Jash Botanicals Natural Health Corner

Well, right now—it is under attack!  Sadly, following an outbreak in the state of Washington, the Federal Drug Administration has issued a warning to the public against drinking raw milk, as it may contain harmful bacteria that can cause life-threatening illnesses.  The outbreak included ten people—three of which were children.

I would like to expound on each of the topics discussed by the FDA one at a time:

• Is it possible for raw milk to be contaminated?  The answer to that is yes, but it is seldom that it happens.  The majority of raw milk dairies are inclined to operate exceptionally clean facilities because of the liability issues.  The most recent incident consisted of ten people compared to the hundreds of E.coli contaminated by meat.  In addition, we frequently witness contamination of pasteurized dairy as well, but the FDA never appears to suggest that we stop eating meat and pasteurized dairy.  It would seem that raw milk just does not possess a large enough lobby to support it.

"E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this particular strain can make us sick. E. coli O157:H7 was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982 during an outbreak of severe bloody diarrhea; the outbreak was traced to contaminated hamburgers. Since then, most infections have come from eating undercooked ground beef.  According to the CDC (Center For Disease Control), an estimated 73,000 cases of E. coli infection and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year and most of the cases have been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef."

• What are the health benefits of drinking raw milk?  From a nutritional perspective, raw cow’s milk is superior to pasteurized milk in terms of its beneficial enzymes, but must be free of harmful microorganisms.  It is also important to know the quality of the milk.  Modern animal milk generally has 400% more pesticides than an equivalent sample of grains or vegetables.  In addition to pesticides that animals ingest on sprayed plants and fed, livestock raised for meat, eggs, or dairy frequently receive rations of hormones to stimulate growth and production, along with antibiotics to protect against disease.  It is therefore important to make sure that your raw milk is organic.  Now, if you ask the FDA what the health benefits are, they will tell you none.  If all you are interested in is the protein, fat content and added vitamin D, then I guess the FDA has a point, but there are other things to consider.  Let’s bring to light the fact that pasteurization involves heating milk to approximately 145 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or longer and thus kills all enzymes and beneficial bacteria in the process.  Add to that the factor that pasteurization makes calcium insoluble and unavailable to the body, and that will explain why countries with the highest pasteurized dairy consumption have the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world.  Ok, add that all up and I don’t know about you, but I am right back at raw milk again!

• How about homogenization?  Well, homogenization produces fat particles so small that they are pulled irresistibly into your cardiovascular system, which in turn releases xanthine oxidase to wreak havoc on your arteries.  Oh, by the way, xanthine oxidase is excreted if you drink non-homogenized milk.

So, should you run right out and purchase some raw milk?  Well, I still have a few concerns that don’t make drinking raw milk good for everyone.  There are, for instance, proteins in dairy (pasteurized or not) that are inclined to generate allergic reactions.  I switch off between almond milk and organic whey, but that is simply dictated by my taste buds.  If you are going to drink milk, I still think organic raw milk is a healthier option.

Related Links:

Dairy Operators Question Whether Raw Milk Was the Source of E. Coli

The Safety of Raw Milk