you decide

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Non-Organic vs. Organic

Pasteurized vs. Raw

Low-Fat vs. Full Fat

Calcium & Bone Health

Grain and Soy-Fed vs. Grass-Fed Cows

Vitamin D

Chronic Diseases

What about Yogurt?

Lactose

Non-organic milk can contain harmful, synthetic contaminants like antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides, and the cow’s feed may be genetically modified. Legally, milk in the US must be pasteurized. This public health measure is meant to reduce consumers’ exposure to pathogens that could make them sick.

Homogenization, the process of separating milk’s fatty and watery parts, makes it low-fat. Many organizations, including the USDA myPyramid, suggest low-fat or skim rather than full-fat dairy products because they are lower in calories, fat and especially saturated fat, which contributes to higher cholesterol. Proponents of milk say that milk is a great source of calcium, a mineral that is essential for bone health.

Most dairy in the US comes from factory farms, where are fed products not natural to a cow’s diet, such as grain, corn and soy. Milk from grain-fed cows is high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which most Americans already overly consume. Milk sold in stores is fortified with vitamin D2, a form that the body does not utilize as well as D3. Studies (i.e. The China Study) suggest that consuming animal protein, including dairy, promotes cancer growth, and reducing or eliminating animal protein can stop and reverse cancer growth. Studies show that reducing animal products can reverse other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Yogurt is widely touted as a health food, particularly because it is an excellent source of beneficial bacteria that contributes to a healthy gut. Some people do fine with dairy

Organic milk is free of synthetic hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, and the cow cannot be fed GMO feed; however, even organic dairy contains naturally-occurring growth hormones. In addition to changing the physical structure of the milk’s proteins (thus increasing the likelihood of an allergy or sensitivity), pasteurization also destroys milk’s beneficial bacteria, vitamins, minerals and certain enzymes that help the body properly digest the milk. Advocates of full-fat dairy claim that the butterfat is needed to properly absorb milk’s vitamins and minerals, and that low-fat dairy products can deplete your body’s vitamins A and D. In addition, homogenization may cause accumulation of free radicals in the body by causing the enzyme xanthine oxidase to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Studies show that countries with the highest milk consumption also have the highest osteoporosis rates. Countries with low rates of milk consumption have low rates of osteoporosis. Some say that better options for strong bones include dark leafy greens, bone broths, sea vegetables, and other whole foods, plus exercise and Vitamin D. Cows are grazing animals that naturally feed on grass. Milk from cows that eat grass naturally contains vitamin D, and it has an ideal balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Raw dairy from grass-fed cows contains naturally-occurring vitamin D3 - the form of vitamin D that is better utilized by the body. Other groups site many traditional cultures that thrived on dairy and other animal products. Such groups suggest that not all dairy is of the same quality, and can be healthy or unhealthy depending on its preparation - from how the animal is raised to what kinds of processing the final dairy product goes through. Many yogurts found in stores contain high amounts of sugar, which dramatically decreases its overall health value.

Some people who are sensitive to

Intolerance & Milk Allergies

Evolutionary Argument

Bio-Individuality

Animal Treatment

Environmental Concerns

products in their diets, while other people are allergic to dairy or lactose intolerant and experience a variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal distress. As many as 25% of Caucasians and an estimated 75-90% of blacks, Asians, and Native Americans are lactose intolerant. Those who are lactose intolerant or are sensitive to milk should avoid it. Some question the idea of drinking the milk of another species. (Humans, like other mammals, produce milk for a specific purpose - to feed their own babies until the babies are ready to move on to solid foods.) Milk from a cow is designed to make a newborn calf grow rapidly in only a few weeks, causing some to believe that it may not be the ideal food for human children or adults. Everyone is different. Certain blood types like B and AB tend to do well with dairy. Filthy living conditions and animal mistreatment at factory farms is well documented. Some also question the ethics of impregnating a cow to cause milk production then taking away her calf shortly after birth (and, commonly, raising it for veal) in order to maximize economic profits. Animal agriculture is a major contributor to global warming and the pollution of our water and air. In addition, vast amounts of land, water and fuel are used for cattle feed, grazing and processing – some argue that we could feed many more people more cheaply if we used those lands and resources for plant foods for human consumption.

pasteurized milk can consume raw dairy without a problem. This may be because the pasteurization process alters the structure of milk’s proteins, making them difficult for the body. (Raw cheese is sold legally in the US, and raw dairy products can be purchased legally by joining cow-shares from specific farms. Regulations vary by state.) In addition, some people who are sensitive to cow’s milk find that they can tolerate goat or sheep’s milk. Others consider cow’s milk to be one of the most ideal foods nature provides, particularly when prepared in traditional ways, such as culturing.

Other blood types like Type A tend to not do as well with dairy. Problems include congestion, sinus issues and constipation. Some small farmers treat their cows humanely and allow a more natural relationship between mother cow and calf while still being able to collect milk for human consumption.

Others believe that in some cases the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, which may be able to be mitigated if the grazing land and animal waste is carefully managed. By researching companies, buying from small, local farms and choosing your suppliers carefully, you can help support the farms that are producing dairy more responsibly.