Raw Milk 101

There is a lot of controversy surrounding Raw Milk, and I am passionate about discussing this topic with you!

Pasteurized Milk versus Raw Milk

The pasteurization process is when the milk is heated to 150 degrees for at least a half hour and then reducing the temperature. This process accomplishes two things; First, it kills the bacteria and nutrients out of the milk, and secondly, it transforms the physical structure of the milk protein to prevent the milk from souring.

The pasteurization process destroys good bacteria and digestive enzymes. Because the important nutrients are gone, companies fortify their milk with vitamins and minerals.

Another effect of the pasteurization process, is that the milk’s natural sugar, called lactose, turns into beta-lactose. Ever heard of “lactose intolerance”? Someone who is lactose intolerant is unable to digest the beta-lactose found in milk products. Interestingly enough, someone who is lactose intolerant is able to drink raw milk without any adverse effects.

I have personally read about this “theory” for years, but I wanted to find out for myself whether this was actually true. I had my husband, who is lactose intolerant, drink a cup of raw milk. He was admittedly nervous about a possible reaction, but drank the raw milk anyways. To his surprise, he had no issue with drinking the raw milk! The next day, he had another cup of raw milk. Still no problems! The reason he had no issues is because the natural digestive enzymes in raw milk weren’t heated out of the milk, and he was able to digest it just fine.

Raw Milk for consumption comes from grass fed cows (no grains) that are not given any hormones of any kind. The milk from these cows do not go through pasteurization or homogenization processes, and all of the beneficial bacteria, enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins are present.

Is Raw Milk Safe?

Almost any food source poses a possible risk of getting someone sick, so there is a possibility of becoming sick from drinking contaminated raw milk. Fortunately, the risk of getting sick from raw milk is very small. Let me explain the two types of raw milk to understand the risk.

The dairy cows used to produce the pasteurized milk sold in the United States are fed grains, given hormones, and are raised in very unsanitary conditions. These conditions affect the cow’s health and the quality of their milk. These factory farming conditions are the reasons why the milk has to be pasteurized in the first place. If this milk wasn’t pasteurized, it wouldn’t be safe to drink.

Organic farms that allow their cows to roam freely and eat grass (which is much healthier for them), they produce milk that is safe to drink without the pasteurization process. In addition to this, the milk coming from these cows must meet or exceed pasteurized milk standards without ever pasteurizing the milk.

The FDA is trying to ban raw milk, saying that it is unsafe for consumption, yet their is no evidence to back this claim up. I have heard about more salmonella outbreaks coming from peanut butter than I ever have from raw milk.

Here is an excerpt from the Weston A. Price Foundation website, which further explains 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.

Why Raw Milk is Illegal in some states

Public health officials have warned consumers that raw milk poses the risk of transmitting bacteria, such as salmonella. Their concern has given them their rationalization for pasteurizing the milk. The pasteurization process extends the milk’s shelf life, making it much more profitable for the dairy industry.

As more consumers are realizing the benefits of raw milk over pasteurized, one would think the dairy industry would follow suit and meet the new demands. Unfortunately, because of the conditions of their farms, they simply cannot produce raw milk that would be safe for consumption. They would have to have more land for their cows to roam freely. They would have to allow the cows to develop naturally rather than giving them growth hormones to speed up the process of milk production. The factory farms would have to make a lot of changes. They rely a lot on the pasteurization process, since it allows them to produce more milk in less amount of time, which means more money.

It all comes down to this: The reason for the ban is based on profit rather than safety.

Campaign for Real (Raw) Milk

Protect your right to choose raw dairy! You can help by joining the Raw Milk Campaign, which is a project created by the Weston A. Price Foundation.

If you would like to benefit from raw milk, you can find raw milk that is from healthy and clean cows that are grass fed.

Everyday you are voting. How? You vote with your pocket book.

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Tags: enzymes, Healthy, illegal, milk, Nutrition, Pasteurized, raw milk, truth

The rest of the world…

“The rest of the world lives to eat, while I eat to live”
-Socrates

Remember your body needs fuel. Nutrition, Enzymes, Minerals, etc. are what your body needs, which is fuel. When I read this quote from Socrates, I fell in love with this method of living, which is to eat to live. Smart.

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Tags: body needs fuel, enzymes, method of living, Nutrition, quote, Socrates

Health Benefits of Honey

Honey is very good for you, but you must know that not all Honey is created equal. Before I go into the many Health Benefits of Honey, I want to first share with you several different types of Honey, so you can be sure you are only getting the best out there.

Different Types of Honey

Honey

Just because you are buying “Honey”, doesn’t mean it is truly “All Natural”. Most honey on today’s market is processed, leaving out all of the good stuff, which is the reason why you would want honey in the first place!

Commercial Honey (the typical Honey bear you see on store shelves) is treated with an intensive heating process that destroys the nutrients of Honey. Don’t always trust your Local Honey either, since many of them will use very little local honey, and then they will mix it with other commercial or off-shore (cheaper) brands of Honey- and yes, they can call it “Local”.

Raw Honey

Raw honey isn’t processed, but is minimally filtered. In it’s pure and raw state still in tact, you will be able to enjoy the maximum amount of honey’s natural antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and vital phytonutrients, where all the nutrients are still preserved.

With Raw Honey, you won’t get that perfect golden glow look of Honey, but you will get the enzymes that help you digest honey, which is something your body needs.

Raw Creamed Honey

If you want to buy Raw Creamed Honey (my favorite), just be sure that is is un-filtered and you will receive the same health benefits of regular Raw Honey.

Certified Organic Raw Honey

For Honey to be Certified Organic, the beehives must be miles away from dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fieldstreated with chemicals and/or landfills. Bees have a natural 4 mile flying radius, so finding the land that can meet the strict requirements  for Certified Organic Raw Honey can prove to be quite difficult. Yet,  the Honey from the wild vegetation can create some of the best tasting Honey on the market.

Nutritional Benefits

Raw Honey is a source of simple carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on which flowers the honeybees went to, the Honey itself may include…

Vitamins: Niacin, Riboflavin and Pantothenic Acid

Minerals: Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc

Raw Honey has a polyphenols, which act as an antioxidant.

Healing properties of Honey

Raw Honey is an oral antibacterial (polyphenols). Raw Honey has been used as a natural treatment for many things, including coughs, sore throats, and even healing infections and burns.

Children with diarrhea are usually given some kind of sugar solution to help rehydrate them, but others have found that if you use Raw Honey instead, the Honey kills the bacteria in the intenstines, and stops the diarrhea altogether.

There is a Raw Honey that is indigenous to New Zealand, and people have found that the Raw Honey taken daily (4 tablespoons) was able to reduce the symptoms of the stomach Ulcer. The Honey helps because it is able to kill the bacteria that causes the stomach ulcers in the first place.

Now that you see the Many Health and Healing Benefits of Honey, you now have plenty of reason to replace your Sugar with it in no time!

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Tags: antioxidant, antioxidants, beneficial, calcium, Certified Organic Raw Honey, Copper, Creamed Honey, enzymes, Healing, Healthy, honey, iron, Magnesium, Manganese, minerals, natural, Niacin, Organic, Organic Raw Honey, Pantothenic Acid, Phosphorus, phytonutrients, polyphenols, potassium, Raw Honey, Riboflavin, vital phytonutrients, vitamins, Zinc