The Benefits of Raw Milk and How It’s Different
Consuming raw milk is somewhat of a hot topic today. Ironically, the interesting fact to note is that the entire population drank raw milk until the late 1800’s. Pasteurization didn’t come about until 1869 and homogenization wasn’t put into practice until the early 1900’s. That leaves thousands of years before these new processes for the consumption of raw milk! Makes you think – I hope!
Today’s Milk Looks the Same But It’s Drastically Different
Let’s analyze the type of milk that the majority of people drink these days, specifically from the early 1900’s until the present.
- It’s pasteurized at 145 degrees (or higher for UHT milk) to kill E.Coli and Salmonella bacteria.
- This process renders the milk dead and has no living enzymes left intact.
- Dead milk is void of enzymes that help humans digest the proteins and sugars. In turn, people have become intolerant to milk and milk products.
- Homogenization is practiced to ensure the milk fat doesn’t separate from the milk.
- This process in done by pushing the fat through a giant sieve with thousands of pounds of pressure.
- It literally changes the molecular makeup of the milk fat and regrettably causes people to react to the proteins when they undesirably pass the gut barrier.
- If the proteins were left at their original size they would not be able to pass through the gut barrier.
- Homogenized milk proteins resemble human proteins and can cause the body to react to them in negative ways.
- The molecules are protected with a layer of cholesterol as they enter the blood stream which causes higher cholesterol.
- The milk has synthetic vitamins added to it – specifically vitamin D.
- Inflammation is caused by the synthetic vitamins that are not recognized by the body.
- It comes from CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feed Lot) mammals where sickness and disease run rampant.
- This causes companies to administer antibiotics at extremely high rates and these antibiotics get into the milk.
- Mammals that are overworked and altered to make more milk than they were created to produce is where today’s milk comes from.
- This milk lacks critical nutrients due to the overproduction, GMO feed that cows eat, an abundance of herbicides and pesticides in their food and bacteria they are contaminated with.
Please note that buying organic pasteurized milk is not much better. It does not have the contaminants like GMO’s, herbicides and pesticides but it still goes through the pasteurization and homogenization processes and it considered dead milk.
Our Success Story of Consuming Raw Milk
My youngest son was born with lots of rashes, pretty bad eczema and would physically swell sometimes when he would have the milk of today. It was clear it caused a reaction so I hesitated to give him milk. It wasn’t an anaphylactic type reaction but it was a reaction nonetheless. After a couple of years of giving him pasteurized milk, I started giving him organic milk thinking that would help. I really did not notice a difference in him so ultimately I started to have him stay away from milk as much as possible.
I discovered raw milk though the GAPS diet because of my own health problems at the time and I found a farmer in which we purchase our milk through. It’s such a blessing getting the milk and being able to skim off the cream and make fresh butter or whipped cream with it. I have tried my youngest son on the raw milk and I have not seen a reaction in him at all after drinking it for years! This is because this raw milk has the proper balance of living enzymes and beneficial bacteria in it which enables my son to properly process it. That being said, for my boys, drinking raw milk is not an everyday occurrence in our home. As a matter of fact, it’s more of a treat once in a while.
The Benefits of Raw Milk
- It’s a living food since it has not been pasteurized or homogenized and all the enzymes are properly functioning.
- There are over sixty live enzymes present in raw, unpasteurized milk. When these enzymes remain alive they greatly aid our body in digesting the milk. Without them, our bodies are incapable of properly processing the proteins and sugars that are in the milk.
- These live enzymes can also help protect our bodies against asthma, allergies and immune diseases.
- Raw milk has many beneficial bacteria in it that helps us with a plethora of functions in our body.
- One of the beneficial bacteria present in raw milk is called Lactobacilli. This particular bacteria helps to digest (or eat) lactose.
- Lactobacilli is what prevents humans from becoming intolerant to milk.
- The many good bacteria that that are living in raw milk help kill off the bad bacteria that may be residing in it.
- Raw milk is naturally high in vitamins A and D.
- It has a higher level of Omega 3’s and Essential Fatty Acids.
- It also has high levels of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) because the animals who produce it eat green grass.
- CLA helps with metabolism, abdominal fat, muscle growth, insulin resistance and more.
- The flavor is superior to its counterpart.
- It contains gut healing colostrum.
Sourcing Your Own Raw Milk
Depending on where you live, raw milk can be more expensive and consequently hard to find but I venture to say that the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience.
In certain states, you will find raw milk sold in stores which is really convenient. Get to know the company your milk is sourced from. Call them and get an understanding of their practices. Learn how they care for their animals, the hygiene they practice, if they give their animals antibiotics and what they feed their animals.
The best option to source raw milk is from a farmer. One awesome benefit of getting your raw milk from a farmer is that your kiddos will know that milk actually comes from a cow (or goat or another mammal), and incidentally not from a factory or a store! In addition, another perk is you will pay less money than if buying raw milk from a store front.
If you do decide to find a farmer who owns milk cows or goats for milk I would recommend going to see the farm and meet the animals. Check out how they milk the animals and their sanitary practices. Make sure that they take some precautions in how they do their milking process. Inspections happen to our farmer every month to ensure they are safely obtaining and storing their milk.
The Real Milk Finder is a great way to find the closest farm or ranch near you to source your raw milk.
Do You Want To Learn More About Raw Milk and Its Counterpart?
Here are some great links for learning!
Facts about pasteurization and homogenization by Mike Adams
Raw milk reality from one of my doctors, Chris Kresser
Raw milk testimonials
An excellent and thorough overview of raw milk.
Raw milk is becoming more popular by Dr. Mercola.
What Kind of Milk Will You Choose?
You’ve now learned the difference between present day milk that is pasteurized and homogenized and milk that’s left in its raw state. Additionally, you’ve learned about the benefits of drinking raw milk. It’s a personal choice, what type of milk will you choose?
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Hi there,
I just found a way to get raw milk at half the cost as from a store (which is $16 a gallon!)
A truck comes to deliver at a lady’s home in Del Mar and one of my friends picks it up and drops it off at my door! Yay!
Thanks for all of the info. I knew it was good but I didn’t know all of the reasons why.
~Mihelle
Michelle, $16 a gallon! Seriously? What in the world. It IS good but it is NOT gold! My gosh. I am so glad you found it cheaper. Time to move out here 🙂 So convenient though that someone drops it off at your door. What a blessing. Like old days.
You’re welcome Sam! it is nice to be able to get raw milk. Some places are easier than others. You cooking class sounds fun! All that learning will fit right in line with your homeopathy practice. How exciting!
Thanks for sharing the info Jen. I have started drinking raw milk and my kids too. I feel grateful that I have access to it here.
I am taking a cooking class right now where I am learning about the GAPS diet and ancestral cooking. It’s all so fascinating!