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!
Laura says
I know this is an old discussion but I wanted to add a few things that I've found out about raw milk:
About 800 people have been sickened by raw milk since 1995. As far as I can tell, there have been no deaths.
It has about the same risks as eating soft cheese (Brie, feta, and the like) and lunchmeat without heating to steaming directly before eating. You are more likely to get sick from eating fresh produce (think spinach recalls...) than from drinking raw milk.
I haven't decided if I want my kids to drink it yet. My biggest fear is something happening to them. I know that they are in much greater danger getting in the car (which we do most days!) than they would be drinking raw milk, but there's that niggling fear in the back of my mind that I haven't gotten past yet. We'll see!
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Helen says
A couple of things about milk......
1) I know lots and lots of people who drink raw milk and are all very healthy. As long as the animals are healthy and are kept clean and eat only grass, raw milk is really the way to go. The health benefits of it are amazing. Purchasing raw milk is also illegal here in Wisconsin: however, if you own your cows, you can drink it raw yourself. So, people here buy shares of a cow, thus owning a cow and are able to have the raw milk.
2) I, too, am a vegan and use almond milk or coconut milk. I would NEVER tell anyone else what to do in their diet (I am the only vegan in my household of 7 and cook meat for the others), but I don't like milk and I don't like the idea of drinking another mammals milk. It just seems, well, weird. But I agree that processed versions of products, like fake meats and tofurkey, make no sense. I also don't like those and don't eat them.
3) Whatever your decision, I think we all would agree that non processed, whole, real foods are the BEST for all of us! I know that I love your blog, your recipes, and your tips and tidbits. Thanks for all your research and sharing it with us!
Nicole B says
Our nutritionist has suggested we switch to coconut milk or almond milk instead of cow's milk. Do you see any problem with this?
100 Days of Real Food says
As long as it is unsweetened I think those can be great options as well!
Catherine says
I drink Stremick's Heritage Organic non-fat milk and the corporate office is actually less than 4 miles from my house. Their web site has the following statement "our cows are fed only naturally grown corn and grain, and graze on pastures that are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. As well, our cows are never given any growth hormones or antibiotics so they produce purely delicious milk." So, can I take this to mean that a percentage of their food is grass? Thoughts?
100 Days of Real Food says
I am not familiar with this company, but my opinion is that if their cows eat grass they would probably say so b/c this is a big plus in the milk world. I would definitely call them and ask (or pay them a visit!)
Cassie says
I also wanted to add for any readers...If you are "lactose intolerant"....you actually may not be. My niece is an example. She is supposedly lactose intolerant. However, she is able to drink RAW milk with ZERO problems! The homogenization and pasteurization process is actually what leads to this "lactose intolerance."
Cassie says
I just discovered your site after reading it on yahoo and love it!! This milk article is great. However, if you want to go one step further, start researching raw milk. Raw-milk-facts.com is a good place to start. Organic, local, farm-fresh milk is definitely better than store bought...but organic, local, farm fresh, grass fed raw milk has even more health benefits. We now have a herd share with a local farmer so we can get our raw milk (selling raw milk in Ohio is illegal). We pick up our milk from the farm every week. We see the cows, and have even watched the milking and bottling process. We even make our own butter with the cream! The "risk" of drinking raw milk is completely unfounded, and the benefits are becoming less and less of a secret =)
Linda says
Hi Lisa,
Good for you for all you are doing to embark on improving the health of your family. Please explore Jordin Rubin's 'Patient Heal Thyself", "The Maker's Diet" and "The Raw Truth" just to name a few of his excellent books. Cows milk is not intended for anyone over 12 months, I am not sure why this is a mystery to people...I am aghast no one has touched on the gastrointestinal diseases plaguing our world. A Gluten-Free diet is a first step in the right direction for anyone, not just Celiac patients; wheat is not as good as everyone thinks!! The FDA has tried to put Jordan out of business too many times; Jordan will prevail; our government does not have our back! Thanks for listening and good luck with your adventure.
LRS from MA
Laura says
Cows milk is generally considered off limits for anyone under 12 months due to the fact that it can cause bleeding in the intestines. It is generally accepted that humans are equipped to digest breastmilk (which cows milk is, even ough it's not human) until between 4-7 years of age, which just happens the biologically natural weaning range. :)
meridith says
I am not able to drink regualr milk and can only drink soymilk. Do you have a recepie or suggestion for homemade ice cream that I would be able to have without worrying about affecting my diet?
Linda says
http://bp3.blogger.com/_fgQOyoi34Q4/SB-YWa2FeGI/AAAAAAAAAjU/xcrnmnzlOXI/s1600-h/IMG_3844.JPG
Hi Meredith,
I am attaching the link, let me know if it does not work; the recipe does not require an ice cream maker, it is great stuff! Coconut milk is THE way to go for anything you need to replace dairy! I am unable to tolerate dairy and soy is too similar to dairy so Coconut milk is the answer for me.
Linda says
Meridith! Sorry about that, not sure why you can only see some of the picture and nothing else..here it is:Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream
3 cups of unsweetened coconut milk (about two cans)
2/3 cup of cocoa powder
6 tablespoons agave syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk cocoa powder in a small amount of coconut milk, until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and whisk until well combined. Or dump all ingredients together and blend with a stick blender. (Make according to your machines instructions if you desire; one is not needed!)
------------------------------------------------------
The article I tried to attach is great, the author has been a saving grace for me...if you google Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream, look for the article with that picture of the chocolate, as a portion was the entire link above!? Hahaha...enjoy! Also, Agave syrup is the answer to an alternative (healthy) sweetener in Jordan's books! Thank God!
Michelle says
What are you thoughts on a vegan diet? Specifically going dairy free? Is soy milk, rice milk, almond milk, etc considered "real food"? I'm just now starting to investigate this and was just wondering.
100 Days of Real Food says
I have nothing against a vegan diet, but it is definitely not for me. Part of what we are trying to do is eat the natural food our ancestors have survived on for centuries, and I feel that a lot of vegan foods are processed imitations of the real thing (like tofurkey, fake cheese, etc.). I think it is fine to be a vegan if you plan to just eat grains, fruits, veggies, etc., but I can't say I understand why you would want to eat imitation, highly processed animal products instead of just eating the real thing?? I suppose it is for moral reasons for some, but people have been eating and surviving on animal products for centuries (survival of the fittest!). That being said...I think those imitation milks are okay if they are unsweetened. You can also try making your own almond milk (with no additives) or consider a natural coconut milk as well. If I had to choose out of the options I would stay away from soy b/c soy is used to make so many additives that are in thousands of highly processed foods. Chances are you're probably already getting plenty of soy in your diet!
Cee says
"...but I can’t say I understand why you would want to eat imitation, highly processed animal products instead of just eating the real thing?? "
- People who were raised as meat eaters and turn either vegetarian or vegan (the harder of the two) CAN miss certain foods they grew up with, but don't want to go back to eating meat. So replacements can help with those cravings. When I stopped eating meat, I used fake meats to ease into eliminating the real thing. Now, I hardly eat that stuff.
- There's different grades of vegans and vegetarians. Most are aware that fake meats are highly processed, and most of the vegans I know tend to MOSTLY eat natural foods and occasionally eat the fake stuff (on holidays when you're surrounded by your meat-eating family, etc.).
- The major reason all of them eschew eating animals is for their own personal moral reasons. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to eat meat, and you do not need it to survive or to be healthy.
I became a veggie 5 1/2 years ago on a dare (I dared myself!), and stayed because I like it. Also, much like how you and your family's taste buds changed towards processed foods, the same can happen with meat. The texture of chewing meat became VERY unappealing to me.
I'm the kind of vegetarian that thinks if you want to eat meat, then go for it! But I personally enjoy being a vegetarian. I think people should experiment, and find whatever works for them best. :)
Kelly says
Great post and I agree 100% that we are what we eat and what they (cows...) eat. I buy organic milk and the cows are grass fed. My family is in the transition of buying only grass fed meat as well. The more I poke around and learn about conventional foods, the more scared I get about what we are consuming. We are going to the farmer's market now and just being more aware of what we purchase. My family has recently started a journey of healthy living.
Thanks for Sharing,
Kelly
Sally says
We have been raw milk users for about a year. Both myself and my husband were a bit nervous, but our son has eczema and we thought we'd give it a try after all we read. He has done so much better drinking raw milk. We have noticed a considerable change in him. Also, I had lactose problems with homogenized milk and have none with raw milk. It's amazing.
Ellen says
Although I cannot get my milk delivered, I have found this dairy http://www.tricklingspringscreamery.com/. I can purchase it at either the Williamstown Farmers Market or Whole Foods in Marlton NJ. I purchased the Creamline 2% and was amazed at the color! A light golden instead of stark white. It was wonderful. How I wish they did delivery in S. Jersey! Until then, Ill stock up when I can.
Anne Marie says
Lisa,
Hi There! I had a question about milk.. I looked at the Lakeview Farms Website and was thinking about starting delivery service to my house, under their FAQ's someone asked the following:
Does Lakeview Farms’ Milk Have Hormones?
There is no RBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormones) used in our cows. There are no Antibiotics used in our feed.
Does this mean that just the feed doesn't have antibiotics but the cows do? I assume this is ok since you're using it but just wanted to ask what you thought it meant. Are they grass fed as well as 'feed' fed (LOL) ?
On another note I LOVE your blog and all of the great info you provide. I have learned so much from you and have had my eyes opened to all the junk I was feeding my family. I now shop at Great Harvest, Earthfare, visited Poplar Ridge Farm, make lots of your recipes, etc. etc. etc. Thank you so much!
100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Anne Marie!
Thanks so much for your comment. I had a pretty extensive discussion with the owner before writing this milk article, and he said there are no pesticides or herbicies used at all with their cows. Also, they are free-range in the fields and partially grass-fed...I took the best notes I could and here is the breakdown he gave me:
- 50% greens including grass from fields and other foliage
- 25 - 50% pickled greens
- rest is hay, citrus peel, and some other grains (spelt, barley)
He said the feed is monitored by Clemson University (and adjusted as necessary) every 2 months. Before I signed up with them I did some research and could not find any local milk that was 100% grass-fed. We've been pretty happy with the product from Lakeview and it has definitely spoiled us b/c grocery store milk (even organic) just does not taste good anymore!
Lovestocan says
Another raw milk fan here. I switched my family (DH, 4.5 year old and 18 month old) a few months ago and we love it. We live near the SC border so its easy for us to run to Peach Stand for a gallon. I love supporting local businesses. Lakeview products sound wonderful and I would support them if raw milk wasn't available to us.
GourmetOnADiet says
Wait -- so do you drink whole or 2%? Isn't 2% low-fat, or is that only 1% and skim?
100 Days of Real Food says
We drink 2%...and yes it is still considered "low fat", but we thought it was a good middle ground for us.
Kaynan says
Oh, and none of my family has gotten sick from raw milk yet. In fact, since we started drinking it, we have been sick a lot less.
Kaynan says
The raw milk is definitely a good choice. We drink it and it tastes delicious and it's really good for you. We live in Raleigh, and we get our raw milk from a co-op that goes to SC. I think it is great.
Anna says
Kaynan, Be careful advertising your co-op publicly. The USDA has been known to raid them. It is illegal to cross state lines with raw dairy products so BE CAREFUL. Fortunately I live right down the road from Tucker Dairy in York.
Dana says
I found the website below useful when evaluating organic, store-bought milk options - unfortunately not all organic milks are the same....
Organic Dairy Report
http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/
"The Cornucopia Institute’s national survey of organic products in the dairy case showcases ethical family farm producers and exposes factory farm producers and brands that threaten to take over organic dairying. With this Web-based rating tool, you can see which brands and dairy products found in your region are produced using the best organic farming practices and ethics. Based on a year’s research into the organic dairy business, the scorecard rates approximately 110 different organic dairy brands and private-label products."
Becky says
I live much further up in NC than you do and I've been traveling to SC to get raw milk for several years now. I used to get it through Milky Way farms, but switched to Tucker Adkins farms after a friend of mine that lives in Charlotte started getting their milk. My children and I like it even better than the Milky Way milk and it keeps a little longer.
As to the worry for your children, I can understand your concern about giving them things we've been told for years are unsafe, but I can assure you raw milk is not a bio-hazard in the making - unless it's handled improperly, but that is true with all food. I drank raw milk for several years when I was a child (before we moved to the city), and my children have thrived on it now for several years.
I hope you'll give the raw milk a chance.
Lisa says
It is definitely tempting!
Marcela says
Hello Lisa
First I wanted to thank you for taking yourself and your beautiful family on this journey. I was born in Czech Republic and "whole foods" eating was part of every day life. We made everything at home, every day was fresh meals, and we would never eat bread that was more than a day old. My grandparents maintain a huge garden so we always had plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Starting in spring until the fall, we were canning, drying, freezing and making jams out of everything possible. And that’s what we ate during the winter time. So needless to say, this lifestyle comes very naturally to me. I just can't believe in the 10 years I've lived in this country I got so "sucked" into the American way of eating. My husband is still very much influenced by the commercials and the labeling that promises to lower your cholesterol or help your heart. It is not an easy task to convert him. But I must say that last year when we visited Czech Republic, he loved the chickens running around - his absolute favorite.
I have been following your blog for over a month now, we watched Food Inc, after it was on Oprah so we were already familiar with the concept. We now cook and eat as much “whole and local†foods as we can. My husband even helps in the kitchen which has been a very nice bonus. He also brings lunches to work now, I think it’s because they just taste better than "eat fresh Subway" :-).
This past weekend we were visiting my in-laws up in Maine and to my surprise found the loveliest farm called Harmony Farm. The chickens were running around and the goats were so cute. The owner Donna Marie is trying to put her farm together so she can get her Bed and Breakfast license. She wants to host re-treats on healthy eating etc. She also makes the best goat cheese.... I suggested she tries a “working farm†weekends.
I was so happy to find her and even happier to be able to appreciate all the hard work that she does. Of course the eggs were amazing, the yolks bright orange. I am determined to have my mother in-law get her eggs there from now on! And we will be back every time that we go to Maine.
I apologize for such a long post; I am just so excited to re-discover who I am in the kitchen and at the dining table.
I believe what Lisa is doing is not only cooking and eating better, but she is instating values in her children that will stay with them forever. Congratulations and thank you again for drawing such great attention to something so important.
Lisa says
Thank you so much for your comment! After reading about your life in Czech Republic you have inspired me to try to be better at storing (canning, freezing, etc.) fresh produce out of our garden when it is plentiful. I always enjoy "meeting" (and learning from) others who are equally excited about rediscovering real food.
Cornelius says
As I began reading this, I was dismayed to see that you were apparently touting skim milk. I was then relieved when you repented that folly.
To paraphrase your statement about cows, people are actually designed by evolution to consume fat. What is more, we were designed to consume animal fat, not processed vegetable fats. Contrary to widespread belief, animal fat can't make you fat. Period.
And for people who are afraid of fat, here is the thing, regarding milk. Whole milk doesn't really contain much more fat than 2%. 2% is NOT "milk with 98% of the fat removed."
In fact, whole milk must contain at least 3.24% milkfat. Only1.24% more than 2%. I suppose there may be some out there with a little more, but not much, as that milkfat goes into making the more profitable items, like butter and cream; most farmers are not going to "waste" it by letting any more of it go directly to the consumer in cheap milk than they absolutely must.
And whole milk just tastes so much better. I really pity the people who have become so conditioned to disliking fat that whole milk tastes "gross" to them.
Joiner says
Help a girl out!
I live a bit out from the city and one would think that finding farmers would be easy, however it is not! I have struggled with the milk issue for several years. I switched to organic milk from the store, but then read many things that it wasn't what it was suppose to be and I was wasting my money. I did meet a farmer the other day that wanted me to try goat milk. It is illegal, however, it is growing in this area. They say it is better for you and easier for you to process. It is also suppose to help with ear infections which my kids get all the time. Any comments??
One more thing...I live to far out to get the great bread. Any suggestions for those of us who have to rely on Kroger's???
Lisa says
Have you seen this place yet? Looks pretty good to me (the cows are mostly grass fed)... http://www.hatcherfamilydairy.com/OurStory/GuidingPrinciples.aspx
Also, in regards to bread if you find a good source it will most often freeze beautifully...so make a drive 1/month and stock up! Or I have heard from many people that a bread maker can make baking your own whole-wheat bread easy (and cheap).
Chris Hertel says
We're not big milk drinkers here, either. Every morning I make a berry smoothie and use almond milk. My son is allergic (anaphlactic) to dairy, so he uses soy. However, we (my husband, daughter and myself) really like cheese. It's really hard to find organic cheese unless I make a 40 minute drive to Wholefoods.
Lisa says
Apparently people tell me it is really easy to make your own cheese...have you ever considered that as an option?
Andrea says
Lisa- there has been controversy here in MN regarding raw milk...here is a link to a story about a local raw milk distributor and an E. Coli outbreak.
I believe raw milk can be good but I agree with your decision not to give it to your children. Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/95044099.html
Martha says
We buy all our raw milk from Tucker-Adkins Dairy in York, SC (found them via the Weston-Price website a year ago).
The cows are grass fed and are right there for you to see when you pick up your milk. Carolyn is a great local farmer and very easy to deal with.
I've been a happy customer for the past year.
I have three boys and they love the milk and are heavy milk drinkers. We generally buy six gallons a week!
Lisa says
After hearing everyone talk about it I do feel a little tempted to try raw milk...but at the same time still feel uncertain about the dangers it might pose (especially for children) due to the supposed risk of harmful bacteria!
Teri [a foodie stays fit] says
GREAT post! You just inspired me to learn more about what diet the cows that produce my organic milk are eating. And great info about the skim vs 2% milk. We recently switched from skim to 2% as a compromise between my husband and me. So glad to know there are other benefits besides the non "watery" look that my husband hates. :)
Lisa says
Glad to hear it was helpful information...thanks for the comment!
Katherine says
How did you search for a local source? I would love to give this a try. I have been getting bread from Great Harvest by the way. Over the top yummy. Thanks for the tip.
Lisa says
I just googled terms like "milk delivery service" and "grass-fed milk" along with our location of course. Good luck with your search and glad to hear that Great Harvest has worked out for you too!
Lindsay says
I don't see organic milk available through the Lakeview link. Please clarify.
Lisa says
There are a lot of smaller local farms that aren't certified organic (since it is expensive and difficult to become USDA certified organic), but that doesn't mean they don't follow the same core principles. Lakeview's Dairy is located in Newberry at Bush River Farms and Bush's website says "Our milk is produced without the use of production-enhancing, artificial hormones and is a nutrition dynamo."
I hope that helps clear things up!
charles says
Great post thanks.
mournington says
This was a really interesting read, thank you. I try and keep a close eye on what comes into my kitchen, but I hadn't given my milk much thought.
I try to buy organic when I can, and Skim. I will definitely switch to a full cream milk now.
We don't drink a lot of milk in our house, as I don't believe it's good for my daughters asthma, so I really don't need to worry about the fat content.
Melissa says
Oh one more thing.. did you buy the homogenized milk from Lakeview? When I bought the raw milk last week, it was of course not homogenized, and that's how I was able to make my own butter. I meant to mention that there is a lot of controversy about homogenization too, since they alter the milk in order to make all the fat molecules the same size. They really know how to make natural milk and unnatural processed food!
Lisa says
Yes, we do buy the homogenized stuff...now you are giving me something else to think more about too! :)
Melissa says
I've actually been doing a ton of reading about raw milk after stumbling onto the Weston A. Price website and finding about the whole "real milk" campaign. We actually bought our first gallon of "raw" milk the other day, and it's still sitting in my fridge since I'm still so scared of it! Haha. We did drink it and are perfectly fine, and I made my own butter from the cream (it was sooooo good and easy to do). However, you really should read about the history of pasteurization. People have drank raw milk forever, and it wasn't until the early 1900s that people started pasteurizing. It wasn't that raw milk was bad, it was the fact that people started feeding cows things that made them unhealthy, brought them into the dirty cities, weren't being as careful or clean, etc. So basically, it's not that pastured cow milk makes you sick, it was people causing the issues. I've spent hours and hours and hours reading about this the past few weeks (it's been a slight obsession) and have come to the conclusion that raw milk from a trusted source is perfectly healthy (healthier!) than pasteurized milk. And I've also discovered that NC has a large "underground" population of people getting this milk. I think the biggest source is Milky Way Farms in SC. But if you google raw milk you get over 6 million results back, and a lot of people are trying to legalize it in various states. Also check out foodrenegade.com. She has all sorts of info about milk. And you can email me if you have any questions, since I've probably spent about 10 hours or more this month reading about it (my husband doesn't even want to hear the word "milk" for awhile)
Lisa says
Wow, that is very interesting. I have only read up on it a little bit, and once I learned that it could be harmful (like raw eggs or raw chicken) and that it is illegal I just kind of stopped there. Thanks for sharing this additional info with me though...I always love to hear the opposing argument!
Anna says
It is illegal because the government wants to control EVERYTHING. Raw milk actually has medicinal qualities, aside from just being better/easier to digest. I would hope that a website on eating real foods wouldn't take everything the FDA/USDA says as fact. You know that they are in bed with Monsanto and big susidized farms right?
Lisa says
Lisa- since reading your post, I have been so extremely interested in getting grass-fed milk that today I conducted my own research on where I can get some in my area (Southern California). I came upon this website that talks about their pasture fed cows, and how its not natural for cows to be grass-fed year round. This farm was not alone in its stance, in my research I read a lot of farms'/dairy websites that had similar feeding techniques. What do you think of it?
http://claravaledairy.com/faq.html
Copied and pasted from their FAQs:
Are Claravale Farm’s cows totally pasture fed?
No. We feed our cows a traditional diet of hay, feeds, and pastures. Claravale Farm is a traditionally run dairy and we don’t think total pasture feeding of dairy cattle is appropriate for a number of reasons. Contrary to popular belief, total, year round pasture feeding is not natural for cattle and is not the way in which dairy cattle have historically been managed. More typical is for dairy cattle to get access to some pasture during the natural growing season (winter and spring here) and to be fed mostly hay, grain and other produce during the rest of the year. This is what we do at Claravale. In this way, farmers have historically taken advantage of natural yearly cycles of rainfall and production. Year round pasture feeding of dairy cows requires the artificial creation of year round pastures by intensive irrigation, which requires energy and water, both limited resources in California.
Grass fed cows produce milk that has an “off†flavor. The older literature contains many references to the fact that cows which are on pasture produce milk which tastes bad. It is usually recommended in this literature that the cows be taken off of the pasture for a few hours before milking to limit this effect. These days, this is not a factor with most milk producers (including organic milk producers) because the milk is cooked and processed before sale so it doesn’t taste good anyway. The effects of the grass on milk taste will be masked by the effects of all the other processes. Every year when our cows do get some pasture we always get complaints about the taste of the milk. At Claravale Farm, taste is an important component of quality so we don’t totally grass feed our cows, but rather give them a varied, traditional diet designed to keep them healthy while producing delicious milk."
Lisa says
Lisa - This sounds similar to the place that we use (their cows are not 100% grass-fed year-round either), and I think the important thing is that the place you found has obviously put a lot of thought into how their cows are fed/handled (in addition to feeding them grass when appropriate). After scanning their site I think it sounds like a great alternative to milk from the supermarket...thanks for sharing and good luck with it!
Julie says
I'm new to all of this and have really learned a lot from your blog- what is your opinion of Soy milk?
Lisa says
Hello there! Two questions for you first...what are the ingredients in your soy milk (some have sweeteners and other additives)? And why do you chose it over dairy (is it an allergy)?
Nathalie says
Hi Lisa,
It was great to meet you the other night. Congrats on all your accomplishments. We order from Lakeview as well. Been very pleased so far, and I highly recommend them to your readers.
And there's an interesting book that touches upon the comments Rupel made about osteoporosis. I'm reading it now, so I am hesitant to share my perspective until I finish it. You might want to give it a quick look. It's titled Building Bone Vitality by Amy Joy Lanou and Michael Castleman. The hook on the cover reads "Why calcium, estrogen and drugs are NOT the answer."
Keep up the great work and thanks for your post!
Lisa says
Thanks for the comment and book suggestion Nathalie!
Hope says
Lisa,
This was very interesting. I was wondering if you have done much research on raw milk. I am very interested in natural and whole foods nutrition, and I have started to read quite a bit about the controversies of raw milk vs. pasteurized milk. It seams that pasteurization and homogenization of milk takes out at almost all of the enzymes, at least half of the vitamins, and changed to composition of the fat particles to be more toxic to arteries and veins.
here are a couple interesting website on the matter:
http://www.westonaprice.org/
http://www.realmilk.com/
I was wondering what your perspective is on this matter? It seams to be one of the most debated topics in food every. I tend to lean more towards the side of the more natural the better, but I always love to hear what other people think.
Lisa says
Hi there - Yes, I have researched raw milk and it is actually illegal here in North Carolina. It is true that pasteurization not only kills the dangerous bacteria, but it also kills some of the good stuff like you mentioned. The milk we drink from Lakeview actually goes through a process called "slow pasteurization" instead of "ultra pasteurization". This means it is pasteurized at a slightly lower temperature than what you find with most grocery store varieties. So it is safe to drink, but still has some of the good stuff left in it. Even if raw milk were legal here I don't think we would drink it, and I certainly wouldn't give it to my kids (for the same reason I wouldn't want them to eat raw eggs or raw meat). I hope that helps!
Elizabeth says
Hey Lisa,
How quickly does the milk expire? Have you ever ordered eggs or cheese from them?
Lisa says
Hey Elizabeth - They say the milk's peak performance is about 7 - 10 days which we have found to be true. One thing we learned is that it is important to make sure your fridge is set at 37 degrees or cooler and to not store the milk on the door of the fridge (which is a noticeably warmer spot). Milk is the only thing I have ordered from them (I get my eggs and cheese from Matthews Farmers Market or CSA box). I highly recommend using Lakeview for milk and you could certainly try other stuff from them too...we have been very pleased so far and I love being able to support yet another local farm!
Rupel says
There is some concern that milk after age 2 may be detrimental to our health with increasing risk of otitis in children, DM (secondary to overactivity of the pancreas in its attempt to produce enzymes to digest the pasteurized milk), obesity as well as gastrointestinal toxicities. Also, much of the calcium we need can come from vegetables.
Interestingly, we are concerned with getting enough calcium in our diet; however, countries in Africa and Asia with lower milk consumption have less incidence of osteoporosis; with the thought that the high protein in milk binds to calcium from milk, removing it from the body...possibly increasing risk of arthritis.
Also, one study noted that approx 75% of the world's population are genetically unable to digest milk (lactose intolerance). These people are also noted to have increased allergic illnesses...
Lisa says
Thanks for the opposing argument...it certainly makes you have to think for yourself once you absorb all the info that is out there.
Laura says
I was very excited today when I was out and about and saw a little store that had blueberries on sale 4 for 5 dollars. So I stopped to buy some. It was this cute store about 10 min from my home and it had tons of produce from and milk from a nearby farm. I asked if the cows on the farm were fed grass and the people said yes and went on to tell me all about the little farm and told me I really should go visit it. It seems every time I try to buy things locally, the people involved in the process are so proud of their farms and everything that they too want you to see where your food comes from. I think being resourceful we can all find ways to buy milk and other food in a more natural way.
I hate milk and so does my family so we don't drink much of it, but at least what we use in our recipes and such will be a lot better for us.
Lisa says
That is so true about how proud the local farms are of what they raise/grow...and I love to support the great work they are doing!