Raw milk describes milk that comes from cows or other animals that has not been pasteurized. During pasteurization, a process developed by Louis Pasteur in 1864, milk is heated to a specific temperature for a certain amount of time to kill harmful bacteria that can cause disease. The majority of milk sold in the United States is pasteurized milk. Some organizations, such as the Westin A. Price Foundation, support the consumption of raw milk, stating that drinking fresh, unpasteurized milk from grass-fed cows provides many advantages.
Immune System Booster
Those who favor raw milk claim that it contains beneficial bacteria that help to boost the immune system. Raw milk contains natural lymphocytes, antibodies, hormones and growth factors that act on the human immune system and help to prevent the absorption of harmful pathogens, according to the Westin A. Price Foundation. Pasteurization may reduce the presence of these compounds, therefore giving raw milk a health advantage. Pasteurization, however, does not change the nutrient content of milk; raw milk cannot kill or protect against harmful pathogens. In the early 1900s before the widespread use of pasteurized milk, doctors such as J.E. Crewe of the Mayo Foundation reported success using raw milk to cure a variety of diseases.
Decrease Lactose Intolerance
Milk from cows, sheep and goats contains carbohydrates in the form of lactose, a milk sugar. Lactose consists of two simple sugars, glucose and galactose, bound together. Lactase, an enzyme in the digestive tract, breaks down lactose into the simple sugars for absorption. Because your body naturally produces a large amount of lactase at birth and then production gradually declines, many adults develop primary lactose intolerance -- the inability to digest the milk sugar. Raw milk contains Lactobacilli bacteria, which pasteurization can harm, that aids in the breakdown of lactose in the body. Those who experience the uncomfortable symptoms of lactose intolerance, such as gas, bloating and diarrhea, may find relief when consuming raw milk. Although the FDA disputes that raw milk provides an advantage since both raw milk and pasteurized milk contain lactase, a study involving a group of residents in Michigan reported 81 percent of the individuals with a professional diagnosis of lactose intolerance experienced no symptoms after switching to raw milk. Although conducted more as a survey than a scientific study, these results do raise the question of whether raw milk can provide advantages to those with lactose intolerance.
Added Vitamins
Milk is a whole food source of many essential vitamins and minerals. Although the FDA claims that the nutrient content of raw milk and pasteurized milk remains the same, the Nutrition Research Center confirms that the pasteurization process can destroy vitamins, such as vitamin C. Those who support the raw milk movement claim that raw milk contains more vitamin C, calcium, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and vitamin A. Pasteurization does destroy the natural enzymes in raw milk, which help the body absorb nutrients, such as calcium.
Allergy Protection
Raw milk contains a number of active enzymes and vitamins that act as antioxidants, which are substances that protect the cells in the body from damage caused by negatively charged compounds. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that there is no health advantage to drinking raw milk, a study published in "Clinical and Experimental Allergy" in 2006 concluded that consuming fresh farm milk, also known as raw milk, provided protection against asthma and allergies.
Warning
The consumption of raw milk continues to wage a heated debate. Although there is evidence of advantages to drinking raw milk, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control warn against its consumption due to the possibility of bacterial contamination that can lead to serious illness.
References
- The Westin A. Price Foundation: A Campaign for Real Milk
- FDA: Milk Safety
- A Campaign for Real Milk: Lactose Intolerance Survey
- MayoClinic.com: Lactose Intolerance
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Raw Milk
- "Clinical and Experimental Allergy": Inverse Association of Farm Milk Consumption with Asthma and Allergy in Rural and Suburban Populations Across Europe; M. Waser, et al. ; 2006 (PDF)
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