Most milk in the supermarket is pasteurized milk, which has undergone heating to kill any bacteria or other microbes in the milk before its sale. Raw milk, which may be part of a raw food diet, is only minimally processed and has not undergone pasteurization. Consuming raw milk provides a source of several minerals, but it also presents possible health risks.
Calcium
One of the main minerals present in raw milk is calcium. This mineral plays important roles in your body. Calcium allows for electrical nerve impulses, called action potentials; it interacts with proteins within your muscle cells to promote muscle contraction; and it acts as a communication molecule to send chemical signals to cells in your body. Calcium also forms a large component of the mineral that makes up your teeth and bones, and it may help prevent osteoporosis.
Potassium
Raw milk also contains potassium, another essential mineral. Like calcium, potassium contributes to nerve conduction and muscle functioning. Dietary potassium might also help protect against stroke. Consuming dairy products, including raw milk, can help fight against the muscle weakness, abnormal heart rhythms or even muscle paralysis that can result from potassium deficiency.
Selenium
Selenium in your body makes up a key component of a family of enzymes, called selenoproteins. These proteins help support your metabolism, help regulate your immune system and inflammation, and contribute to thyroid functioning. Consuming dairy products like raw milk -- along with other selenium-rich foods such as halibut and Brazil nuts -- supports proper selenoprotein function.
Warnings
Despite the potential health benefits that come from consuming the minerals in raw milk, this milk also poses health risks. Unlike pasteurized milk, which undergoes a sterilization process to prevent bacterial growth, raw milk provides a rich environment for the growth of microbes. The Baylor College of Medicine indicates that raw milk supports the growth of several pathogens, including listeria, salmonella, Escherichia coli and even the rabies virus. To avoid these health risks, choose pasteurized milk over raw milk, as pasteurized milk contains the same beneficial vitamins and minerals as its raw counterpart.
Member Comments