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!
Do you buy homogenized or non-homogenized? Is there a difference as far as healthiness is concerned? Thanks! Just starting to learn about “real food” and hoping to start the challenge soon!
I can’t seem to find someone that delivers milk near my home, what brands in the store would you recommend? Would any milk in the store from a local creamery have the same benefits?
Hello Lisa. Look for full fat organic milk if you can’t find fresh and local. ~Amy
Buy a goat or find a reliable source to purchase goat’s milk. The benefits are greater than cow milk. Easier digested.
Good article, Lisa. Just one comment I hopes helps your decision to drink clean milk. Milk is one of the most concentrated foods a cow produces, and comes from the fat in a cow. All impurities/antibiotics/pesticides are stored in the fat. So, the milk from the grocery store contains all of this. Glad you found a clean source, and I agree with the drinking of 2%. Our nerves need fat to operate properly, and a low-fat diet has not been found to help with heart-healthy living. I even read a study the other day that stated that now it has been found that saturated fat does not raise cholesterol as much as was once believed. So, all things in moderation, drink you good milk!
What are your thoughts on almond milk?
Hi Ashley. It can be very difficult to find an almond milk that isn’t full of added ingredients. Fortunately, we have a simple and yummy recipe: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/31/food-allergies-dairy/. ~Amy
Are you a baby cow? No? Then quit drinking it. Milk is meant for babies, human babies drink breast milk and as they get older they eat food. This theory isn’t perfect though because of a little thing called cheese. But I figure cutting out drinking milk and using it cereal will help a lot.
Since when did evolution ever design anything?
Agreed.. We were created by God.
I just signed up for a local milk delivery, Royal Crest Dairy! We have been buying organic but i’ve been wanting to look into delivery and i’m glad i finally did it. :)
Hi Brandi. Humans have been consuming milk and milk products for thousands of years with minimal processing. As you read, the Leakes buy products as close to the farm as possible and consider milk and dairy to be a wholesome part their diet. Clearly, there are those (myself and my son due to allergy) who dairy does not work for and that is okay. It is certainly not a requirement. I think the beauty of this blog is that all different philosophies on food can find a home here. ~Amy
I’ve been on the paleo diet for a while now and I am kind of confused as to how milk is considered not processed? Or cheese? Both are processed which is why they are not on the paleo list. The paleo is basically the “caveman diet” which sounds exactly like what this is, other than there are still items on your list that are processed.
I would recommend looking into how processes like pasteurization and homogenization change the nutritional value of your milk.
I was shocked today when I went to the grocery store and saw that all the organic (supposed to be good for you) milk was also ultra-pasteurized. Which is ultra bad. Just a thought if you are really serious about cutting out processed foods. Raw or low temperature pasteurized, grass Fed is, in my opinion, the way to go.
Hi Haley,
Milk is often ultra-pasteurized because it has a longer shelf life. If your grocery store doesn’t sell a lot of organic items, it may be that they need something with a longer shelf life so they can supply you and a few others with organic milk! You should ask them if they can find a supplier that doesn’t ultra-pasteurize their milk. Even better, see if you can find (or have them get) low-temperature pasteurized milk. Low-temp milk is pasteurized at 145F for 30 minutes, High-temperature/Short time milk is pasteurized at 161F for 16 seconds, and UP milk is pasteurized at 280F for 2 seconds.
Or you could always get yourself a goat… but if you get one you have to get two…
You mentioned you switched to 2% milk, but then you quote Michael Pollan as saying that “low-fat” and “skim” milk have powdered milk added back into them. So if you are drinking 2%, you are really no better off nutritionally than drinking skim. If you are trying to drink milk in it’s most pure form, why don’t you drink whole milk?
Hi Kristen. Yes, Lisa and her family drank 2% for a brief period but actually do drink whole now. You can read more about dairy here…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. Jill
I find your comment “cows are designed by evolution to eat grass” quite hilarious actually. While I do believe that cows are designed to eat grass, it is the GREAT DESIGNER, GOD, who made them that way!
The whole theory of evolution, by its nature, depends on random selection and chance. The theory does not depend on any form of design, as design implies a designer, not random mutations.
That statement made me scratch my head, too. Evolution and design are two words that don’t go together!
Hello! Was wondering, do you know how to find raw milk delivery in my area (SoCal)?
Thanks!
Hi Cyndi. I don’t know, but, I’m wondering if it’s something you could search online. Jill
We are big raw milk fans. We’ve done a ton of research to come to this conclusion but it’s often hard to convince others of our findings.
I agree with Jill. Milk was originally pasteurized because the government thought that the milk we were drinking was making us sick (although they had no proof to back this up). Pasteurization actually kills the bad bacteria AND the good bacteria that our bodies need for proper digestion. If anyone knows anything about antibiotics, you have to follow them up with a strong dose of Acidophilus to replenish the good bacteria in our stomachs. Otherwise, we suffer from hoards of allergies and other crazy stuff. So, pasteurized milk has none of the good bacteria that we need.
Also, homoganization was also another *bad* idea. Homoganization creates a more uniform looking milk (no cream on top) that is more appetizing and more *convenient*. What it actually does is make the fat molecules so small that our bodies can ingest them in larger doses, in essence, we get a “fat infusion” in our blood stream every time we drink it. NOT a good idea.
One other thing…..cow’s milk is known to be harder for the human stomach to digest. It is also a terrible source for Calcium. Studies have shown that the amount of calcium the body can pull from milk is negligible. There are other forms of milk that the human body can digest easier and that higher vitamin and calcium content.
Hi! I’m very new to the non-processed food diet, but I’ve learned quit a lot in the last month. I live in CA, and after watching the movie http://www.geneticroulette.com, I was in shock over GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Large bio-tech corporations, Monsanto being the largest, have engineered corn to produce it’s own pesticide right within the corn. THIS is what is making cows sick. Yes, they should eat grass, what they were created to eat, but if they are to be fed corn, it MUST NOT be genetically modified. Also, the process of pasteurization actually creates toxins. This is a great info-graphic as to why RAW milk is actually the best option. (And whole fat milk at that!)
http://www.naturalnews.com/035130_raw_milk_infographic_pasteurized.html
So, my question to add to the mix is: raw v pasteurized? Ultimately the milk my family drinks should come from dairy cows that eat grass, have not been injected with hormones or anti-biotics, and their milk not be pasteurized or homogenized. Thoughts from 100days?
Hi Jill. You should find this post on raw milk interesting…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/. Jill
Hi! I was wondering if you could help me, my friends and I are starting your challenge today and trying it for 30 days. I am a huge milk drinker so it was going to be my go to drink however after reading this article I would really like to change my store bought milk ways. I am concerned though, can I really do it? I am lactose intolerant and allergic to almonds and other nuts so almond milk is out of the picture. I live in Toronto Ontario. I guess my question is what is a lactose intolerant girl to do to get better with my milk consumption??
I don’t know if rice milk has lactose, or any of the other irritants, but you could look into that… Have you tried goat’s milk? Some people with lactose intolerance aren’t bothered by goat’s milk.
Hope that helps.
Hi Catherine. You said you’re a huge milk drinker, but, are you lactose intolerant or someone in your family? What milk do you currently drink? Would you be able to do soy or are you allergic to that as well. Sorry I can’t give you a more definitive answer. Jill
Lakeview Farms’ Web site (aside from having several typos) claims an “All Natural” diet, with no antibiotics, and the cows are allowed to roam “Free Range in Grass pastures.” This sounds a little bit like hiding the whole truth to me… are they feeding them some corn?
Hi Cathy. If you have any concerns, I would suggest calling them directly. The owner is Jim Price and he is very pleasant and extremely knowledgeable and would be happy to answer all of your questions. Jill
The response above by Shawna DOES rock! It is nice to hear it directly from the farm rather than media hype. I have a new appreciation for dairy cows after taking a trip through the Midwest farmlands over the summer.
Can someone explain the hype about how dairy is bad for our mucous productions? I have lactose intolerance myself and understand that fairly well, but lots of people say not to put kids on cow milk, but instead coconut or almond (or soy). My son suffers lots of seasonal allergies and I wonder if there is any relation?
“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.” While I appreciate your desire to help local farmers, I do not appreciate the defamation of dairy farmers across the country. Most dairy farms are family farms. While some may be large, even quite large, there is no such thing as a “factory farm”, and very few “corporate farms”. Because of the American “cheap food” policy, dairy farmers who desire to remain dairy farmers (and I promise they are not doing it for the money, but rather for the desire to dairy), have had to become very efficient milk producers. Because of this they feed corn, as part of a very carefully formulated ration. The cows do not survive on corn, but it is included in the diet to provide energy, as it is a high starch (carb)product. A proper dairy cow is like an elite athlete and must consume a proper amount of carbs to do what she does best–produce milk. The dairy cows must have a majority of their feed in roughage type products in order to work properly. Roughage type products are the grass brought to them, rather than the cows brought to the grass, for efficiency and feed control purposes. The same as I must buy blueberries, because we cannot grow blueberries here, the cows, to have the best feed, may have it brought from somewhere where it grows better. Aside from the bad apples, no dairy farmer would not feed their cows in a way that would harm them, if for no other reason than they couldn’t afford to lose them. In addition, dairy cows cannot be administered indiscriminately with antibiotics because you cannot sell the milk from those cows. Milk that you find in the grocery store is more sampled and monitored for all additives and problems than anything else you can buy. It is absolutely safe and as pure as any organic milk. If it makes you feel better to support local dairy farmers in that way, by spending more on organic milk, by all means, go for it! But don’t do it because of any health benefits. And buying any milk is supporting a dairy farmer who loves you, the consumer, wherever you are.
Excellent! I am printing this off! Shawna deBoer – you rock!
Your opinion, although entitled, is very biased…I am guessing you are from a dairy family. I will admit that there are many farmers that care to provide a quality product to the people who purchase it, however, many farmers – including family farms, provide what is paid for by large companies, such as Tyson…there are lots of resources that state that farmers do what will produce…bigger is better so more is the best attitude. I applaud your family (if dairy farmers) for providing a good quality product, but I am apprehensive to purchase from the supermarket because they are only in it for the money. Excellent sources to quick reference would be Forks Over Knives and Food, Inc.
Isn’t it true that the corn the cows get isn’t even fit for human consumption? I thought that the BT corn (or whatever that corn that is a registered pesticide is called) is what they feed livestock. It is genetically modified (if you’re not familiar with the how they make GMO’s, just check out http://www.nongmoproject.org or search the web– it’s creepy to say the least, I’ve actually done it in a lab) and the dairy cows very often get infections, especially in the udder. If people saw how much puss has to be filtered out of conventionally produced milk, they wouldn’t be so afraid of raw, grass-fed milk. Anyway, pasteurization was not the reason that illness and death from raw milk declined in the the 20th century, it was the outlawing of swill dairies and refrigeration. I love it when people try to tell me that “raw milk used to kill so many people, but now that they pasteurize it illnesses and deaths have almost gone to none”. If you use the USDA’s own statistics, a person is 35,000 times more likely to get sick (or die) from ANY other food than they are from raw milk. That does take into account the small percentage of Americans that drink raw milk. If you look, http://www.realmilk.com has way more scientific references about raw milk than even the CDC. Anyway, pasteurization is just a mask for a bad production model. A big part of that production model being grain and soy fed dairy cows (because it makes them produce a lot more milk).
As a small, sustainable, organic goat dairy, I have to agree with the first poster, Shawna. Dairy farmers DO see their animals as “athletes” as Shawna said; they carefully calculate what they will feed their animals do produce the most milk and the healthiest cow possible (on a budget). These farmers make almost no money. And, like Shawna said, they are eating grass-whether it’s hay or chopped up corn plants (corn is a grass, after all).
This is crucially important to me: ORGANIC DOES MEAN (at least partially) GRASS-FED. All organic livestock has at least some grazing/grass requirements to it, as far as I know. I am 100% sure this is the case for dairy animals. Here is a link from 2010, LA Times, that explains more: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/13/business/la-fi-dairy13-2010feb13
Everyone keeps saying “this is what makes cows sick!” but I don’t think anyone really understands what they’re saying. Ruminants (cows, deer, goats, sheep, etc.) have four stomachs. Their main stomach, the rumen, digests food via microbes. The rumen has a delicately balanced pH that is designed for grasses. Too much grain can upset this balance. Sometimes we’ll run into problems where our goats will either eat too much grain (i.e. steal the other goat’s grain) or eat moldy hay (because it’s been rained on while in the field) and their rumen pH will be upset, resulting in diarrhea. A conventional cow’s grain-heavy diet gives them softer poop than a hay-fed cow. But I should also say, we feed our animals grain because we cannot meet their needs without it. We like our animals to be comfortably plump, and just feeding grass hay and alfalfa doesn’t seem to be quite enough for them. It’s very hard to be 100% grass fed and a dairy, as lactation demands a lot of energy from the does.
Salem, as far as I know livestock grain can be consumed by humans, at least right out of the field. You might not be able to eat the additives they put in the grain (minerals, and sometimes medication) but right out of the field it’s just like other conventional corn. That’s not to say you should eat conventional corn, because I don’t think you should if you have the choice.
At the end of the day, it’s best to learn about your dairy. Dairy farmers are specialists, who in many cases have worked for decades or even generations in their field, and sometimes have gone to top universities to learn about animal production.
Please feel free to visit our website and send us a message to learn more about sustainability in dairy farming. Thanks, Lisa and all, for everything you do for this community! So many of us appreciate it!
FACT: Over 75% of antibiotics in the U.S. go to FACTORY FARM ANIMALS including non-organic dairy cows. People ingest the antibiotics in meat and dairy and U.S. government tests prove this has created antibiotic resistant bacteria (certain simple infections can become life threatening). The FDA of course doesn’t want us to know this but you can read the U.S. government’s test findings in the “Meat and Antibiotics” section on ewg.org. In addition, the GMO artificial hormones contribute to diseases including cancer. And the fat profile of a corn fed cow is bad fat, vs the healthier fat in a pasture raised grass eating cow. How can anyone say all milk (or meat) is the same??? If you can’t find a good local source, Organic Valley is a national brand which is a co-op of numerous small natural dairy farms. Unlike Horizon corn fed factory organic, don’t let their pasture fool you, behind it is an 8,000 cow indoor dairy factory with huge manure lagoons to contain the poop, which is allowed as fertilizer on NON-organic crops. BUY PASTURE RAISED ORGANIC, IN MODERATION BECAUSE HUMANS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DIGEST COWS MILK, ESPECIALLY PASTEURIZED WHICH KILLS THE ENZYMES WE NEED TO DIGEST IT PROPERLY. MANY PEOPLE CANNOT DIGEST CASEIN (MILK PROTEIN) AND DON’T KNOW IT. I was sick for years until I stopped dairy and I had no clue for all those years!!
PlEASE NOTE: Many small farms use healthy sustainable practices, feed their animals what they were designed to eat, and no hormones or antibiotics in the feed, without necessarily being certified organic.
Just recently found your blog and enjoyed your posts about grocery budgeting…I realize that this post was written before you did you 100 day budgeting experiment, but. I was just wondering: how do you fit milk into your budget?
We drink about 2-3 gallons of milk per week (between two adults) in our house and that eats up such a huge chunk of our grocery budget. We do buy organic, which makes it more expensive from the start.
Any tips?
Hi San. I know Lisa and her family cut down on their milk consumption some with their switch to whole milk. I know during the 100 days on a budget, Lisa just made the milk a priority item that she was not willing to give up. I’m sure that might have meant less for something else, so, I guess it might be a bit of prioritizing. Good luck. Jill
Trying to make the switch, gradually, to “real food”, but am a little confused about yogurt. I typically eat non-fat plain greek and add a bit of honey. So switching to whole milk yogurt shouldn’t be that much of a change. However, I compared the label on a carton of non-fat plain greek yogurt to one on the full-fat plain greek yogurt. According to the rules of real food, I should get the full-fat to benefit f/the nutrients of the whole milk. However, I notice the full-fat has almost twice as much sugar as the non-fat and only about 1/2 of the protein. The non-fat had no sugar added and no artificial sweeteners either. So I was torn as to which one to purchase. Any advice?
I actually just recently wrote a post that covers yogurt…this should help! https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/18/cheese-and-other-dairy-products-are-they-processed/
I live in Las Vegas, so we don’t have any close farms to get good milk from. Is there any milk that you would recommend from a mainstream grocery store (Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wal Mart)?
Hi Kristin. I think if you can’t get local milk, I would stick with organic milk. I know you can find ratings for organic dairy on this website: http://www.cornucopia.org/. Good luck. Jill
Love your blog! I saw your post today regarding the milk you buy at Earthfare. This is the one subject I struggle with and was going to try Lakeview Farms, however, is the Homestead Milk your new product? Of course purchasing from the store is a little cheaper and easier. Thoughts?
Hi Elayne. Lakeview Farms gets their milk from Homestead Creamery. Sorry if that was confusing. Homestead Creamery’s products are just sold at Earthfare as well. Hope that clears it up. Jill
While I am certain that drinking organic and grass-fed cow’s milk is an improvement on the pasturized/processed milk readily available in the local supermarket, I am still not convinced of it’s benefits. As an adult who was raised drinking milk (and lots of it) as well as cheese, yogurt, etc., it had never occured to me that drinking milk could be harming me in any way. That is, until a few months ago when I watched the documentary “Forks Over Knives,” which highlights new and groundbreaking research on the main protein, “casein”, found in milk and all milk-based products. The study showed that rats fed a diet of 20% casein over several weeks showed early development of cancer, while rats fed a diet of 5% showed no cancer growth. Moreover, when they grouped the rats together and alternated their diets between the 5% and 20% of casein, they were able to “turn on” and “turn off” the cancer growth. Why haven’t I heard about these studies on the news, you ask? The American meat and dairy industries are extremely powerful, (if you want to know just HOW powerful, I would recommend the documentary “Food, Inc.”) and are quite adept at keeping discoveries like this out of the mainstream media.
Also, to say that “our” ancestors have drank milk for centuries may be true for some people, but there are many cultures in which you will find NO dairy products whatsoever. And, in fact, it is in these very cultures where significantly lower occurences of osteoporosis were and are still found. This is in direct opposition to what the dairy industries main mantra has been for decades: that “milk and dairy products are one of the best ways to strengthen your bones.” In fact, new studies are showing that a plant-based diet, combined with strength training exercises are the BEST ways to strengthen your bones. Also keep in mind that, until the last century or so, the average life expectancy in America was significantly lower than it is now. So, to say that our “historical” diet was the best it could be doesn’t exactly add up. Historically, cultures with the lowest consumption of meat and dairy products have the longest life spans.
I know all fo this information may be a little shocking/confusing for some people, but it’s definitely worth looking into–for your health and your familes’ :-)
I actually don’t think it’s strange at all to wonder what those cows are eating if you’re going to consume their milk. Nursing mothers are always watching what they eat (I’ve done it with 3 children) because we know that everything we eat goes into the milk and we only want the best for our babies. We should have those same standards for ourselves as adults.
Can you publish a current post on milk – organic, 1% vs. 2% vs. skim vs. whole, what is raw milk, etc.?
I will definitely add it to my list although in the meantime we drink/recommend whole milk and here’s an explanation as to why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/
Raw milk is actually illegal here in N.C. because it’s milk that has not been pasteurized (heated) to kill bacteria that some think is harmful.
Hello, I am wondering what your take is on dairy in general? Being that it is something that is processed and all the hype that it causes mucus and inflammation and that we are the only thing that still drinks milk after weaning as a baby. Just curious what your thoughts about this is. Trying to decide if we will take dairy out of our families diet or not.
Unless you have an allergy or intolerance to dairy (and you use organic dairy from humanely raised animals) we don’t see any reason to cut it out…our ancestors have been drinking/using it for centuries!
Our family has been drinking Homestead Creamery whole creamline for over 6 months now. However, my husband is starting to question my choice, as he is taking a nutrition course and is concerned about the fat. He suggested switching to the Homestead Creamery non-fat creamline milk. It seems like a fair suggestion, but wanted your opinion. I appreciate all the time and energy you’ve put into this website, by the way. It has been a great resource for our family.
We actually drink the whole creamline as well now (this is an older milk post)…and here’s why we avoid the low-fat and fat-free versions: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/04/15/mini-pledge-week-6-no-low-fat-lite-or-nonfat-food-products/
Just wondering what your suggestion would be for those of us who don’t tolerate cow’s milk?
An unsweetened milk alternative like coconut or almond milk…
Or goat milk!
I absolutely love your blog and all of the resources you provide! My husband and I and our two daughters (2.5 years and 1 year) made the switch to whole-foods eating in January of this year.
I’m constantly researching to make sure we’re making the best decisions for our health, and I keep coming across articles like this one (http://www.drheise.com/milkchildren.htm) and this one (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/harvard-declares-dairy-not-part-of-healthy-diet.html) that basically say milk was meant for baby calves, not humans, and that we should seek out calcium from beans, grains, and dark leafy greens instead.
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
We strive to eat what our ancestors have survived on for centuries, which definitely included cow’s milk (not vegan imitations of milk).
Um, just finding this blog…Is Lakeview Farms only in NC? I’m having trouble finding such a thing in my area…
Yes, but we now buy Homestead Creamery brand milk from Earth Fare, which I think is sold in surrounding states.
Also I forgot about 2% organic cheeses, I guess I’m just not sure what are healthier?
So is organic 2% milk ok to drink and what about organic 2% yogurt? Or do you only eat whole milk yogurt?
We do all whole milk products now (milk, yogurt, cheese, sour cream, etc.) …this was an older post. Check out my FAQ page b/c it has a brief update on milk: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/frequently-asked-questions/
Wondering if the milk you drink is raw milk? Or if you have any thoughts on it. I have a farm close by that offers it, as well as grass fed beef.
I actually just shared an article about this on facebook today…raw milk is actually illegal here in N.C. so it’s not a choice for us.
This is a good basic post on milk. If you want more information on where to get minimally processed milk in your area, visit http://www.cheesemaking.com (I am a stay-at-home mom, not endorsed by anyone). I found a wonderful local dairy and buy their milk from one of our local grocers who carries it.
Lisa, I’m hoping you can help me figure out my milk dilemma! We buy Organic Valley brand from Harris Teeter (which rated very well on an organic website I found). But I’d prefer something local. Do you still use Lakeview Farms? Your FAQ says you buy whole, non-homogeneized.
Hi there! Lakeview Farms switched to a milk from Virginia called Homestead Creamery, which is also sold at Earth Fare (for a little cheaper) so that’s what we buy. We get the whole non-homogenized version with a gold top. It’s pasteurized at a little lower temp than the big brand organic milks (which apparently retains more nutrients). From what I can find it’s the least processed milk available in N.C. since raw milk isn’t legal here. I hope that helps!
I’m a little late to this conversation. I know the “instant” powdered milk is bad for you. What about the organic powdered milk? It’s not instant and takes a bit of work to mix. I thought that was healthier as it’s processed in a better way.
What is your opinion about vitamin D added to milk? I live in Indianapolis and have a local organic, all grass fed dairy in the area called Traders Point Creamery. Their products are great. Their white milk only comes as whole milk with no added vitamin D. We bought it exclusively for our now 3-year-old son for a while after going off the bottle, but our pediatrician advised against it because of the vitamin D thing. We’ve switched to the organic 365 brand at Whole Foods, but I have a nagging feeling we should switch back.
I hate to say it, but unfortunately doctors get VERY little training on nutrition. I have no formal training myself, but I hands down agree that the local grass fed whole milk sounds like the better choice. They don’t have to add vitamin D because it likely still has all the original nutrients still in tact (due to less processing). Plus it’s better for our environment anyway because it isn’t being “trucked” in from somewhere else. That’s just my two cents…so your hunch sounds right to me!
After reading this I have gone on a massive search for organic milk or a milk delivery service that will come to my house in the middle of no where, Indiana. I’m still on the search for that service, but until then I have at least found a supermarket that carries “Organic Valley” products. It’s about a extra half hour drive, but I’m more than willing to drive it to get the products! Thank so much for sharing!
I would also like to add that I just found that there is a “Organic Valley” farm located in my city! Make me even more excited to buy this product since I would be able to go to the farm itself!