The GOMAD diet probably will lead to muscle gains when paired with weight lifting, according to dietitians. But it’ll likely also increase fat stores as the body struggles to use all that consumed energy. And the results are going to be temporary—as soon as you stop drinking honking loads of dairy, any muscular gains will reverse.
What are the risks?
Consuming a gallon of milk every day can lead to numerous problems, and not just for your butthole. A gallon of milk provides nearly 85% of a day’s worth of sodium, 600% of the recommended daily saturated fat intake, and enough calcium to potentially impair kidney function and form stones. Some studies have also found that people who consume too much of the mineral might be at higher risk of prostate cancer and heart disease.
Then there’s the gastrointestinal distress. Consuming that much dairy when you are lactose intolerant is masoch*stic. If your body doesn’t produce enough lactase, the enzyme that breaks down the sugar in dairy, drinking a gallon of milk is probably going to lead to bloating, nausea, and some serious farts, at minimum.
Even if you’re not full-blown lactose intolerant, drinking too much milk can contribute to a leaky gut. This increased permeability of the intestinal lining can cause an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the stomach, which might lead to chronic diarrhea or constipation, as well as fatigue and headaches.
How much milk is too much milk?
Cow’s milk is nutrient-dense. It provides 18 of the 22 essential nutrients—such as B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, and potassium. It also contains magnesium (which is good for bones and muscles) and whey and casein proteins (which can supposedly lower blood pressure). On the other hand, downsides include excess of saturated fat and gastro issues, especially if you’re lactose intolerant.
In the US, the recommended daily dairy intake is two to three cups. Many dietitians are petitioning to change those standards, which are the result of Big Dairy’s lobbying efforts and backdoor politics. The bottom line: You should not drink a gallon of milk in one day, and even two cups of dairy is most likely too much for some people. But enjoying the odd cup of cow’s milk probably won’t do much harm. Plus, you can always opt for one of the many dairy-free alternatives out there.
