Got Milk? A Series on Dairy (part 1 - Raw Dairy)

Have you ever considered the fact that humans are the only mammals to drink milk beyond infancy?  Or, to drink the milk of other mammals?

There is no disputing the fact that human breast milk is the healthiest option for growing babies.  It contains a perfect nutrient combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.  Beyond that, the subject of dairy is very controversial.  There are many debates about its possible health benefits vs. detrimental effects.  In this series, I will present both sides of the coin so you can make an informed decision about whether dairy is right for you & your family.

In her book Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon writes that hunter-gathers did not use milk products, but there are many nomadic and agricultural societies that date back as far as 9000 years that depended on the milk from cattle, sheep, goats, horses, water buffalo, and camels.  Dairy is quite common in modern times, but there is a huge difference between raw dairy and today's dairy industry and processes.
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What exactly is raw milk?​

It's the unprocessed milk that comes straight from the cow (or goat, sheep, or other animal), into a bottle, then into the fridge.  That's it!  Before the invention of pasteurization in the 1880's, all milk was raw.  Dairy products like cheese, cream, yogurt, and butter were made from raw milk.  Pasteurized milk has been heated up to destroy any harmful pathogens and to increase shelf life, but the quality of the milk is compromised in the process.  Pasteurized dairy is what we typically see in grocery stores today.  Consuming pasteurized dairy may cause many negative health consequences, which I discuss in part 2 of the "Got Milk?" series.

Cows were once raised on lovely farms where they could graze on grass (their natural food), not in modern-day, feedlot, industrial, crowded pens. Luckily there still are some traditional farmers who understand what methods are best to raise healthy cows and they sell their raw milk. These farms usually avoid using hormones, chemicals, and care for the animals and their farm in a loving, sustainable way.  They know that raw milk can have many health benefits!
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​What's healthy about raw milk?

Raw milk is a whole food.  Because raw milk is unprocessed, nothing has been removed, added, or destroyed by heat.  When milk comes from healthy grass-fed animals and a trusted farm, it can truly be a wealth of goodness!  

Rawmilk.org published a Report on Raw Milk by By Aajonus Vonderplanitz, Ph.D., and William Campbell Douglass, M.D., in which they report on the nutritive value of raw milk. They state that it contains all 22 amino acids from protein, including the 8 essential amino acids.  All of these are also 100% bio-available in raw milk.  Raw milk supplies all 18 fatty acids available, including both saturated and unsaturated fats. 

Unpasturized, raw milk contains ...

• Natural nutrients: When milk is raw, it is also full of rich butterfat.  This helps the body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, & K from the milk.  The milk also contains the water soluble vitamins  such as vitamin C plus many B vitamins. Minerals include calcium, phosphate, sodium, magnesium, sulphur, and potassium.  (Source)

• Activator X: Dr. Weston A. Price discovered that Vitamin K2 played a very important role in health because it works synergystically with Vitamins A&D, all of which are found in full-fat, grass-fed diary products.  He called it "Activator X" because it was the common denominator among the health cultures he studied.  Vitamin K2 is important for the utilization of minerals, protects against tooth decay, supports growth and development, is involved in normal reproduction, protects against calcification of the arteries leading to heart disease, and is a major component of the brain.

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• Helpful enzymes: Including lactase, lipase and phosphatase; these help the body digest the milk's protein, fats, and carbohydrates.  The enzymes also foster absorption of nutrients.  They can also be anti-microbial.  Many people who have difficulty digesting pasteurized dairy because of lactose intolerance can enjoy raw dairy without any uncomfortable symptoms. (Source)

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• Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA):  This is found in meat and milk from grass-fed cows.  A plethora of research has been done that concluded many benefits of CLA.  It can help combat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, inflammation, and allergies.  It is also helpful in achieving a muscular body composition. (Source)

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• Beneficial bacteria: These foster good gut health, keep bad bacteria at bay, and are vital for the body's immune system and overall health. Cultured dairy products are especially rich in beneficial bacteria.  When raw milk turns sour, it ferments until all the friendly bacteria have inactivated the putrefying bacteria.  Some common fermented/cultured dairy products include yogurt, kefir, creme fraiche (sour cream).  Culturing raw milk is an art, and recipes can be found in the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

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​What are some possible health benefits from consuming raw dairy?

Here are just a few scientific studies that report benefits from the consumption of full-fat, raw dairy:
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• Harvard Study: Trans-palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid found in milk, cheese, yogurt and butter has been found to lower the risk of diabetes, and help with obtaining smaller waist circumference, lower triglycerides, higher HDL, and lower C-reactive protein.

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• The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: This study found that "people with the highest levels of milk fat biomarkers, suggesting they consumed the most dairy fat, were actually at lower risk of heart attack; for women, the risk was reduced by 26 percent, while for men risk was 9 percent lower."

For more science, read the article, "Dairy: food of the Gods or neolithic agent of disease?" which takes on the dairy debate. 
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​Where can raw dairy be purchased?

Raw milk is not easily found in stores and is not even legal to purchase in all states. (This is because of the fact that it is unpasteurized, which I discuss in Part 2 of the "Got Milk?" series.) You certainly want to purchase raw dairy products from a clean, pure, trusted source.

• The Local Harvest website has a page where you can search for it in your area.  
• In addition, A Campaign for Real Milk has a listing by state called the "Real Milk Finder" where you can find raw milk from farms, co-ops, or cowshares in your area.  
• They also have a listing to help you locate raw dairy products commercially, including the best brands to purchase in milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, and butter.
• Kerrygold brand butter a great option and found in many stores.  It is made from pasteurized cream, but it's from grass-fed cows.   I have even seen raw cheese sold at big stores like Trader Joe's and Kroger.

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​Read all the articles in the series on dairy:

Part 1: RAW MILK & DAIRY - THE HEALTH BENEFITS
Part 2- THE PROBLEMS WITH MODERN DAIRY
Part 3- DAIRY - DIGESTIVE ISSUES & ALTERNATIVES
Part 4- A HANDY GUIDE TO CHOOSING DAIRY
Part 5- GHEE, WHAT THE HECK IS IT?

Do you want even more info about RAW DAIRY?  
Go check out the website Reformation Acres & their article:
ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO RAW MILK (WHY YOU SHOULD DRINK IT & 115+ RECIPES FOR USING IT)

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