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Home » How to Start » Food Shopping

Milk – good or bad?

We are all very big milk drinkers in our house (2+ gallons a week)…and to be honest, I don’t think we could live without it! The good news is after switching to a more optimal milk source and type of milk we certainly do not have to give it up. I used to buy the standard store-brand skim (for the adults) and 2% (for the kids) from our local supermarket. I even switched to the organic variety earlier this year. Organic is certainly better than conventional, but I felt there were still some additional factors that continued to be overlooked.

My biggest concern about the milk we were drinking was if it came from cows that were being fed grass. I did a post a while back entitled “You are what you eat eats too,” and this couldn’t be truer when it comes to milk. Cows are actually designed by evolution to eat grass, and a large majority of factory-farmed cows are instead taught to survive on corn (a super cheap grain). In some instances, the corn makes the animals sick, which is part of the reason why they have to be administered so many antibiotics.

Now if you are buying organic milk you obviously know that the cows have not been given any antibiotics, but being organic doesn’t necessarily mean they have been fed grass (or anything green for that matter). For all I know they’ve just been fed organic corn. But, the point is that I really didn’t know what the cows were eating when I would pick up a jug from the supermarket. Even as I proofread this article now I have to admit it sounds a little over the top to care so much about what the cows eat before I would even drink their milk, but it really is important. The health of the cow greatly affects the health of their milk (as well as their meat products), and I am obviously on a mission to provide the absolute best for my family.

So going back to a time when I didn’t know where our milk came from brings me to why I stopped buying our milk from the grocery store altogether. I recently switched to a delivery service (http://www.lakeviewfarmshomedelivery.com/) that provides milk from cows that are located not too far away in South Carolina. Not only can I call and ask them questions anytime (and you know I do!), but I could even go visit the farm myself if I thought it was necessary to do so. There is certainly a slight up-charge compared to a half-gallon of organic milk from the supermarket ($3.84 vs. $3.49), but they say their milk is two days from the cow. And it tastes so fresh I absolutely believe it. I think my children even noticed the difference because once we switched to the new milk I was having trouble keeping up with their consumption…it was like a broken record around here “more milk please!”

One other thing I learned more recently is that skim milk may not be the best choice for my husband and me (our girls drink 2%). This came as quite a shock because I drink a lot of milk myself and have chosen skim for as long as I can remember. According to our milk delivery service, skim milk is everything left over after the cream has been removed in a separator. And apparently, the cream is what contains enzymes and fat-soluble vitamins. So just like the process that white flour goes through (since removing the bran and germ also removes all the good stuff from the flour), the milk is fortified with vitamins in an attempt to add back what has been lost. So once again I think the better choice is to just consume the good stuff the way nature has provided it to us and not opt for something that just emulates the good stuff.

We are joining our daughters and have switched to 2% in order to give us a good balance between the healthy cream and fat consumption. Michael Pollan even goes so far as to say

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.

This once again reminds me how happy I am to be buying our milk from a reliable and knowledgeable source, which allows me to continue our theme here of knowing exactly where our food comes from!

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518 shares

About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Ashley Bratt says

    June 06, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    How do you feel about the NutPods creamer products?

    Reply
    • 100 Days Admin says

      June 10, 2020 at 10:53 am

      While it may sound like a good alternative to creamers, it contains unwanted additives. - Nicole

      Reply
  2. Terrie Olson says

    March 28, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    There is a group of 10 of my co-workers that are joining together to do the 100 days of real food. We are pumped to get started. April 2 is our go date. We thought there is power in numbers and supporting each other! Here we go! No turning back.

    Reply
  3. Lon says

    January 19, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    Mara Aparecimento nasceu no Rolândia, Paraná. https://sexonanet.net/loirinha-gostosa-caiu-na-net-dando-gostoso/

    Reply
  4. Candi says

    December 06, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    Would LOVE some raw milk, but I live in Indiana. And of course dairy farms are a way of life around here, so the Dairy Industry has lobbied so hard against the sale of local raw milk that it is absolutely illegal and people DO go to prison for it in Indiana. CRAZY!

    Reply
  5. Mikel says

    July 31, 2017 at 11:13 am

    What are your thoughts about drinking almond milk versus cow milk? I have cut cow milk out all together, but like it every now and then, especially in my smoothies. So, I started using almond milk or water. My issue is that anything other than skim milk is way too thick.
    Comments?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      August 08, 2017 at 12:44 pm

      The issue with store bough almond milk is that is often full of questionable ingredients. Here is a simple homemade version: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/food-allergies-dairy/. If you buy store bought, look closely at the ingredients label and avoid additives like carrageenan.

      Reply
  6. Sarah says

    June 29, 2016 at 11:52 am

    I easily found a web site for a place that delivers 100% grass-fed Grade A milk in the Houston area. But as I filled out the info there is a "check the box" that I acknowledge that I understand the risk of consuming "raw" unpasteurized milk - which of course I didn't so I looked into that - and find the CDC page that basically says if you are worried about your health, then the risks associated with unpasteurized milk make it not the best choice. http://www.cdc.gov/features/rawmilk/
    Thoughts? I think I'm staying at the grocery store.

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      July 04, 2016 at 8:13 am

      Hi there. Lisa's family does not consume raw milk. In North Carolina, you can't purchase raw milk for human consumption. That said, we have many readers who are raw milk drinkers.

      Reply
  7. Cheryl says

    May 17, 2016 at 11:46 am

    Hi. I was wondering if you've updated your thoughts on dairy since your original post in 2010, given many MDs and functional medicine doctors are now advising that dairy is bad for humans. I just recently read an article written by Dr. Mark Hyman in the New York Times making the case that dairy is for baby cows, not humans. I love cheese and an occasional bowl of fresh vanilla ice cream (from organic sources) but concerned that these foods may by damaging our immune systems. With all this information, what is a mother to do?

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      May 19, 2016 at 8:41 am

      Hi Cheryl. Lisa and her family continue to enjoy full fat dairy in their diets and believe it to be a healthy choice for most people. Decisions like that have to be made at a personal level once you've evaluated the info based on your own dietary needs and philosophy.

      Reply
  8. Lisa Jones says

    March 28, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    We started participating in a 'herd share' program here in Virginia in which we buy raw (not pasteurized or homogenized) grass-fed milk directly from a farmer. We started after some research on autism diets after or son was diagnosed with Aspergers and decided to try the raw milk. Ours is from a 100% Guernsey herd and this milk is so good, so creamy...reminds me of the milk we got from my aunt and uncle's farm when growing up in Kansas. We've had no problems with this milk, but interestingly (to me) when we've had to drink store=bought milk , even grass-fed, it tastes scalded. I guess after having the close-to-nature product, a processed one has an altered taste that we had not noticed before. And evolution did not design anything, We were lovingly designed by our Creator, God.

    Reply
    • cindy says

      April 26, 2017 at 11:10 pm

      Indeed, Lisa!! Our Creator provided everything we need to survive, and thrive..but...we are living in a Sin-sick world, so we must be wise as serpents, gentle as doves! Raw Milk is as good as it gets;there are sooo.....many things you can make with that, like butter, cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, creme frashee (?)...awesome! Blessings, Sister!

      Reply
  9. Doglover says

    January 09, 2016 at 2:16 am

    Hi, I'm thinking about doing the 10 days of real food, and I was wondering if we had to have organic milk from grass fed cows, or just organic, or even regular milk, would that be fine? I understand supermarket milk is processed a lot, but we can't find any good milk, would it still be okay to make that exception? We live in a pretty tiny town, so when It comes to shopping there is not a lot of selection.

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      January 19, 2016 at 11:46 am

      Hi there. Just do your best. Most stores offer at least one organic option and you can also request that they carry one but do not allow the unavailability of various items keep you from making important changes. Even baby steps will move you forward. :) Best of luck.

      Reply
  10. Lori says

    June 05, 2015 at 7:56 am

    You failed to address the real "issue" with milk which is the center of the debate - is milk a "food" intended for human consumption?! We are the only mammals drinking another animals lactation (God created for baby cows, not humans) and at the center of serious controversy regarding early onset puberty, breast and prostate cancer, allergies, etc. Even if the "organic" debate resolves the grass-fed antibiotic issue, the fact is that you are still consuming massive amounts of cow hormones from a "new mother". Additionally, the acidity issue has been proved to actually result in a net loss of calcium rather than any health benefit. How do you intend to address these issues? As a leader in the whole food movement, yes whole milk is better than chemically reduced fat milk, but the real issue is - should we even be drinking milk at all?

    Reply
    • Christy says

      October 25, 2015 at 8:14 pm

      How about if you don't want to drink milk, don't drink milk?

      Reply
      • Paul says

        November 28, 2015 at 2:02 am

        I don't think it's a matter of wanting or not wanting to drink milk. It's a matter of getting down to what is the healthiest thing for us humans to consume so we give our bodies the most beneficial fuel possible. I grew up drinking tons of milk. I rarely if ever drink milk these days, but I do eat ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese and other dairy products so I would really like to know if we should be consuming this or not. I WANT to consume, but not if it's not really good for me.

        I think the OP brought up a very good point about consuming another animal's milk that is intended for cows' babies, not humans.

      • Raneem says

        January 03, 2018 at 4:50 pm

        You should not be stressing out when it comes to switching to unprocessed food. It is simple, just eat foods that are pure gods creation and has not been played or touched by humans. Milk comes from a cow and god created cows for a reason. Drink your milk eat your plants and animals and avoid any human contact. Done.

  11. judy says

    April 21, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    Lisa's comment, " Part of what we are trying to do is eat the natural food our ancestors have survived on for centuries", prompts me to suggest that everyone interested in switching from processed to real food will find invaluable information about raw milk, bone broth, fermented & cultured foods, proper preparation of nuts & grains and much else that will result in vibrant health at westonaprice.org

    Reply
  12. rouxbegirl says

    March 25, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    I learned recently that the majority of our milk comes from Holstein cows. The Holstein milk contains the 'A1' protein & is very hard to digest compared to the protein in milk from a Jersey cow, which contains 'A2' protein. Unfortunately it is a bit more expensive, but, when I switched, it was fantastic! No more little stomach aches! You can learn more about it if you google it. :)

    Reply
  13. Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

    February 02, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    Hi there. This was a very early post in Lisa's journey. Her family drinks grass-fed whole milk. :)

    Reply
  14. Laurie says

    February 02, 2015 at 1:51 pm

    Based on what you say about Skim milk, why would you switch to 2%, rather than whole milk?

    Reply
  15. Crystal says

    January 18, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    I agree with Peggy.
    "I believe that we do not need milk as part of our diet at all. We are the only species on earth to consume milk after being weened from the mother. Cows don’t drink milk and have you ever seen an unhealthy cow? there are many ways to obtain calcium. A holistic Dr once told me that milk is not healthy and it affects your bowels and digestive system in a negative way."

    Reply
  16. Stacey says

    January 06, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    I live in Huntersville and would love milk delivery here. The place u mentioned doesn't deliver here but I thought I would ask to see if u knew another local place that delivers to Huntersville, NC. If u don't, no biggie. I thought it was worth asking.
    Thank u for all ur informative posts! I and my friends really enjoy them!
    Stacey

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      January 07, 2015 at 4:30 pm

      Hi Stacey. Try both of these resources: http://www.eatwild.com/ and http://eatlocalgrown.com/. We are really only familiar with our little end of Charlotte. ;)

      Reply
  17. britt says

    December 16, 2014 at 8:59 am

    sor confrontation..Thiswebsite is very informative and helpful! But on a side note, I actually never leave comments for anything but I just felt the need to make one little comment. I don't mean this out of rudEness or confrontation. You mentioned evolution designs,a designer designs which would mean a living being. A being who has thoughts and intentions to design something for a purpose.just contemplating how the foods on this earth benefit power amazing and complex bodies inspires all that there is a creator who designed our bodies in such a way. Just my 2 cents, I respect others for what they believe, but I believe wholeheartedly in the creator and God in the Bible that I always feel the need to stand up for him. My

    Reply
  18. Peggy Penney says

    October 07, 2014 at 9:22 am

    I believe that we do not need milk as part of our diet at all. We are the only species on earth to consume milk after being weened from the mother. Cows don't drink milk and have you ever seen an unhealthy cow? there are many ways to obtain calcium. A holistic Dr once told me that milk is not healthy and it affects your bowels and digestive system in a negative way. I recommend you check this out in detail and share it with all of us. I absolutely love your site and would welcome some information on this subject. I drink zerio milk and am a very healthy 45 year old.

    Thanks,
    Peggy

    Reply
  19. Susie says

    August 31, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    When my son was born my husband and I shared a car, which he took out of town. I was basically with no car all the time with a newborn. We decided to get the home delivery so we knew I'd always have essentials. When he started drinking milk it was even better. The cold delicious in a glass container milk,mmmm. For a few weeks in a row we were going to be out of town a few days so I changed my order and got other things than milk and just bought some organic at the store. He immediately started having stomach issues. So the second week I bought the home delivery milk at the store, bought it was in the regular cardboard carton. Still issues. The third week we went back to the glass milk and by the end of the week he was back to normal. We tried it again a year later and same issues. The milk tastes much better, but the containers as well can actually have effects on people too.

    Reply
  20. Christa says

    August 15, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    Are we supposed to or not supposed to consume homogenized and or pasteurized milk?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      August 18, 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Hi Christa. This post will address that: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. ~Amy

      Reply
  21. Joseph says

    July 23, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Any thoughts on Oberweis milk?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      July 26, 2014 at 11:17 am

      Hi Joseph. We are not really familiar with that brand but it looks like they maintain good quality control. ~Amy

      Reply
  22. Samantha says

    June 11, 2014 at 8:08 am

    What are your thoughts on milk with omega added? For example, I buy Stonyfield whole and 2% milk with omega for my family. The cheapest I find it is $4 each. I am trying to stay on a budget, but also provide the best food I can for my family. There is a local milk delivery service near us. Do you recommend using that instead?

    Thank you for everything. I pre-ordered your book yesterday and can't wait for it!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      June 13, 2014 at 12:45 pm

      Hello Samantha. Here you go: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. ~Amy

      Reply
  23. Lindsey says

    May 20, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    If you want the best-- go for whole milk, not 2%. Grassfed / organic is great and even better is pasteurized, non-homogenized. If you want the best, it's going to be grassfed, raw, cream-topped. I live in VA, so like you, it's not legal unless you buy an animal-share. However, in many states (I'm almost certain in NC) you can buy it as "pet food". :) Perfectly legal.

    Reply
  24. Lace says

    April 19, 2014 at 11:13 am

    How do you feel about raw goats milk? That is currently what my family is drinking... It comes from our personal goat that eats crimped oats, beet pulp, and grass...

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      April 23, 2014 at 1:01 pm

      Hi Lace. We can't really speak to that as it is not something we have tried. Your goat's diet sounds great! :) The Leakes don't drink raw cow's milk, either. It is not legal to buy it for human consumption in North Carolina. ~Amy

      Reply
  25. Maria says

    April 18, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    How would i go about finding a local place to buy milk?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      April 23, 2014 at 12:36 pm

      Hi there. Check out your local farmers markets and try http://www.eatwild.com/ and http://eatlocalgrown.com/. :)~Amy

      Reply
  26. Annie says

    April 06, 2014 at 10:30 pm

    Good point on the milk concerns I hope someone can give some insight on this. I notice more of a problem after having milk as well. We were never meant to digest cows milk as they have 4 stomachs I believe. I now drink almond milk and feel much better. I am not lactose intolerant but I think hormones etc in cows milk does have a negative effect on my body. I did read somewhere on this site that someone said almond milk has cancer causing ingredients?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      April 20, 2014 at 12:39 pm

      Hi Annie. Store bought almond milk often contains carrageenan, an additive that adds thickness to the texture. It is thought to be a possible carcinogen which is likely what you read in the reader comments. Here is a simple recipe for almond milk that can eliminate your concerns: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/31/food-allergies-dairy/. ~Amy

      Reply
  27. KIMBERLEY says

    March 18, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    I READ THAT COWS MILK NO MATTER WHAT THEY EAT OR EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT FED GROWTH HORMONES, STILL HAVE NATURAL HORMONES IN THE MILK. I READ THAT THOSE HORMONES ARE NOT GOOD FOR OUR BODY BECAUSE IT MESSES WITH THE HORMONES WE ALREADY HAVE. I KNOW ITS BAD FOR WOMEN WITH PCOS LIKE ME WHO HAVE MESSED UP HORMONES. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT IT IS LINKED TO BREAST CANCER FOR THE SAME REASON. HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH ON THIS? I LOVE MILK AND CUTTING IT FROM MY DIET SUCKS.

    Reply
  28. katie says

    February 28, 2014 at 12:44 am

    I always purchase organic milk for our family. What would be your brand recommendation if you have to purchase from a grocery chain. Also do you know anything about Kirkland brand organic milk from Costco? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      March 04, 2014 at 10:50 am

      Hi Katie. I know that Lisa's milk, Homestead Creamery, is now more commonly available in mainstream grocery stores. Sorry, but I really don't know much about Kirkland milk currently. I know there was controversy over their supplier but have not kept up on the subject. ~Amy

      Reply
  29. Brianna says

    February 14, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    We recently moved to the Lexington KY area and I've been trying to find a good milk source. I finally found one that might work but I'm still confused. http://www.jdcountrymilk.com/FAQ_s.html
    It says they are not certified organic but are free range and do not use hormones or antibiotics. Would this still be a good source?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 19, 2014 at 9:43 pm

      Hi Briana. From what I could tell, it looks like a pretty good milk source. ~Amy

      Reply
  30. Jennifer says

    February 07, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    Do you have any Braum's stores in your area? Do you have an opinion on their milk other than what I see on their website?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      February 09, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      Hi Jennifer. Sorry, we are not familiar with that store or brand and a quick scan says it is hormone free. Beyond that, I didn't find a lot of info. ~Amy

      Reply
  31. Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

    November 10, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Hi there. This will answer your questions: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/

    Reply
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