From Adam Heifer
In my time as a health professional I don’t think there is any
other food i've come across that has more controversy and conjures up
such a polarity of opinions as Milk. Although an ongoing source of
confusion for years, a client’s recent inquiry over milk gave me the
impetus to write this article. I will state that my purpose is not to
convince anyone to drink milk or not. This is intended to give a brief,
but thorough understanding and accurate depiction as to why such
polarities of opinions exist. Are both statements right? Well read on
and find out…
Now
milk goes way back as a Superfood- According to Ayurveda (the “science
of life”- A 5000 year old healing system with roots in India) milk has
special and unique nutrition unlike any other food- It is said to
balance emotions and help balance all the “doshas." Acclaimed Indian
Swami Srila Prabhupada stated that milk helps to form and maintain our
“finer brain tissues,” which is a boon in the quest of self realization-
Now that’s quite a statement if you ask me... On the other side of
things, (occurring in the more recent years) milk has been branded a
health risk- linked to cancer, diabetes, allergies, and digestibility
issues.
The main issue to understand when deciphering information
about dairy is that the negative statistics about milk are being
compiled from a product that really isn’t milk in its true form.
Pasteurized, homogenized corn, soy and/or grain fed milk is not really
milk anymore. It falls into the category that Michael Pollan (Omnivores Dilemma) describes as “edible food like substances.”
The entire structure of the product becomes changed and compromised-
This leads to the digestibility issues and health concerns. The
digestibility issue is usually blamed on the pasteurization (heating of
the milk at high temperatures to potentially kill off any “pathogens”),
thus destroying vital enzymes during the process that would allow proper
assimilation of the milk. The greater issue is that during the
heating/pasteurization process the fragile milk proteins are drastically
changed, which leads to deeper digestibility issues. The “milk” becomes
a foreign substance and our body mounts an immune response to it.
Homogenization
breaks the fat molecules down to such a micro level that they can’t be
properly assimilated by our body- It alters the enzymes and fats so that
they enter the bloodstream and can “scar” the arteries, leading to
cholesterol buildups. If that’s not enough, there is the antibiotics and
growth hormone issue that also accompany conventional supermarket milk.
Organic milk may be antibiotic and growth hormone free, but still runs
into the same issues when it’s pasteurized and homogenized. Also, the
nutritional and health value of the milk changes when the cows are
grain, soy, and corn fed (which much of the organic milk is). This is
not their natural diet and it shows up in the quality of the milk.
This is the crux of the issue in regard to conventional, pasteurized milk. Emphasis on the words conventional and pasteurized.
Where the misinformation occurs with milk is when people start making
blanket statements: “Milk is linked to allergies, cancer, contains
antibiotics etc..” This is true for conventional, pasteurized milk, but
doesn’t have anything to do with real milk- I just want to make this distinction clear...
Now
for the other side of things: pure, grass/pasture-fed cows milk is a
whole other story- It is a raw, living, vital food. For as damning as
conventional milk can be for our health, raw milk is equally as
healthy. Many consider it the “wonder tonic” that the Ayurveda deems it,
and the results are there to back it up. Raw milk has been known to
reverse chronic disease and maladies from asthma and eczema to irritable
bowel syndrome. Ingesting in its pure, natural state ensures that
crucial enzymes and beneficial bacteria (such as lactobacillus) are
intact which aids in proper digestion. In fact most people who have
digestibility issues with conventional milk do just fine with grass-fed
raw, real dairy. People all over the world have sworn by raw milk and
dairy for helping them to regain their overall health and vitality back.
Some indigenous people/cultures (who tend to be the healthiest people
in the world) revere raw whole milk and dairy products as a “sacred
food” as they know it to be a cornerstone to their robust mental and
physical health, well being, and good fortune.
The formula for
proper raw milk has to be that the cows are grass fed, and of course the
farmers are conscientious and clean. Raw, grass-fed milk in its pure
state has natural enzymes (its own “defense system”) to protect it from
pathogens. There is no need to process it to protect us from any
contaniments (Pasteurization also kills the pathogen fighting enzymes).
Now there is a reason why other dairy products are pasteurized- Even
organic, grain-fed milk could have contamination issues-It is processed
for your protection.
Sale of raw dairy products are now illegal in most states (but interesting how you can buy Twinkies and an artificially sweetened mega energy drink). If
you decide to try to go the raw route, there are buying clubs you could
get involved with. Just look online, ask around, and do the research.
There are also some grass-fed (but pasteurized) milk options at health
food stores that some do fine with.
I personally avoided most
dairy products for many years- Though the benefits of milk were tied
into my Yoga culture/lineage and I heard from top health professionals
about the deep health advantages of real dairy for quite some time. For
these facts, when I finally had the ability to have access to them, I
gave them a try.
In my training, I have noticed a distinct
difference while starting on a raw heavy cream (a fairly recent
addition). Raw cream is dense in fat soluble vitamins (which regulate
hormones, metabolism, and assist in a healthy immune system), healthy
fats for proper metabolism, Congelated Lineolic Acid/CLA and CoQ10. I
treat it more like a “supplement” than a food (as consumption consists
just of a couple spoonfuls a day), but it has made it into my routine
and I feel great.
*Bonus Section:
Again,
this article isn’t written to dissuade you from, or sway you into
consuming dairy products- We respect all stances, but it isn’t a forum
to get into personal, ethical, or moral issues on dairy consumption. Its
purpose is solely to distinguish the very distinct differences between
conventional milk and raw real milk- We hope you understand the facts a
little better now, and the choice is yours.
Now for those who
choose not to drink milk, there is a whole “milk alternative” industry
vying for your business for what you’re going to put on your cereal or
in your coffee. Some products try to tout as a “healthy alternative”
(from conventional), but realize that none of them have any real health
value.
Once something is put in a carton or can and on a shelf, it’s
been pasteurized and has had the “life” sucked out of it. I would advise
to stay away from any soy alternatives for the myriad of issues associated with conventional soy in general.
I am not crazy on the rice milks either (for the general “dead” reason)
along with the sweeteners and oils they put in with them. If I had to
choose any, I would say go with an unsweetened almond milk- Best choice
yet, learn to make your own live, raw almond milk with soaked almonds.
It takes a little time and energy, but a wonderful and delicious healthy
choice.
Adam is a Reiki Master, certified Health and
Lifestyle counselor, Licensed Massage Therapist, 20 year practicing
bramana initiated Bhakti Yogi, Spiritual advisor, visionary, jock and
veteran of the “hardcore punk scene” all rolled into one. Adam is the
founder of Omkara World and produced the mind/body fitness DVD “Intelligent Fitness."
Click here for Adams past article archive.
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