Sara is lactose intolerant and my dad was when he was little. But apparently allergies change every 7 years. I don't know how true that is for food allergies though. I've never had bad allergies to diary products; I used to drink milk daily and was fine. It's just not great for my asthma because of the mucous. When my dad was little, he drank goats milk instead. I tried coconut milk before and I thought I would like it but the brand I bought tasted weird. What are the benefits of the milk for lactose intolerant people?

[Honeylove]

I drink some cow's milk, but I will put in another plug for almond and rice milk. Soy messes up my system, plus I'm also nervous about the phytoestrogens that others have mentioned.

If you are looking to increase your calcium intake, there are lots of ways to do that besides consuming more dairy. Broccoli is an excellent source, as are many of the green leafies. Many other veggies like beets, artichokes, and snap peas also have significant amounts of calcium in them. I do eat a lot of dairy and love it, so this isn't intended to be a knock on the industry - but the industry has aggressively marketed the high calcium content of dairy as a selling point. Green veggies haven't really been marketed that way, so they aren't always what people think of as high-calcium foods, even though they actually are. :)
Thank you! :)


Whoa! :shudder: I'll find an alternative!
Me too! I think I'll buy rice and almond milk now.

[jenwexler]

I emailed my parents about the soy and they told me they decided to drink almond milk about a month ago because of estrogen levels.

[prosperina]

Why should you drink milk at all? I find it disgusting with food actually and prefer water, milk is used in cooking, coffee and sometimes, but rarely, over cereals.

+1. I totally agree. I don't get that grown ups here in America can just drink milk to drink milk. It doesn't taste good to me, and I think filtered water is much healthier. I use milk in coffee, to cook with and sometimes over cereal. However, dairy: cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, and kefir is wonderful and I will never give it up. When I lived in France I really got used to the large selections of yogurts and cheeses at supermarkets, cheese stores and farmers markets. :cheese:

[jenwexler]

I love cottage cheese =]

[Bonkers57]

I wouldn't drink it, but I'd put it in my coffee and tea (black coffee or plain hot tea is way too bitter for me) and put it over my cereal. I have to eat something when I get up or my blood sugar level sinks through the floor. And we cook with it. That's about it.

A lot of people (including my husband and son) like to mix it with Hershey Chocolate Syrup and drink it.


Why should you drink milk at all? I find it disgusting with food actually and prefer water, milk is used in cooking, coffee and sometimes, but rarely, over cereals.

[Bonkers57]

lol! Great point! More critical thinking on my part is needed. :D


If you believe that, I should warn you about dihydrogen monoxide (http://www.dhmo.org/cancer.html)! Ok, in all seriousness, note the total lack of citations, lack of references to published studies, and frantic style of presentation that makes the reader feel like their life is in danger. Everything in that article is false, its the sort of FUD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt) that circulates through chain mails. You might find "dangers of soy" alongside claims that vaccines cause autism (false (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/07/p.autism.vaccine.debate/index.html)) or that talking on cellphones causes brain cancer (also false (http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/Interphone2010Results)).

Start here:

Is Soy Bad For You? (http://www.vegfamily.com/health/is-soy-bad-for-you.htm). Here's an interesting comment:

So, the people arguing against soy are the same ones who argue that there's no link between cholesterol and heart disease. Why would you trust anything they say?

Another Interesting Soy Article (http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/soynorris), which contains some interesting information on the subject.

Now, as other people have already mentioned phytoestrogens, see wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybean#Phytoestrogen), which states that plant estrogens are so weak and in such small amount that they have no detectable physiological effect on humans. In case you still have reservations, consider that phytoestrogens are also found in soybeans, tofu, tempeh, soy beverages, linseed (flax), sesame seeds, wheatberries, fenugreek, oats, barley, dried beans, lentils, yams, rice, alfalfa, mung beans, apples, carrots, pomegranates, wheat germ, rice bran, soy linseed bread, ginseng, hops, bourbon, beer, fennel and anise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoestrogens#Food_sources). If you aren't worried about the "danger" of phytoestrogens when you eat those foods, odds are that you have no reason to worry about soy either.

[Bonkers57]

I switched from soy milk to almond milk about 3-4 weeks ago. I've lost weight (about 5 pounds) and my jeans fit better; I'm not so bloated.

I buy unsweetened almond milk and it doesn't really impart a flavor to anything I put it in/on. It does the job of taking the bitterness out of coffee and is good over my cereal! Two thumbs up for almond milk! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Hummy]

You can make your own almond milk. In my opinion it is a good idea, because this way the milk is always fresh. It is also cheaper. Here is one of the recipes:

Ingredients:
1 to 1 ½ cups of raw almonds
4 cups of filtered or spring water
3-8 dates (optional)
Directions:
1. Soak almonds in water for at least six hours.
2. Drain soaked almonds, and blend with 4 cups of fresh water until you get a milk-like consistency. Blend with dates (that have been soaked for at least an hour) if you like a hint of sweetness to your milk.
3. Strain once to remove almond granules.
The result is a delicious, creamy milk that's free of added oils, concentrated sugars, and synthetic nutrients. This all-natural almond milk keeps for four to five days in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator.


You can add honey, sesame seeds, other nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa.....the possibilities are endless.

[Akiko]

I drink cow milk, soy milk as well as rice milk.

I don't believe any particular single food item improves our hair growth, or overall health. Eat well balanced meals, many different food items every day. That's how I can get enough nutritions for my body.

[Bonkers57]

Cheaper? You got my attention! Thanks Hummy.


You can make your own almond milk. In my opinion it is a good idea, because this way the milk is always fresh. It is also cheaper. Here is one of the recipes:

Ingredients:
1 to 1 ½ cups of raw almonds
4 cups of filtered or spring water
3-8 dates (optional)
Directions:
1. Soak almonds in water for at least six hours.
2. Drain soaked almonds, and blend with 4 cups of fresh water until you get a milk-like consistency. Blend with dates (that have been soaked for at least an hour) if you like a hint of sweetness to your milk.
3. Strain once to remove almond granules.
The result is a delicious, creamy milk that's free of added oils, concentrated sugars, and synthetic nutrients. This all-natural almond milk keeps for four to five days in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator.


You can add honey, sesame seeds, other nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa.....the possibilities are endless.

[DorothyAtForty]

I don't know about soy milk being better than or worse than cow's milk for hair growth. I think, like Akiko said, it's better to eat balanced meals if you're looking for vitamins. I personally like almond milk and rice milk. :)

[Culdayne]

Witchy: Great points!

The meat industry is a powerful engine, my friends.

I know of a vegan uni prof that is on the FBI watch list for his "radical" views on vegetarianism. Actually, as he put it..."just speaking out against the meat industry".... ridiculous.

[jenwexler]

I didn't know you could make homemade almond milk. Looks like I'm going to try something new when I get home again. >=)

[kittensoupnrice]

I drink cow's milk and love almost all forms of dairy. Not sure it's necessarily good for my hair, though. I think exercise and a good diet probably are better in the long run for your hair.

As for adults drinking milk...
Did you know that researchers are saying that the human ability to digest milk past infancy is one of the most recent forms of human evolution? Early man 'couldn't stomach milk' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6397001.stm)

I used to drink soy before I got all leery of soy as well. More fuel for the fire! Soy in Illinois prison diets prompts lawsuit over health effects (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-12-21/news/0912200121_1_soy-protein-soy-cheeses-soyfoods-association).

No almond milk here due to allergies, so I can't really comment on that.

[DarleneH]

This is not directly about your original question but it is about soy milk and the effects it can have on the human body. In another forum (not related to hair) I was reading some posts about soy milk. There is a theory that male babies given soy milk will have more tendencies toward homosexuality, and it also acts as an endocrine disruptor and triggers early onset puberty. One of the girls in the discussion is convinced this led to her brother being gay. Fermented soy, like what it goes through when being processed into tofu, removes some of these kinds of chemicals. The fermentation also removes plant poisons that the soy plants naturally have as pest control measures, but soy milk still has those in. Another person in that discussion stated that babies have died because of these reasons when they were given soy milk, and she further stated that soy has never been approved for human consumption by the FDA.

I'm not sure about that last statement and I guess it depends on how much faith you place in the FDA too, but that is some scary stuff.

[MClass]

I drink raw milk only. For the lactose intolerant bunch, switching to raw will cure your problem. Its the process in which milk was processed that causes the stomach problems and the like.

The feed cows are given on regular milk farms is low quality and on top of that they are pumped with hormones (same as the meat you eat unless its organic free range) and in turn the hormones are passed on to you.

Raw milk has great probiotics in it and I love it! However it is not widely available.

[estherbeth]

Um... is it really necessary to bring in blaming homosexuality on soy products? I find that extremely insulting. Not to mention a great big load of :poop:.

[jenwexler]

Yea no offense but I agree. I wouldn't blame soy products on that either.

[Cailie]

Both : but I take both certified organic (soy is one of the most gmo plant), no sugar added, etc. ;)

[DarleneH]

Um... is it really necessary to bring in blaming homosexuality on soy products? I find that extremely insulting. Not to mention a great big load of :poop:.

Why on Earth are you insulted? I said not one disparaging word about homosexuality. My point was to relay something to the person asking about soy that she might want to add in her research. I'm sure she wants to consider soy's effects on more than just her hair.

[Demetrue]

I was diagnosed hypothyroid a number of years ago and am on thyroid medication. My Dr. warned me about too much soy (as well as other foods that work against the thyroid, like brussell sprouts). The problem with soy milk, is that it is a manufactured (i.e. man made), concentrated soy product. Drinking several 8 oz. glass of soy milk throughout your day is giving you much more soy than eating a few edamame (soy beans), because many soy beans have to be processed to yield a cup of soy milk. Also, not all soy milk is made from whole, organic, non-GMO soybeans. Our food processing has become so advanced that soy protein can be isolated, concentrated, and turned into soy powders which increase the level of isoflavones to more than our body can handle. Sometimes these powders are added to water to create soy milk. I think if we could stick to 1-2 small servings of soy, made from whole organic, non-GMO soybeans that have been cooked, we would get the health benefits that Asian countries have seen for centuries. I think that in the case of soy, bigger and more is not better.

[Cailie]

I don't believe any particular single food item improves our hair growth, or overall health. Eat well balanced meals, many different food items every day. That's how I can get enough nutritions for my body.


I agree !:cheese:

[Yedda]

My nutritionist recommended almond milk instead of soy or cow's milk.

However, I am having a hard time understanding this. With the almond milk I have in the fridge, it only has 1g of protein and 20% calcium, while the soy milk in my fridge has 7g of protein and 40% calcium, and the 1% cow's milk in the fridge has 8g of protein and 30% calcium.

I drink milk mostly for the taste, but also for protein and calcium. I know there are other nutrients involved, but I was a little shocked to see that almond milk I purchased had almost no protein? Almonds and nuts have a lot of protein so I don't really get it.

Protein is a major factor in the milk I drink because I stopped eating most kinds of meat, and I have been trying to make vegetarian dishes to have a well-balanced diet but it's easier said than done.

I think it is alarming that countries with high milk consumption have the highest rate of osteoporosis.

I believe I drink too much milk myself. I need to have a more balanced diet, including cow's milk, and soy milk, just smaller portions.

I also found out I have a vitamin D deficiency. I was shocked at this based on how much dairy I consume. I guess there are vitamins D2, and D3, one from diet and the other primarily from sunlight. Since I'm not getting enough sunlight, I am deficient and on a weekly supplement.

For my bones, I am going to try a more balanced diet, weight training, and stay on my vitamin D supplement since there is not much of an option for sunlight in the winter months here.

Sorry, this is not about your original post about which is better for hair. For my two cents on that, I have not noticed a difference with soy or cow's milk in the condition of my hair.

[pixistixx]

I don't think any one type of milk or mylk will help grow faster, just try a variety of proteins, it's better to mix different things that eat or drink the same thing over and over again anyway, it'll ensure you are getting a variety of amino acids/ minerals/ vitamins. I like almond milk, but if you must buy commercial, stay away from almond breeze as it has carageenan.. Carageenan can cause some people to get scalp pimples (raises hand!) also, hemp milk, pumpkin seed milk, sesame milk, brazil nut milk, basically you can make any of these by blending a small amount of nuts or seeds, with water, strain, or not. I used to drink raw organic goats milk in the spring, but starting developing acne issues with it just like I did with pasteurized cow's milk. sheep's milk is the most digestible, but more than likely difficult to come by.

[Demetrue]

Another thought - if you are drinking the milk because you are trying to incorporate calcium in your diet, you can get plenty of calcium by consuming green leafy vegetables. If you are consuming it for the Vitamin D, remember that it is added to the milk during processing- it is not naturally found in cow's milk. To get the Vit D you need - expose your forearms to mid-day sun, for 20-30 minutes, 3 times a week. You can also get Vit. D from eggs and fatty fish (or take cod liver oil). Bottom line - eat a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, nuts (unless you're allergic), seeds, complex carbs(unless you're carb sensitive) and you should be fine. Our body is a complex, intricate network of systems working in synergy and there is probably not just one magic bullet ingredient that is going to make your hair perfect - eat a healthy balance of nutrients.