We’ve been getting all sorts of questions about dairy lately, especially around the many different types of milk options out there. So hopefully this post will clear some things up. Later this month we’ll be sharing our thoughts on cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and other dairy products as well so be sure to stay tuned!
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Raw Milk
Before our switch to real food I honestly had no idea what “raw milk” even was. I actually remember the day I first discovered that there's an entire world out there of raw milk advocates complete with websites, blogs, non-profit organizations, and the like. I’ve learned that the people who drink raw milk really LOVE their raw milk and feel strongly about their choice.
Raw milk is literally the way the milk comes out of the cow. It has not been pasteurized (heated to kill pathogens) or homogenized (processed to suspend fat globules) in any way, shape, or form. In the most basic terms it’s exactly what the calves get. And I actually think this quote from Wikipedia sums up why raw milk can be such a heated topic these days:
“Health food proponents tout the benefits of raw milk and the ills of pasteurization and homogenization. The medical community warns of the dangers of not pasteurizing milk. Preferences vary from region to region.” – Wikipedia
So speaking of our “region” raw milk is actually illegal here in North Carolina. I’ve had many people tell me I can drive just over the border into South Carolina to buy some, but to be honest I was actually kind of relieved that I didn’t have to make the tough decision if we should drink raw milk or not. I know the advocates say raw milk can cure all your ailments (or something like that), but others say there are health risks with milk that hasn’t been pasteurized (which kills both potentially harmful and beneficial bacteria – just like cooking raw meat).
So I’ve basically chosen to just stay out of it and drink the milk that is available to us here in town, which is obviously a personal choice that has been influenced by the state in which we live.
Plus I tried raw milk once and it didn’t exactly taste like the “milk” I am used to drinking (and enjoy), but I am certainly very happy for everyone who drinks raw milk and loves it. To each his own!
Pasteurized, Non-Homogenized, Whole Milk (from Grass-Fed Cows)
This is the type of milk that we’ve determined to be the least processed milk available here in North Carolina, and what we started drinking sometime last year. My whole 33 years prior to that I mainly drank skim milk so let me tell you what I was SCARED to gradually go from skim to whole (we briefly drank 2% in-between).
I did it though and honestly have never looked back. The milk we drink now is soooo good and fresh…it tastes how I think milk should taste! And to offset the switch to full-fat dairy we also reduced our consumption a bit, which helped from a budgeting standpoint as well.
The brand we buy is called Homestead Creamery (I get it from Earth Fare - pictured above) and it’s from cows that are mostly - but not 100% - grass-fed. Cows were designed by evolution to eat grass (not corn) so they are healthier when they do, which in turn gives more nutritious animal products to us as a result.
The milk we buy is also pasteurized at a slightly lower temperature than standard grocery store milk so for me I feel like this gets us a little bit closer to that whole “raw milk” option without going all the way. And while Homestead Creamery is not USDA Certified Organic they do follow all organic practices. Getting officially certified is expensive and timely so it’s always good to ask this question when purchasing from smaller farms.
Organic Milk
If you can’t find local, grass-fed, non-homogenized milk in your area then I think a “big brand” (i.e. Organic Valley or Horizon) of organic, whole milk is the next best bet. One downfall of highly commercialized organic milk though is that it’s actually ultra-pasteurized at a high temperature, which leaves even less beneficial bacteria.
This is why the expiration dates are sometimes further out than their conventional counterparts. I am not sure if they did this to give organic a longer shelf life (before it started becoming more popular), but regardless that’s the way it’s done and it usually says it right there on the package so it’s not a secret.
As I once heard Dr. Oz say though you can’t “peel” or “wash” off dairy like you can when it comes to conventional produce so I agree with his advice to go organic when it comes to dairy products (including milk).
Low-Fat Milk
As part of our switch to real food we did away with all low-fat and non-fat products, including milk. You can read more about that switch in our “Mini-Pledge Week 6: No Low-Fat, Lite or Nonfat Food Products” post. In short, according to Michael Pollan in his book In Defense of Food:
“To make dairy products low fat, it’s not enough to remove the fat. You then have to go to great lengths to preserve the body or creamy texture by working in all kinds of food additives. In the case of low-fat or skim milk, that usually means adding powdered milk. But powdered milk contains oxidized cholesterol, which scientists believe is much worse for your arteries than ordinary cholesterol, so food makers sometimes compensate by adding antioxidants, further complicating what had been a simple one-ingredient whole food. Also, removing the fat makes it that much harder for your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins that are one of the reasons to drink milk in the first place.” - Michael Pollan
After recently learning that the orange juice industry doesn’t even include their mysterious “flavor packs” (to keep the juice tasting the same year-round) on their list of ingredients I wouldn’t count on seeing “powdered milk” listed as in ingredient on your skim milk jug anytime soon either.
Long story short - I don’t think anyone can argue that low-fat and skim milk isn’t “more processed” than whole milk, which is of course one of our family’s top concerns when it comes to making food choices.
Milk Alternatives
Some people just can’t tolerate dairy and thankfully for them there are all sorts of milk alternatives out there these days. I do want to say though that I don't personally believe there’s any reason to avoid dairy unless you have an allergy or intolerance.
If you are one of those that needs to skip the lactose be sure to look for milk alternatives that are unsweetened, but no matter what always read the ingredients. My top choices would be either unsweetened full-fat coconut milk or almond milk…or even brown rice milk. Soy is already an additive in so many packaged foods so I would favor some of the other choices out there instead.
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Question: What kind of milk do you drink (and why)?
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Local Dairy Resources
To search for local farms in your area that might offer grass-fed dairy products like milk check out the following resources:
Adam says
To clarify, not all organic homogenized milk is ULTRA-pasteurized. Only milk in cardboard cartons is ULTRA-pasteurized, the milk is plastic is only "pasteurized". From my understanding, VAT-pasteurized is at about 145 for 30 minutes, normal "pasteurized" is a short time at about 190, and ULTRA-pasteurized is pressure heated to above boiling for a very short time. So, I will always choose milk in plastic over milk in cardboard.
Wendi Wilkins says
We switched to raw milk back in December of 2011 and my only regret is that I didn't know about this gem earlier in my life. Like most of America, I had to buy the lie that the medical community knows what's best for us, when all they're really looking out for is the big money that flows so freely through the whole system. As long as it's available to me, I will continue to feed my family (and, yes, Debora, my kids) raw milk and raw milk products because I do not believe that M.D.s have our best interests at heart.
Also, isn't the statement, "designed by evolution" an oxymoron? :^)
Christine says
Since they stopped selling raw milk at Whole Foods and elsewhere it is so expensive(it's actually illegal to sell for human consumption here in FL), we use mostly unsweetened whole coconut milk and unsweetened almond milk for cooking and have stopped drinking milk. I would buy only raw milk for my kids to drink if I could find it at a farm close by at a reasonable price. I highly recommend checking out this website about real milk. It has links on where to buy raw milk in your state: http://realmilk.com/
Debora says
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2012/04/raw_milk_from_wilsonville_farm.html
Joylene says
I love my raw milk from my local farmer. And my son loves visiting the farm with me every week and saying hi to the cows and calves. It's a really fun weekly outing. Good milk and nice to support a family farm.
Rebecca Carter says
I'm vegan and use Almond or Coconut Milk. My kids have been breastfed for a long time and never wanted any other kind of milk. They drink water. My husband occasionally uses lowfat organic cow's milk for his cereal.
Lori says
I drink whole milk from the grocery store. A. it tastes better B. it fills me up, great post-workout snack C. life is too short to live it low fat. ;) But seriously. I grew up on a dairy farm in southwest WI. We used to drink the milk straight from the bulk tank - meaning raw. All was good until my sister started getting sick. Took her to the Dr. and he told my mom she needed to start pasteurizing the milk we drink. Low and behold - that was it. I guess she was just more sensitive to the bacteria than the rest of us were. As you say, to each their own, but raw milk was intended for baby cows, not humans. So while we can drink it and get nutrients from it, It's no surprise we need to do a few things to it to make sure we don't get sick from it when we drink it.
Kathryn says
I've got to give my 2 cents. We always drank skim milk from the grocery store until our 2nd daughter came along with a SEVERE milk/soy allergy (from birth). Through introducing solids to her, and reading EVERY ingredient label (even caramel coloring can contain a trace of milk!), I came to the conclusion that we don't NEED milk. We need the calcium and vitamin D that comes from milk. You can find that in tons of other sources, and thankfully, my kids LOVE vegetables and fruits. Neither one really likes milk anyway. I do buy Horizon milk when necessary for cooking, etc., but I don't push milk on them. They don't care for the taste anyway, and I won't flavor it, so our choice of beverage is water. We stopped drinking milk w/ cereal for breakfast when I started making homemade granola bars. Good stuff!
Alyssa says
We get raw milk from a farmer in Wisconsin- where it is illegal and he's been in court and we are still fighting to legalize it. We love it and if we didn't have access to raw, we wouldn't drink milk. I know we are healthier for having it. We do know our farmer and know it's sourced from a clean, small, grass fed dairy. My children love it and have been healthier for having it.
You can get sick from anything these days. The risks from getting sick from raw milk are so minimal if you get it from a good source. Making it illegal because of this risk is absurd when you consider more people get sick and die from cantaloupe, lettuce, spinach and peanut butter. (And for some reasons these mass producers never get punished either.)
People who drink raw milk do so with much study and forethought. Most folks hardly put one iota of thought into what they put into their mouths. If you choose raw milk- good for you! If you don't- good for you, but don't take away others rights to do so.
Thanks for the post! :)
liz says
Hi, Lisa! I use Lakeview per your suggestion last year. I know it's the same as the milk at Earthfare, but we go thru so much, that it's nice to have those big glass bottles at your front stoop. Any reason for your switch? The cost difference seems pretty minimal. Just want to make sure i'm in the loop. thanks!
100 Days of Real Food says
I am glad you are enjoying Lakeview...it's a great local business! The only reason for my switch is that I already go to Earth Fare every week so even though the cost difference is small it's worth it to me since I am going there anyway.
Tiffany says
Our family started avoiding dairy about 2 1/2 years ago-there is a ton of research out there about why dairy products are harmful. Our number one reason is that we have two daughters who are type 1 diabetics, and studies have shown that dairy products trigger type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune disorders, which I am desperately trying to avoid with my two youngest children. Luckily, there are so many dairy alternatives. We love almond milk and soy yogurt. We use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. Check out all the information and you may switch!
Wendy says
I am so glad for this post because it is something I have been looking into. I have been buying organic but have become interested in finding a more local way to buy my milk. I recently found some, sold at a store, from a local (to my state) dairy. It is gently pasteurized and non-homogenized just like yours and they too are not "certified" organic but follow organic practices. I am glad to hear that is just fine. The cows are grass fed as well as probably some grain (especially in the winter) but they grow their own feed. And the milk comes in glass jars which I return to the store to be sent back. As far as low fat vs full fat, we actually need the fat. Our brains are mostly fat and we deprive ourselves important nutrition when we switch everything to no fat (not talking bad fats here) and it does our whole body good to feed it good fats.
Jennifer says
My husband and I have switched to almond milk because cow's milk made us bloated and gassy! I'm having trouble convincing my 9 year old. She doesn't like the almond milk and recently said she just won't drink milk anymore. :( Maybe organic cow's milk would be the choice for her?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Jennifer. Assuming she doesn't have a dairy issue and you are comfortable with it, give the cow's milk a try, preferably whole. Good luck.
Sara says
We drink non-homogenized that is from a local farm. I love that it comes in glass bottles that we can turn back in for a large discount (or cash) so we are recycling too!
I hope when you do your posts on yogurt, sour cream, cheese, etc., that you would consider making your own and posting recipes and such. I have made my first batch of mozzarella but am planning on doing my own yogurt, sour cream, etc in the future!
Erin Brown says
Yogurt is way easier than mozzarella! Do you have a stainless-steel pot? You do not want to use aluminum for making dairy products, because aluminum is reactive. I don't really know what that means, but I know to use the stainless-steel! Heh.
Anyway, you just scald four parts milk, then put the pot into your sink with cool water so that you bring the temperature down to room temp. Thoroughly mix in one part plain yogurt. Let the mixture sit, tightly covered, in a warm area for up to 24 hours. (Some people use their oven if they have a pilot light; others place the mixture next to a fireplace, space heater, or wood-burning stove.) After the yogurt is set, pour or scoop it into a very clean container and refrigerate.
Cori says
If we buy milk, we get organic whole milk from the grocery, but since my daughter doesn't really like milk, we don't get it very often. And my hubby is lactose intolerant so we buy original almond milk for cooking in things. None of us actually enjoy just drinking milk or almond milk.
Carrie says
We buy the same type as you. It's illegal to sell raw milk here in GA too, unless it's for pets. I love my milk though, plus it's great for making yogurt!!
Courtney says
Oh, and if you'd like more truthful information than the CDC, google "Harvard study and raw milk findings" it's one step in the right direction.
Amanda B says
I recently found your site and have been starting slowly with your mini challenges. I have to say the 6th week - switching to full fat dairy - scares the crap out of me. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm sure it has to do with diet books that have ingrained the idea that fat is bad in my head since I was a teenager. Full fat?! Yikes! I think that will be my most challenging week yet...I'm not sure if I can do it. Right now I drink regular skim milk and I love it. Wish me luck.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Amanda. Check out our posts on milk here...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/08/12/milk-–-good-or-bad/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/. Good luck. Jill
Leigh Anne says
We drink homestead creamery milk as well. We buy whole non-homogenized Creamline, the gold cap. It's sooooo yummy. My whole family loves milk but we used to go through up 4 gallons a week. When we switched to this milk we had to cut back to be able to afford it, which is a good thing. I buy only one gallon (2 half gallons) a week now? We pay $10 including the $4 deposit but we get it back when we return the glass bottles. I can't say enough positive things about this milk. Delicious!! They also carry the butter in my area too.
emily says
We drink raw milk and love it. We have visited the farm and feel confident that their cleanliness standards exceed the highest expectations.
Debora... it is horrible that those girls are sick from raw milk but your conclusion that therefore you should never drink raw milk period is ill founded. People get deathly sick from many foods: spinach, cantaloupe, and even pasteurized milk. I doubt you are advocating the immediate end to consuming foods that can cause serious illness... but if you are please check the CDC website and you'll realize you have much bigger fish to fry than raw milk.
Shannon says
Lisa, thanks for bridging the milk issue - which for some reason is one of my biggest dilemmas! I guess because my family drinks so much of it. :) We choose either Homestead Creamery also, or the SC raw milk. Or, if all else fails, Organic Valley.
I wanted to mention the Cornucopia Institute, if you don't already know of it, which scores dairy producers (among other things). http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html
According to them, all "big organic" is not the same. Organic Valley is rated four out of five cows, while Horizon gets a 0 cow rating. My understanding is that some "organic" companies (like Horizon) purchase cows that were raised conventionally. They may even trade cows back and forth with conventional factory farms, so that sick cows go to the factory farm for some time for antibiotics, and then are returned to the "organic" farm. Rather duplicitious.
I look forward to your next dairy post! I need some help on that front. :)
Karen says
Shannon, thanks for posting the link to the Cornicopia Institute. It's great to be able to get more information about the different companies.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Shannon. Thanks for sharing the link and related information. Our team is glad you enjoyed the post. Jill
Liz says
We drink coconut milk and almond milk because I don't like the taste of milk and my husband doesn't like paying $6 per half-gallon of the whole, organic, non-homogenized milk our one-year-old drinks (hubby drinks A LOT of milk). Where I live, raw milk is fairly easy to obtain, but I have no desire to go that route.
Looking forward to your post on organic dairy. We have switched to almost all organic dairy products, but cheese seems to be extremely difficult to find and much more expensive compared with organic yogurt or cottage cheese. I have yet to figure out why this is the case.
Erin Brown says
Hi, Liz! I bet that the deal with the cheese is that it takes a long time and a lot of space for artisan cheesemakers to produce the kind of cheese that you like. The quick cheeses are queso fresco, labneh, cottage cheese, paneer.... slower cheeses are Parmesan (which actually requires raw milk), cheddar, Swiss.... Usually, the harder and stronger-flavored the cheese, the longer it takes to produce for the cheesemaker.
I buy milk and cream, then make my own yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, and cheese. I do have to buy a small container of yogurt and one of buttermilk every now and again for fresh starters, but that's not often.
Courtney says
We made the switch from organic whole to raw just this last march. We live in California, and we are getting it from a local dairy that was about to go under because the way he raises his herd was more expensive than the creameries were willing to pay him for his milk. While I do acknowledge there are "risks" with raw milk, they are far, FAR, fewer than the risks associated with eating improperly cooked poultry, beef and some raw. Vegetables! Remember the spinach and can't elope recalls? They actuall killed....most of the hospitalization cases against raw milk have proven to show that the milk was contaminated after delivery to the consumer. Aka, improper handling. In any case, I do feed it to my children, and I have seen dramatic improvements in my children's health. It is expensive, but not as expensive as medical treatments for cancer and other horrible diseases that are being linked back to the SAD diet of the general populace. We are raw milk drinkers for life. The next best thing is what your drinking, flash-pasteurized, non-homogenized organic milk. Great post, I'm glad the word is getting out. Information is power, when it's truthful!
Debora says
"Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria that can make you very sick or kill you. Pasteurized milk has many health benefits. Raw milk is not any healthier than pasteurized milk and can carry illness-causing bacteria," said Katrina Hedberg, M.D., M.P.H., Oregon Public Health Division state epidemiologist.
Public health officials advise against drinking unpasteurized milk. While it is possible to get foodborne illnesses from many different foods, raw milk is one of the riskiest of all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Liz says
From what I've seen, people who drink raw milk are aware of the risks and they have made this choice for themselves and their families. You might not agree with them, but it is their choice, not yours.
Susan says
Debora- Let's think beyond what you said here. If there is one thing I've learned since becoming a "real foodie" is that they last place I should turn to for any reliable information is from a government agency. Of course the CDC (or someone from a state agency, as well)is going to tell us that raw milk is bad for us because they want us to drink pasteurized milk. The National Dairy Council lines politicians pockets, and in return he/she will tout whatever message the donater wants them to. I saw an interview with a senator recently where he admitted he voted yes on a bill, but had no idea what it said, simply because the bill represented someone who had generated to his campaign fund. If you really want to see how the public is horn-swaggled by the government then watch the movie "Fat Head."
Leah says
Lol, I thought the same thing. I've developed rampant mistrust for the government after reading these types of food blogs, etc. Whoops, for this post my house will probably get bugged while I'm out ;)
Jenifer says
Agreed Susan. I don't care what you're talking about, a big government agency of any sort (CDC, USDA, etc) is not where I'll be getting my information if I want it to be unbiased. (And I honestly have no dog in this fight, so to speak, as I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about raw milk.)
Michelle says
Well said Susan. Like Jenifer we do not follow the perscribed USDA guidelines for anything. If my great-great-grandmother would not see something as "food" we do not eat it.
Julie says
Actually, there is more illness from processed deli meat than from raw milk.
Carol sanders says
I'd like to see your evidence. Also, deli meat is another thing that should be avoided. If your consuming raw milk than you would be avoiding deli meat or really most processed food.
Meredith says
Here is a good, unbiased, article about the dangers of raw milk and a companion article about the benefits. Yes, there is an increased risk of illness when drinking raw milk, but it is nowhere near as dangerous as the CDC or FDA would make you believe. After weighing the slightly increased risk against the greatly increased benefits, my family has chosen raw milk.
http://chriskresser.com/raw-milk-reality-is-raw-milk-dangerous
http://chriskresser.com/raw-milk-reality-benefits-of-raw-milk
Sarah LJ says
We drink organic store bought and sometimes raw milk. Through some family members, we found a few places in the state that sell raw milk, but haven't found a local dairy we can buy from (pasteurized or raw). So, we usually buy organic from the grocery store, but take raw milk when we can get our hands on some. We've tried raw cow's milk and it tastes so much better to me than the milk you get in a store. What we usually drink is raw goat's milk, though, because it is easier to find. Goat's milk does have a different taste and you have to get used to it. My husband won't drink it, but my kid's don't mind it. I feel better about it because I know where it came from.
Debora says
http://www.ktvz.com/news/30889503/detail.html
Jean says
LOVE our raw milk here in VA!! It's the only milk I'll serve my kiddos :). Know your farmer! Erin-have your daughter look into the history of why milk started being pasteurized. It's really fascinating. Not the kind of cows/operation we're getting our milk from!!!!
Debora says
http://www.about-hus.com/
CE says
I don't know enough about blogging to know how to do this properly, but this post is timely as I just posted on the Week 6 mini-pledge and it mostly changed how we drink milk.
I'll make sure to add this post as another resource, thanks!
Debora says
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/teen-with-e-coli-linked-to-raw-milk-in-critical-condition/
Michelle says
E-coli is also linked to every step in the modern western food chain. As of right now there is an e-coli outbreak and the cause has not been found. To lay all blame at raw-milk is the same as never eating spinach again, even if you grow it yourself in your garden. I do not have any source of raw milk in my area, but if I did it would be in my kid's diet. Humans have been drinking milk and all its forms for most of our history.
Lulu says
My daughter had milk when she was younger and likes it okaaaay... but I have never pushed milk on her at all. She likes chocolate milk and she gets some as a treat sometimes, but his pretty much sums up why I'm not a milk-pusher
http://www.godairyfree.org/Personal-Stories/Personal-Stories/Don-t-Drink-Your-Milk.html
Debora says
I MUST comment. I am in Oregon...you can google this. We just recently had two young teens hospitalized for over a month...one is still there as I write this, with E. Coli from drinking raw, unpasteurized milk from a co-op farm. Our friends almost lost their daughter because she drank a glass of raw milk while at a girlfriend's house. Her kidneys shut down and it was a life or death matter for days. It also affected other organs...she was on dialysis for a month! She has just gone home, returned to school for half days, is on high blood pressure medication, and kidneys are remarkably functioning at 68% now....all answers to prayer. The other young teen girl is still hospitalized. Over a month later, she is recovering and rehabilitating from swelling on the brain, high blood pressure, kidney failure, fluid on her heart, colitis...she was on death's door. PLEASE....do not allow your children to drink raw milk. Period.
Carol sanders says
My son was hospitalized with HUS not from contaminated raw milk but it was caused from ecoli. I would never wish anyone to go through what we went through. It's been 7 months and of course are still healing. We are scared of what complications my bring him in the future. A nightmare that no one should have to go through.
Trish says
My family has been drinking raw milk for years with absolutely no problems. You have to know your farmer and understand/trust his processes and practices. Pasteurization only started because people moved further away from farms and milk had to be transported safely. If you transport it and store it correctly, there are no health issues. Our milk comes from grass fed cows. If you're drinking store bought milk, even organic, not only is it lacking the natural nutrients, healthy omega-3 fats and beneficial bacteria, you're getting the negative aspects of cows fed a diet of genetically-modified corn. Corn is not the cow’s natural diet and it causes a myriad of health problems which are treated with mass doses of antibiotics. Commercial dairy cows are also given hormones to increase growth and milk production. THAT milk is more dangerous in my eyes than any risk that may be posed by and possible risk associated with raw milk.
Sage says
That sicknesses post must be An industry troll.Raw milk KILLS e-coli, not people. It has been consumed safely for millennia. My family of 5 has been drinking raw for at least 3 years without incident.
Victoria Bonilla-Snead says
Wow I didn't know there was different types of milk... We drink Coconut milk due to the fact we have food allergies to whole milk, soy, and almonds... Coconut milk is the only thing I and the kids can drink, but for my husband I will definitely look into this since he's the only one who doesn't drink coconut milk.
DMH says
We recently watched the documentary "Forks Over Knives", which convinced us to remove cow milk from our grocery list. We are adapting to soy, almond and rice milk. Some of the options are better than others - it has been trial and error.
Flosshea says
Our family saw this film and a handful of other food documentaries that all seemed to point to cutting cow's milk from our diet. My boys used to have issues with diarrhea, but not since we stopped drinking cow's milk. They loved coconut and almond milk. I've even learned how to bake with these milk alternatives.
Annette says
While it was a compelling documentary, I'm convinced they were referring to conventional cows milk (and meat) as it would be impossible to provide data like that on the limited scale of those who consume the pure and natural options. My husband made the same changes as you mentioned for about two weeks and found himself utterly depleted. He is an athlete so I think his needs are different. While I do believe a balanced vegan diet is possible (maybe not for an athlete) it is certainly not easy and I applaud your efforts. We decided that for our family limited intake of raw milk and grass/vegetarian fed meats is our best balance.
Sarah says
Another wonderful alternative is goat's milk! Goat's milk is more easily digested and is less allergenic than cow's milk. It even has more calcium, although it has less vitamin B12 and folic acid (for those who pay lots of attention to that kind of stuff). Goat's milk and goat's cheese has been such a blessing to our family. Two out of my three kids can not tolerate any cow's milk, but have ZERO issues with goat's milk- and it is 100% natural- yay!
Elisabeth says
What an excellent post! We love organic non homogenized in our home. We haven't found raw yet in our area. But when we lived in FL we would get the raw if we happened to be at the health food store. Otherwise it was just organic from anywhere. My in laws couldn't stand that we gave our kids raw and would give them "regular" milk if we weren't around so we had to start pouring it in Organic containers so they would actually give it to them! And thanks for the sponsor post. I am in dire need of new pots and pans and wanted something that could go from stove to oven. Thanks!!!!
Kacie says
We are in GA and I had made the switch to Raw milk and real food because of some severe allergies to the preservatives and I was tired of taking steroids and allergy medications to treat all my various issues. I love it! It was the best choice my husband and I made and I can say - it has made a significant impact on my overall digestive health and well being! I can hardly drink "regular" store bought milk anymore!
Erin Brown says
I buy raw milk and raw cream from a farmer who lives near me. He also is an organic farmer who doesn't mess around with getting his farm certified - way too expensive! I don't drink milk, but I make cheese, yogurt, butter, buttermilk, and sour cream. I prefer raw milk for what I do. The end result tastes much better. My daughter says, "Pasteurization started happening for a reason, Mama." Yup, she's right. I choose to take the risk of using raw milk/cream anyway.
Carrie says
Pasturization started happening because some farms didn't follow all the safe production practices. It's like using hand sanitizer when you can't get to soap and water. Soap and water works best (compare to correct practices) but sanitizer is better than nothing (compare to pasturization)
Erin Brown says
I like that way of thinking of it, Carrie!
gggeek says
Pasteurization started because they moved cows into the basements of buildings in the city because before the days of refrigeration there wasn't a way for growing cities to be supplied with fresh milk. Of course raising a cow in a basement isn't exactly a clean or natural method and as you can imagine it resulted in some pretty nasty contaminated milk. It had literally nothing to do with farms screwing up; it was about cows being forced to live in a basement.
Shawn says
I haven't found a dairy close enough yet, so we buy organic. I usually have to drive about 15 miles one way to get it, so unfortunately, if we run out in between trips, I buy regular store milk.
heather e says
We also live in NC, and chose the same way you did. We are also fortunate to have an actual dairy nearby ( Homeland Creamery) that we can purchase dairy from, low temp pasteurized. The cows are free to roam and graze and a visit to the farm is always ok. We supplement with store bought organic when we have to but prefer Homeland Creamery milk as well.