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:
essie says
I mean this in no rude way at all, but I just have to say, "Cows were designed by evolution to eat grass (not corn)" is such a contradiction! Yes, cows were designed to eat grass.. by God!! He is the creator, sustainer & "designer" of all things in nature. If you believe in evolution it wouldn't make sense to also believe in design because random acts cannot design things...they are random.
Ginger says
I don't normally post, but just wanted to encourage you by saying "thanks". His design is wonderful!
essie says
Ginger- I am very encouraged at your reply to me! Thank you!! :)
Heather says
This isn't a blog about religion, it's a blog about food. You're free to believe whatever you want but that doesn't mean that everyone has to feel the same way.
Christina says
I have found a local dairy close to me that sells raw milk. Their website says it is local, Grade "A", rBST-free, and their cows are pasture-fed. Is that enough to look for, or do I also need to make sure the grass the cows are eating aren't treated with pesticides?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Christina. I would also focus on the farm itself in terms of how clean it is, what their sterilization process is for their equipment, etc. You want to be sure the product you are consuming is safe too. Jill
Stacey says
Currently I am buying whole organic milk from the grocery store. I've found a few dairy farmers locally that are selling milk and cheese. I'm interested in switching, but I'm unsure what questions to ask to ensure I'm making a better choice. Any advice?
Amanda Brown says
I would recommend visiting the farm in person and asking detailed questions regarding how the cows are fed, milked, and treated when sick (e.g. are antibiotics used; is the cow separated from the herd during that time of illness). Ideally, the cows would be on a 100% grass-fed diet. Any farm worth purchasing milk from will be willing to share about the steps they take to ensure the milk remains cold and uncontaminated. This is especially important if you are purchasing raw milk; I'd never buy that from someone I couldn't meet and get to know personally.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Stacey. I would just be sure you get to know your dairy farmer and their practices. You may want to ask them some of the following questions (depending on the size of the farm, not all of these may apply):
• Do you test for pathogens? How often?
• How did you respond after your last bad pathogen test?
• What kind of equipment do you use for milking? How often is it cleaned?
• How quickly do you cool down the milk? How do you keep it cold?
• How do you prepare the animal for milking?
Good luck. Jill
Brianne Sherwood says
I seriously am in love with this blog but I think this post might be a little off. In my food science course in college, I was also concerned about this issue and I asked my professor whether or not whole milk was less processed than lower fat milks. She said they are processed exactly the same because the fat is taken out of ALL milk, then put back in at different amounts (whole at 3.3%, 2%, 1%, none in skim). Otherwise whole milk would have differing amounts of fat (some would have 4% fat, some would have 3% fat, etc.) depending on what the cow ate. Again, I love this blog and agree with almost everything that is written here, but maybe this milk thing should be looked into a little more??? Maybe local milk is different and the fat is never separated from the whole milk. I have no idea about that. But when it comes to conventional and probably conventional organic, this is probably the case most of the time. So no need to go whole because it's all processed the same amount.
Kristie says
Brianne, There are four main ( and some in-between) types of milks. Raw, low-temp pasteurized, non-homogenized; regular pasteurized, homogenized; and organic ultra-pasteurized, homogenized. Low temp pasteurized milk has been heated to 145 (which is the lowest temp the FDA will approve for pasteurization) and has not been put through the homogenization process, which means the fat globules have not been mechanically separated. This is the type of milk Lisa and her family are now drinking. The whole milk is the best and most nutritious. if she wanted to make it a lower fat milk all she would have to do is skim some cream off the top before shaking it. Not all milk is processed the same way. http://www.foodrenegade.com/healthy-milk-what-to-buy/ We buy the low temp, non-homogenized milk and it tastes amazing, you can absolutely taste the difference. Whole Foods is the only store in my area that sells it; we now buy from a local dairy that delivers.
Lisa says
I appreciate you sharing what you've learned. The source for the information I've shared here is Michael Pollan's book In Defense of Food.
Diane says
I found a source for low temp pasteurized, non-homogenized milk in Houston and I'm curious to try some! But I wanted to make a comment about bacteria in milk. I'm a microbiologist who actually studies communities of bacteria living in and on the body. It's been noted that beneficial bacteria do not transfer to a new species, meaning that beneficial bacteria from cows probably won't survive in a human. I also think that pasteurization is really important to prevent the spread of disease.
tracie says
where in Houston and what brand we live in Katy...
Diane says
It's called Mill-King Dairy. Their website lists places that it's located in and around Houston https://www.mill-king.com/find-us.html. Hope this helps!
Tasha says
Hi there,
I am wondering if you noticed any significant weight gain when switching to whole milk? I know that you mentioned reducing the amount you consume because of the fat, but overall were you able to maintain your normal diet without gaining weight?
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Tasha - Neither of us gained any weight after the switch (or since).
Rebecca says
Skim milk will cause you to gain weight more than whole milk will.
Ruth says
We got dairy goats when my son weaned so that we could have complete control over our milk supply and quality. We drink raw milk, fresh-squeezed daily and it is the best tasting milk we've ever had! We also make our own cheese with the surplus.
JULIE says
HELLO LISA,
I STUMBLED UPON YOUR WEBSITE WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR A HEALTHY MUFFIN RECIPE.
LONG STORY SHORT, I HAVE BEEN UP FOR A FEW NIGHTS READING AND READING YOUR WEBSITE. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN BRINGING UP HEALTHY KIDS.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT ORGANIC IS VERY PRICEY AND I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM. AND MY KIDS WASTE A LOT OF FOOD. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR KIDS REFUSE TO EAT WHAT YOU PREPARED. I DID READ THE PART ABOUT PICKY EATERS. I MUST SAY I DO ALL OF THE TRICKS YOU POSTED.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Julie. I'm glad you are enjoying the blog. Sounds like you have already read the information on the picky eating. Other than that, I would say to just stick with it. I would try to continue to introduce new things and hopefully they will eventually eat it. If you are unsure if they'll eat it, you may want to cut down on the portions to save money until you find things they like. Good luck. Jill
Chris says
Julie,
Just wanted to encourage you. It is difficult on a limited budget. And it will take time to turn your kids around. But it CAN be done. You may have to do it in stages. Remember any improvements no matter how small are positive.
We have been on a "real food journey" for a couple of years now. For various reasons, I had to take it slowly rather than everything all at once. My kids have come around and now love things that they never would have before. Some real food items can actually end up saving you money in the long run. For example, I buy organic dry beans in bulk from a food co-op for cheaper than non-organic canned ones. I cook them in big batches and freeze. Then I can make red beans and rice for a few cents a serving. This is one meal my kids LOVE now. I can also use the beans in chili or in Mexican casserole.
I also make my own yogurt in a crock pot. It is so much cheaper this way and you can use this yogurt as a sour cream sub, in smoothies, making veggie dip, to make fruit yogurt, even as a cream base for sauce or soup.
Continue reading and researching and best of luck to you!
Erin says
Hi Chris,
Just wondering how you make yogurt in your crockpot? I would love to get the recipe from you to try.
Thanks,
Erin
Danielle @ Analytical Mom says
Here's a great tutorial: http://heartlandrenaissance.com/2009/11/for-the-love-of-the-slow-cooker-week-yogurt/
greta says
Please be careful when espousing opinions about saturated fat-like advocating that people eat whole milk as opposed to skim. Not all low-fat milk products are beefed up with fillers. Marion Nestle's "What to Eat" book is to my mind the most ideological free book out there - not paleo, vegan, raw, local coconut oil obsessed. She just examines the studies and tries to come down as even-handed as possible. Anything too dogmatic - including no processing whatsoever (and belive me I'm a big Pollan follower), is bound to miss facts. And I believe it's worth reminding your audience that you are not a trained scientist or epidemiologist, just an educated person trying to do right by her family.
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Greta - Thanks for your comment. Anyone can read about our backgrounds on the About, Team, and Disclaimer pages. Our site is primarily about HOW to cut out processed foods, and the advice given is a direct result of experience gained during our Original 100 Day Pledge, our 100 Days on a Budget pledge, research, reader interaction, and our daily pursuits since then. Personally I always look at the about page on any website giving advice I am considering, and I assume our readers are intelligent enough to do the same.
Regarding dogma and missing facts, I agree 100%. The interaction of food and our bodies is amazingly complex, and we won't ever know all there is to know. Lisa and I therefore follow the 80-20 rule which states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Cutting out highly processed foods is our 20%. We don't go to dogmatic extremes. Some of our readers take more extreme measures, but there is no one diet perfect for everyone, and we hope our advice and experiences serve as a strong foundation for those readers as well.
Trudy says
Hi Lisa,
What about Harris Teeter Organic milk in the 1 gallon container? It says pasteurized & homogenized, not ultra-pasteurized. I also read the argument against organic half & half being ultra-pasteurized, but so is regular half & half, so I'll stick with organic!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Trudy. I think the Harris Teeter organic milk is fine. I don't know that it's any better or worse than other organic milks. Jill
Rebecca says
It won't say "ultra pasteurized" on the container most likely... it would usually just say "UHT" (which stands for ultra high temp).
Karen says
Horizon is a Part of Dean Foods Company. They continually fail on organic testing. Check with the magazine Mother Jones for article and back up facts.
Leah says
We drink local raw milk from a small farm called Blackjack Valley Farm about 15 miles away from where we live in WA. I definitely agree it is a personal choice everyone makes, but it's important to have the choice. Our family of six has been drinking raw milk for almost three years now. If you do make the choice, the most important part is knowing where it's coming from and how they handle and care for the milk and cows. This farm updates their facebook page a few times a week with how the cows are doing and any other information about them or happenings regarding the animals.
kristen says
We live close to Homestead Cremery in Wertz VA.
You should come there for a tour.. Its amazing!Our
Kroger sells their milk & butter.
Mindy says
I told my husband about switching to whole milk, and his concern was the cholesterol and fat. He found this article: http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/cardiovascular/cholesterol/whole-milk-and-high-cholesterol.htm
What are your thoughts on cholesterol and fat increase with whole milk?
Thanks!!
Deidre says
I second Mindy's question. I made the switch to non-processed foods which included eliminating low-fat and non-fat options for dairy products. I went to the doctor a month ago and my cholesterol had gone up 50 points in six months!!! I've always had excellent cholesterol and can only assume that it was due to this switch because I hadn't changed anything else in my lifestyle or eating habits. I'm back to low-fat and non-fat now. Perhaps I was using too much milk, cheese, etc. But I'm curious to hear any thoughts on this.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Deidre. I can't answer your question definitively, but, if you've examined all other lifestyle factors (including exercise which can have a big impact on cholesterol) then you may want to cut back on the amount of whole dairy products you are consuming. I know in making the switch to whole fat products Lisa and her family reported cutting back on the amount of dairy they were consuming. Best of luck to you. Jill
Laurie says
We drink raw milk as well. We have our own cow (one cow) and certainly can control the cleanliness/bacteria factor ourselves. It does make a difference. If you are responsible for your own CLEAN milk, you do take extra care in milking and the handling of it, as well as what you feed your animals.
I have done an experiment twice that nobody here has mentioned doing. When our cow was dry (not giving milk), we had to buy milk (raw is not legal to buy/sell in our area). Each time when I switched from the bought and back to raw, I lost 6 lb. in 7 days. This is an easily repeatable experiment, and so very scientific in nature. This weight loss we attribute to the lack of homogenization in our raw milk, which does change the size of molecules that will affect digestion, and also we did contribute this to the enzymes that are in raw milk that are otherwise destroyed by pasteurization. I have learned since that some of the enzymes found in raw milk will actually destroy some of the bad pathogens as well. Pretty cool, I think. When I lost the weight, I had someone say, "Yeah, but you were doing more work to get your milk, so you lost weight." I replied that I didn't change my activity level at all (DH milked and took care of the animal), and I didn't change the way I was eating...at all.
We also find that with a real food diet (Feingold has great advice!) and with drinking raw milk, that we hardly ever have had to go to a doctor about any sickness. In fact, I don't know when we were in last for sickness! :)
I also agree with many here who drink raw milk, and I would have to say to those who are against it or scared of it due to the media buzz out there to just give it a try to see what is true and what is hype. The kicker is just to be aware of the herd that your milk comes from, what they are fed & (preferably not) injected with and the high level of care taken to keep the milk clean. That is where the best milk will be found.
For those who buy the mystery milk from the stores...do you know where your pasteurized milk is coming from? Have you seen the barn or the condition of the cattle or facilities? Are you comfortable with drinking the dead organisms left in the milk from pasteurization? Do you ever wonder why it goes rancid instead of only sour?
Another fact...did you know that the best cheeses from Europe are made with raw milk and those companies would never make it any other way?
Jill says
I can drink raw milk, but I can't get it anymore :( every other kind of milk gives me lactose-intolerance symptoms. But almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, etc all seem to not follow the rules. Any recommendations?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Jill. Unsweetened varieties of the milks you mention are ok. You could also try making almond milk yourself. Jill
Jessica says
I am lactose-intolerant, but I can drink Lactaid. What has your research shown re: raw milk for those who are lactose-intolerant?
Amanda Brown says
I am also lactose intolerant, or so I was diagnosed. Turns out I can drink raw milk with absolutely no problems! The research I've found seems to indicated it's the processing (especially homogenization) that makes the milk undigestible, not the actual product itself. When milk is homogenized the fat particles are broken down so small they can directly enter your bloodstream which creates problems. Also, pasteurization (particularly ultra-high temp) kills much of the good bacteria and breaks down the naturally occurring lactose that helps you digest the milk.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Jessica. We have not done any research on the issue, but, if you read through the comments, a lot of readers have stated that they could not drink regular milk but were fine with raw milk. Jill
Annette says
My family has been drinking raw milk for about a year now. It has helped my son with digestive and severe skin issues. There are different cows with different proteins in the milk. The regular dairy cow produces an a1 protein which is difficult for most people to digest. Most guernsey cows and some others produce milk containing the a2 protein. The farm we use sells a2 milk which my son has no problem digesting. I feel perfectly safe buying it as I know the farmers, see the cows, and they test every batch for bacteria. We don't always drink it raw but I feel this is the best choice for our family.
Thabata says
Since I moved to US I only buy 1% and only because my husband and his mom taught me to buy that. They say it's not super fatty like the whole or 2% and not so nasty like the skim. I had no idea.
In Brazil tho we either buy boxed pasteurized "Integral" milk, which I believe be whole milk? But We couldn't always afford it so we would mostly buy raw milk from a farmer at the farmer's market we had just across the street from our apartment that was opened 7 days a week (different from where I live now, we only have farmer's market saturday mornings) His milk will be bottled on an used but cleaned 2 liter soda bottle, we would bring it home and just boil it until it raised to the top of the pan and then use it as we pleased.
I look forward to look for healthy stores that sells more natural and healthy milk.
Denise says
and as for the person asking about natural by nature, it actually has a really good rating on that website.
Denise says
Hi! I just wanted to comment on your statement about if you don't drink raw or close to raw milk than the big brand organic (horizon, etc) is the next best choice. When my oldest son started drinking cows milk we started with Horizon organic and I was seriously upset to find out it is actually an ethically deficient Dean brand. This website for organic report cards is a good source of information on organic choices. http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html
Allegra says
Great post Lisa. I like that you summarized the facts as you know them as well as your preferences. You didn't do any fear mongering or attacking. You are right there are some people who LOVE their raw milk!! Me? I love the taste of Raw milk and I like the fact that it has all the enzymes and beneficial bacterial necessary for digestion and to promote gut health. But I do not see drinking cow's milk (in any form) as necessary. I think you are right on going with the least processed milk you can find- either raw or organic/low temp pasterized.
Melanie says
Hi! I just discovered your blog, and I love it! It is refreshing because I've been spending a lot of time perusing Weston A. Price inspired blogs, and while my family does our best to eat real food, I'm not ready to soak my grains, drink raw milk, or ferment everything. In any case, I don't know where you are in NC so this may or may not be a more local choice than Homestead Creamery, but I am in Upstate SC and we get our milk from a wonderful, grass-fed, local dairy that also uses VAT pasteurization and doesn't homogenize their milk: Happy Cow Creamery (http://happycowcreamery.com/). Not sure how you could get your hands on it, but if you do run across it give it a try.
Grace says
Happy Cow is the best!! My family drinks that, and milk from a USDA approved raw dairy in Abbeville SC. We love it!
Marla says
We just discovered Homestead Creamery when an Earth Fare just opened in our area. We LOVE it! My kids have always loved milk but they say that Homestead is THE BEST! I love the reusable glass bottles too. We buy the whole non-homogenized milk. It is nice to have an option like this one finally!
Sarah says
I agree that drinking raw milk from any large dairy farm now would be insane but my friend owns a small farm and stable, she has three or four cows. When one has a calf -occasionally - she needs to be milked as well as nursing so for that time period, I am lucky enough to enjoy Chrysanthemum's milk! Delicious! She is in a field, grass fed and is as clean as a cow can be so I have no worries. Keep things small and everything will be fine!
Lunie says
My husband and I for a while drank raw milk because it was legal in the state we lived in (California), but once we moved to Kansas, we switched to Kalona Supernatural Whole Milk. It's vat pasteurized, which is the slow and low, bare minimum pasteurization, and tastes very similar to the raw: Grassy, but not as strong as raw. As far as I can tell, it's the closest we can get without befriending a dairy farmer and joining a co-op, which is just too expensive up front for us.
I really wish I could stomach the taste of almond milk, though. But I looked at the average almond milk ingredients and it was weird how many ingredients they had... including locust bean paste. I... don't even know what that means, but I don't think I want to eat it. Is there anyone who can shed some light on this?
Sue says
We all need to just do the best we can, but please do not assume that the "big brand" companies are good. The best website out there for dairy/eggs/soy is the Cornucopia Institute Report. There are many layers to the website, but the information is invaluable.
Liebrecht says
FWIW. Raw milk is not illegal in NC. Selling for human consumption is illegal here, along with shares. Selling for pet consumption is not. We have had dairy goats/cows for our own use for 20+ years and drink raw. Sanitation is key to no nasty bugs in the milk. Oh........and you can easily make your own cheeses.
Liebrecht
Laura says
I think raw milk tastes SO much better than pasteurized. I don't like "regular" milk at all. But I tried raw milk because of the health benefits, and I love it. The natural cream top is the best thing ever in coffee. I buy mine from a local (less than 2 hours away) farm where the cows are well cared for and raised on pasture.
As far as "no other animal drinks milk past infancy", I'll just say that I believe that is due to lack of access (specifically hands to milk with). My dog goes BONKERS for raw milk (she never cared about regular milk), whenever I let her have some.
Raw milk from small, clean farms has almost no E. Coli risk. You risk so much more by feeding your child potato salad from a deli (or at a picnic in summer) than from raw milk. Or for that matter, spinach (remember that? or the listeria-laden cantaloupe?). Pasteurized milk is responsible for far more cases of food poisoning than raw.
Sierra says
I completely agree that raw milk tastes better- I think it tastes like melted ice cream! The farm I get my milk from is right next door. Their cows are grass fed, clean as cows can be, and make delicious milk. I think whether or not to drink raw milk is an extremely personal choice that should be thoroughly thought out and researched, and no one should be badgered for whatever they choose is best for them and their family!
:-)
Lori B. says
I have read the facts about milk you have stated from numerous sources for years. I get RAW un pasteurized milk from a local small farmer that is a friend of mine. Her 3 cows roam free for acres under the dense shade of deciduous trees and they come in when they want to be milked. It goes from cow to 1/2 gal canning jar, to my fridge. For people who are all up in arms about E. Coli, I wish they were just as passionate about the poisons that they KNOW are currently just dumped into our food! They are more mad that WE may put our kids in danger of getting a extremely rare bacteria for humanely raised dairy cows then what BIG AG corporations inject and just dump into the milk. THAT DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL! Proof those chemicals ARE killing brain cells. :)
Susanah says
Almond Milk!! It's the best, packed with vitamins, low in calories and fat! Great Substitute :) Wonderful Post...great info
Leah says
OMG. I posted before saying I get the same milk you guys do. It's a little pricey, so I was thinking hey, we'll get a half gallon of that, then when that runs out, we'll get the organic pasteurized/homogenized milk from Trader Joe's, and switch back and forth to save money. Great! Right? Nope. The gallon of milk from the store is NOT at ALL the same :'( Real foods have already started to ruin "regular" foods! Oh well! I guess it's worth it;) I'll gladly budget more for delicious milk.
jessica says
First i have to say that i love your site here, and really enjoy reading...
Me and my husband both cannot stomach milk in large portions, so we generally drink rice milk, and then have cheese or ice cream as a rare treat. My mom is a raw milk fanatic and i too am not quite sure how i feel about the debate. I am kinda glad that i don't have to take a position, since i just opt out of drinking milk all together.
Lindsay says
I just found your blog & love it! We are trying to switch to "real" food for a second time (our first attempt was foiled by my cancer's relapse and I lived out of state away from my family for 8 months for treatment). Milk was our first switch after some research We also buy a low-temp pasturized, non-homogenized whole milk and my kids love it more than the milk they get anywhere else, my 4 yr old even told her grandma she couldn't drink her milk because it tasted funny...haha! I can't wait to read more of your blog!
Brandy says
I plan to stick with local, organic, pasturized milk. I'm not willing to take any chances. My husband worked at a dairy farm throughout his high school years. He said there is NO WAY he'd drink raw milk.
Brandy says
**local, organic, pasturized WHOLE milk. :-)
liz m says
i had raw milk as a kid too. it is illegal here in BC but I love whole organic milk and I buy the organic cream. I drink less of it then i do of the 2% or 1% grocery milk. I switched to whole milk in university as well as using real butter. I was sold on organic milk because it made amazing chocolate milk! When i have money i will buy organic!
Alex @ Good Girl Gone Wife says
I always drank skim. It's what I had growing up, and it's what I like (my husband thinks I'm weird).
I made the switch to 2% after reading studies linking skim to infertility. I only recently heard that skim contained powdered milk, and it further solidified my belief that leaving skim behind was the right option.
We've been talking about making the switch to organic; we're just trying to wait for a little extra money.
Kate says
My family has been slowly moving toward a more real food diet...we aren't perfect, but getting a lot better. This post inspired me to bite the bullet and start buying whole organic milk. I think I stood in front of the dairy section at Whole Foods for 20 minutes yesterday and was completely overwhelmed!! I ended up buying Natural by Nature Whole milk. Any thoughts on that brand? I was debating between it and Homestead, but I liked that Natural by Nature said from grass-fed cows. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks for all you do!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Kate. I don't know much about Natural by Nature, but, a quick look at their website looks like they are located in PA? I know one of the benefits of Homestead Creamery is that they are local. While they do not say that their cows are grass fed 100% of the time, I think they strive to stay as close to that as possible. Hope that helps. Jill
Cindi says
I grew up on raw, fresh cow milk during the 60-70's....nothing better and all 5 of us kids thrived on it. Govt control took over and we couldn't get it anymore unless we had a cow ourselves. Thank goodness I now have it again! To each his own, but the more man touches our food the worse it seems to be. I'd rather have it than all the chemicals that's going into all ur foods that I bought into just like so many others. Getting back to the simpler ways of life....wonderful!
Whole-istic Living says
One of my issues with commercial milk is the blood and puss in it from the poor cows udders being way overworked on hormone and antibotic infused cows!
However finding alternatives can be really hard when you are a low income family. In my area soy milk or other products would cost me $7 a gallon compared to $2.50 a gallon for milk. So I incorporate other milk choices but as of yet can not afford totally switch over!
kero says
awesome! my friends and i were just talking about the diff milks available (my one friend is on a raw milk kick) and this is a great overview! definitely passing it along. thx! =)