The Real Reasons Why Raw Milk is Becoming More Popular

[Guest guest]

The Real Reasons Why Raw Milk is Becoming More Popular

_http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/04/24/raw-milk.aspx_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/04/24/raw-milk.aspx)

 

 

By Dr. Joseph Mercola

with Rachael Droege

I was happy to see _a published story_

(http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04340/421877.stm) that documents how some

families have become aware of the health

benefits of raw milk and are switching to it, despite the warnings of public

health officials who are ignorant about the serious damage that

pasteurization does to the quality of the milk.

Less than 1 percent of the milk consumed in America is raw, which is most

unfortunate as raw milk is a highly health-promoting food. Public health

officials warn that raw milk poses the risk of transmitting bacteria such as

listeria, E. coli and salmonella, but pasteurizing the milk kills these

bacteria

while extending the milk's shelf life, which also happens to be more profitable

for the dairy industry.

While it is certainly possible to become sick from drinking contaminated raw

milk, it is also possible to become sick from almost any food source. But it

seems that raw milk has been unfairly singled out as a risk, when only a

very small risk exists. This excerpt from the _Weston A. Price Foundation Web

site_ (http://www.westonaprice.org/children/rawmilk.html) further states my

point:

Except for a brief hiatus in 1990, raw milk has always been for sale

commercially in California, usually in health food stores, although I can

remember a

period when it was even sold in grocery stores. Millions of people consumed

commercial raw milk during that period and although the health department

kept an eagle eye open for any possible evidence of harm, not a single

incidence

was reported. During the same period, there were many instances of

contamination in pasteurized milk, some of which resulted in death.

Fortunately, even though the sale of raw milk is legal only in a limited

number of states, more and more people are realizing its benefits and finding

their own legal sources. Here are a few of the major reasons why more people

are choosing to drink their milk raw.

It Has More Nutrients

Raw milk is an outstanding source of nutrients including beneficial bacteria

such as lactobacillus acidolphilus, vitamins and enzmes, and it is, in my

estimation, the finest source of calcium available.

The pasteurization process, which entails heating the milk to a temperature

of 145 degrees to 150 degrees F and keeping it there for at least half an

hour and then reducing the temperature to not more than 55 degrees F,

completely

changes the structure of the milk proteins (denaturization) into something

far less than healthy. While the process certainly destroys germs and bad

bacteria, it also destroys the milk's beneficial bacteria along with many of

its

nutritious components.

Pasteurizing milk destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin, denatures fragile

milk proteins, destroys vitamin B12, and vitamin B6, kills beneficial bacteria

and promotes pathogens. You may notice that raw milk left out will sour

naturally but pasteurized milk will rot. This is because the beneficial

bacteria

in the raw milk helps to keep putrefactive bacteria under control. Pasteurized

milk, however, does not have any of the beneficial bacteria left to keep it

from rotting.

Then, of course there is the issue of the antibiotics, pesticides and

_growth hormones_ (http://articles.mercola.com/2002/feb/27/rbgh.htm) and the

fact

that nearly all commercial dairy cows are raised on grains, not grass, like

they were designed to. This will change the composition of the fats in the

milk, especially the CLA content.

People Feel the Health Benefits

Pasteurized cow's milk is the number one allergic food in this country. It

has been associated with a number of symptoms and illnesses including:

* Diarrhea

* Cramps

* Bloating

* Gas

* Gastrointestinal bleeding

* Iron-deficiency anemia

* Skin rashes

* Allergies

* Colic in infants

* Osteoporosis

* Increased tooth decay

* Arthritis

* Increased tooth decay

* Growth problems in children

* Heart disease

* Cancer

* Atherosclerosis

* Acne

* Recurrent ear infections in children

* _Type 1 diabetes_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2000/oct/22/milk_diabetes.htm)

* Rheumatoid arthritis

* Infertility

* Leukemia

* _Autism_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2003/jul/2/pasteurized_milk.htm)

 

Raw milk, on the other hand, is not associated with any of these problems,

and even people who have been allergic to pasteurized milk for many years can

typically tolerate and even thrive on raw milk.

Raw milk is truly one of the most profoundly healthy foods you can consume,

and you'll feel the difference once you start to drink it.

It Tastes Better

As with any food, fresher is always better and this applies to milk as well.

Fresh raw milk is creamier and better tasting than pasteurized milk that has

a shelf-life of several weeks. _Ultra-high-temperature milk_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2003/aug/27/crohns_disease.htm) can be stored

without

refrigeration for about six months.

Even people who have never liked the taste of milk find that raw milk has a

soothing, pleasant taste that they can't resist.

Obtaining raw milk can be a challenge but it is well worth the effort to

seek out. You can go to _www.realmilk.com_ (http://www.realmilk.com) for some

help, but if you are unable to find any through that site I would suggest

contacting a dairy farmer and asking him or her to buy the raw milk directly.

It is technically illegal to sell in many states but many people tell them

they are using the milk for their pets. Alternatively, another strategy that

has stood nearly every legal test is the cow-share program. One merely

purchases a small ownership of a cow for $10 or $20 and then the farmer is able

to

sell you the milk from the cow as you are part owner and it is perfectly legal

to drink raw milk from your own cow.

If any of the information in this article surprises you, I encourage you to

look through the links below for further information.

Related Articles:

_Why You Don't Want to Drink Pasteurized Milk_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2003/mar/26/pasteurized_milk.htm)

_More Reasons Why You Don't Want to Drink Pasteurized Milk_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2003/mar/29/pasteurized_milk.htm)

_New Technology Expands Shelf Life of Certain Dairy Products_ (ht

tp://articles.mercola.com/2003/jan/22/stork_pasteurization.htm)

_Does Milk Really Look Good On You? Don't Drink It!_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2000/feb/27/no_milk.htm)

_Don't Drink Your Milk!_ (http://www.mercola.com/article/milk/no_milk.htm)

_More Reasons To Avoid Milk_

(http://articles.mercola.com/2001/apr/11/milk.htm)