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(BeWellBuzz) Milk on cereals, milk in our desserts, milk in beverages and so on – anywhere you go, there is no escaping from milk. And for most of us, milk brings back childhood memories – it was after all our first food. However with the recent controversies surrounding milk, one begins to wonder if drinking milk really is safe anymore.
Before we begin hunting for the truth about milk, let us understand what milk really is: Milk is a translucent liquid secreted in the mammary glands of all mammals during the lactation period. In simpler terms, milk is a nutrient for the new borns.
The milk of every species is specific to needs of their offspring, which explains why cow’s milk is so rich in proteins, while a human mother’s milk contains more of antibodies and essential fatty acids. A wide range of studies suggest that human milk is extremely rich in essential fatty acids, especially Linoleic acid while animal milk has none.
Reason is simple: cow’s milk is not designed for humans but for calves. Cow’s milk, both regular and organic contains up to 59 active hormones, high fat content and hundreds of allergens. And if these were not enough, milk from cows and goats contains high amount of herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics, blood, pus, and a variety of bacteria and viruses. Sure, homogenization and pasteurization can kill most of the bacteria, but these processes also destroy the nutrients present in the milk. What is left behind is nothing more than a ‘dead beverage’ with high amount of pesticides and other dangerous chemicals in it. Is this what you want to feed your body with? With that said, the nutritional advantage of milk cannot be ignored either. Researchers at University of Tennessee found that overweight people who drank milk thrice a day lost more belly fat than those whose milk consumption was lower. Also, besides providing high amounts of calcium, milk is one of the best muscle foods too. Milk proteins can be broken down into – Whey (20%) and Casein (80%). While whey is a ‘fast protein’ and is quickly absorbed into the blood stream, Casein takes time to get digested and offers a steady supply of protein for your body. No wonder, body builders and sportsperson swear by the health benefits of milk. So what is the best way to obtain the complete nutrition from milk, while keeping the various risks and dangers at bay? Health experts and nutritionists suggest that the best option is to consume milk other than animal’s (goat, cow, camel) milk. Here is a look at the different alternatives to Dairy Milk available for our consumption:
RAW MILK
While raw milk is still cow’s or sheep’s milk, it is in the natural unaltered form. Raw milk is neither pasteurized nor homogenized, nor is it heated beyond the animal’s highest body temperature. With no additives and chemicals added, the nutrients in raw milk remain intact. There are basically two types of raw milk – one meant to be consumed directly from organically-reared cows and another that absolutely needs to be pasteurized to be made fit for consumption. The ideal raw milk is certainly the one taken straight from organically-reared animals. Nutrient Breakdown for Raw Milk:
- Water 87.3%
- Milk Fats 3.9%
- Milk Solids 8.8%
Here’s a look at some of the major health benefits of Raw Milk –
- Contains 20 of the Basic Amino Acids
- Contains Lactoferrin, a iron-binding protein
- Rich in CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), a polyunsaturated fatty acid which offers a wide array of health benefits
- Rich-source of Vitamins and Minerals including Calcium
- Contains Healthy Bacteria
ALMOND MILK Almond milk, as the name suggests is obtained by finely grinding soaked almonds. Almond milk has been a popular beverage since the medieval times. It is a healthy and tasty substitute to animal milk. Some of the amazing health benefits offered by almond milk are:
- Free of Lactose and Cholesterol
- Rich in Vitamin A, B and E
- Improves digestion, strengthens the muscular tissues and lowers the risk of cataracts, heart diseases and cancer
- Contains various nutrients including Protein, Copper and Magnesium
- Blood Sugar Friendly
- Rich in Arginine, a non-essential amino acid that assists in a variety of functions
- Excellent for your skin and hair
- Provides 30% of the recommended daily value of calcium and 25% of Vitamin D
Almond milk contains many more nutrients than normal dairy milk, and is a potent alternative for those with soy or lactose allergies.
SOY MILK
Soy milk is an extract of soya beans, which are known for their incredible health benefits. It is dairy-free and works as a wonderful alternative to animal milk. A wide range of flavors are now available in Soy milk and its popularity is growing at a fast pace. Consume soy in moderation as the estrogen-mimicking compounds can have a negative effect if over consumed. Here’s a look at the different health benefits of Soy Milk –
- Helps in lowering cholesterol – Soy milk contains monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (good fats), which include omega-6 and plant omega-3 fatty acids. Daily consumption of Soy milk can significantly lower cholesterol levels in the blood
- Rich in Isoflavones – Isoflavones are powerful antioxidants that provide protection against heart diseases, cancer and osteoporosis.
- Rich source of Protein – Soy milk is one of the richest sources of plant-based protein, and is ideal for those who engage in body building or strenuous activities.
- High in Vitamin B12 – Soy milk can be a good source of vitamin B12 for those who avoid dairy products and eggs.
- Low in carbohydrates and saturated fats – The low fat content and carbohydrates in Soy milk contribute to weight loss, while providing complete nutrition.
- Rich in lecithin, iron and other essential minerals
- Contains No-Lactose or Hormones
Even though soy has benefits we recommend staying away from it.
HEMP MILK
Hemp Seed Milk is made from soaked hemp seeds, which upon grinding yield a creamy milky liquid. Hemp milk has gained widespread popularity due to its health benefits and high nutritional value. Hemp milk is extracted by pulverizing the soaked hemp seeds, blending them with water and then filtering the liquid out. Nutrient Breakdown for Hemp Milk (per liter of milk):
- 800 mg Omega 3
- 2600 mg Omega 6
- All 10 Essential Amino Acids
- 4 Grams of Digestible Protein
- Vitamin A, D, E, B12, Riboflavin and Folic Acid
- Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc and Iron
- 46% of RDA Value of Calcium
Now that you know the various minerals and nutrients present in Hemp milk, here are some benefits offered by these:
- Vitamin E works as an antioxidant and protects against free radical damage
- Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and are critical for a variety of body functions
- Magnesium is needed by each organ of the body for enzyme activation, production of energy and regulation of different nutrients in the body
- Hemp milk is extracted from hemp seeds, and is free from cholesterol, trans fats, gluten and soy
- Strengthens the immune system
- Increases focus and mental capacity
COCONUT MILK
Coconut milk is mainly used in Asian cooking and for preparing desserts. It is a sweet, milky white stuff derived from a tender coconut. The process of extraction is a little time consuming, as you need to first shred the inside flesh of the coconut, grind it with water and then extract the milk from it. The pearl white color and sweet taste of coconut milk can be attributed to the high oil content and sugars present in it. Just like coconut is considered the ‘miracle food’ because of its numerous health benefits, coconut milk too can be a healthy addition to your daily diet.
Health Benefits of Coconut Milk
- Largely made up of short and medium-chain fatty acids that are quickly used up as energy and do not get stored as body fat. Research shows that intake of Coconut milk can actually assist in weight loss
- Rich in Lauric acid, an essential fatty acid required for building and maintaining the body’s immune system. In fact, coconut milk is at par with human mother’s milk in terms of its Lauric acid content.
- Highly nutritious and a storehouse of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes
- Coconut milk is a dairy-free alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to animal milk.
- It is also Gluten-free, Nut-free and Soy-free
- Effectively treats skin problems and allergies
While there are unlimited alternatives to animal milk, it is best to take your pick from the major ones mentioned above. These are rich in nutrients, safe for daily consumption and are great for your taste buds as well.
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I’m very concerned with the breverages I consume…this article is a great source of information for myself and to be passed along. I have been drinking soy milk and your article as well as many other wiser commentators have suggested to stop drinking (perhaps more information as to why I should stop) I have used hemp and coconut for smoothies. Thanks again.
SOY MILK LEACHES CALCIUM FROM YOUR BONES!!
My naturopath told me this, so it is not as good as it appears to be!!
Mike
You didn’t do justice to raw, organic goat milk, which many say is closer to human needs than cow’s milk.
Also, except for hemp milk, you didn’t list the grams of protein for the others. I think you over rated soy milk. Many health doctors avoid soy altogether, except maybe for Natokinase, the clot buster.
je
you guys have not mentioned the excellent benefits of ricemilk?!
I must say that I will unsubscribe from you, anybody who promotes soy milk, either does not know what they are talking about or are intentionally mis leading.
So, good bye
I second that in saying that NO soy products are to be consumed. Most of it is GMO for a start and there is much to be said about all the chemicals used in the formation of soy products. Our societies are already losing ‘masculine’ men and I believe a lot of it is due to the significantly increased levels of people eating and drinking soy products.
If anyone has a thyroid problem, SOY products and soy milk should be absolutely avoided. I believed all the hype about soy milk and used it for several years until I kept reading about how bad it was for anyone with Hypothyroidism, which I have. Stay away from SOY MILK and ALL SOY PRODUCTS.
What do you recommend substituting for cow milk in baking?
Keep in mind that unless it’s noted as being organic, most if not all soy crops are GMO which makes soy a very dangerous crop for human consumption.
The section on soy milk was very confusing!
You tout the benefits of soy milk (in point form nonetheless, I guess in order to be certain all these valuable points can be properly ‘digested’?), then below the points you say, “Even though soy has benefits we recommend staying away from it.”
Perhaps if you included the fact that almost all soy is GMO/Monsanto poisoned, your readers would find avoiding it a little easier? Or that the only really nutritional soy is of the fermented variety.
Someone above made a similar comment re the GMO aspect of soy today. The guy/gal who said goodbye was more than a little radical. We all make mistakes. You’re a great source of healthy information, so to avoid more radical exodus, it might be a good idea to publish an update/retraction of the positives of soy milk :o)
Please talk about rice milk and rice dream. You never mentioned them
Yes, I was also expecting to read about rice milk. (organic)
What about oat milk people? google it ya?
Hmmm, that stuff tastes fantastic!
The amount of calcium in pasteurized milk is still the same, but the life-form(energy) is no more in the pasteurized milk. Read on to know the truth about the wise choice in not drinking pasteurized and homogenized cow milk.
“Low fat, High calcium Milk” is a bad joke for human nutritional science of longevity. (I am serious and I am not laughing at this statement)
more reading here http://theinnozablog.blogspot.com/2008/10/re-run-previous-post-about-pasteurized.html
Thanks for the info which is highly informative. However you failed to mention that Soy has an adverse effect on the Thyroid Gland
thanks for info but please i want to know about dry milk or milk powder that we use daily with instant coffee we start our day with this drink can i get the answer thanks
I am surprised there is no comment on Goats Milk. I prefer it to any other type and most important, it is widely available. Many of the types you refer to are not easily available in the UK.
Goats milk is for Goats. Sheeps milk is for Sheep
And Almond milk is for almonds… c’mon. I am a mammal, not a nut. 🙂 I raise my own goats. It is liquid love, my friend.
Nice answer
evidently the writer of the article is just a computer trained nerd without true experience with nutrition. I personally have saved many a child and ADULTS from the horrible experiences of Medicines be using raw organic whole natural whatever name you give it- GOATS MILK.. Sheep milk is almost as good, but the taste is harder to get used to. Milk, RAW is the best food if used in moderation. One cup per day for an adult, more if under a Natural Physicians care. Living without Rx, Naturally at 100….
Because of the quality of the food out there and the greed with which it is grown to distribute, it is hard to get a decent meal.. Has to be organic. Milk has to be organic. The cows milk has many benefits if it is tolerated.. I personally have seen only two people in my 70, yes 70 years of nutritional practice who was really allergic to goat or sheep milk.. Those had a support digestive system that has been compromised to not accept good organic whole foods.. Raw organic Goat or Sheep milk is my drink of choice.. 6-8 ounces a day, otherwise I drink tea(herbal therapeutic) .. Coconut Milk is a great drink, SOY is a poison put on the vegans by entrepreneurs and $$$.. The only fit Soy is organic and fermented.. Peace to all of you ..Follow the crowd into oblivion if you choose, soy is a great population control
almond milk is for almonds??? okay…. that does not make any sense! Maybe all pregnant female humans should have to forgo feeding their kids to feed you! Think about it! Human milk is the most designed for humans, so go bring a bottle and pump and ask a lactating human woman if she’ll feed you! Or maybe lactating human females should be farmed or raised so they can have someone milk their liquid love (i wonder how they would feel)…. LOL
thanks BeWell buzz, please keep sending the good info (and the important info that GMO is to be avoided), it is appreciated (by me). THANKS
More info on getting GMO free (or heading that way) if anyone interested
http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/Home/index.cfm
I appreciate this article. I was disappointed that you did not mention rice milk. I have been drinking organic rice milk for some time and really enjoy it, but was concerned since you left it out that there is a problem with it?
You say soy milk leeches calcium from the bones. I have read the same about cows milk. In countries that consume cows milk there is more osteoporosis than in countries that do not consume cows milk. I know from personal experience that cows milk adversely affects my health in many ways. I do not experience problems with soy milk . I was told by a intuitive healer that for me soy milk was better for my health than cows milk or rice milk. I gave up cows milk 28 years ago. Health problems disappeared, and since then, whenever I eat dairy products these health problems reappear. Where can I read more about the problems caused by consuming soy products?
Thanks for taking the time to address the topic of organic milk. It is and will be a battle to find information on the health benefits of organic products including milk. Whether it is almond or rice or animal. GMOs are also a hidden hazard that is being introduce into each and everyone of us through our foods. As the below video suggests, keep away from GMO corn, cotton, canola, and soy. Always look for a non-gmo product label and stay informed. Also new to the GMO market sugar beets are now subject to these experiments. Educate yourself on these subjects with this free here, also playing here. This is a long video, yet it has a wonderful ending that conveys the message that we should not give up hope because we are bigger than the system and will be making the changes necessary ourselves to protect the ones we love. Starting it all with information, so be sure to share this one. Long live our freedoms on the net.
This was all very interesting. I don’t drink much milk of any kind but I use a lot of whey protein powder. Is this good?
I will never forget the history my father told me. When he was a toddler he was about to died as he wouldn’t eat or drink. His parents didn’t know what to do and out of desperation they left him on a neighborhood farm, in which the woman told him she would try to safe him (my grand parents had olives trees, the neighbors had goats). My father obviously survived, and when my grandparents when to pick him they ask what they had done, and they said they gave him raw milk strait from the goat.
Now, unless you are able to do your own test, all we know is what we are told, read or study, so I don’t think no one can be for sure … some people will be affected by something in a negative way while others on a positive manner. The only think we can do, is to do our own research, go with what fells right for us, experiment abit and see how our body respond.
I can tell you that since I was little I was discosted with milk, I could not stand the taste, the smell … etc, not even yogurts, it use to drive my mother to the edge of frustration as I went to the extend of hiding behind the fridge in order to avoid drinking milk and even calcium. Something didn’t seem right to me.
I can’t say went exactely my health deteriorated, but I do know one think, I did start taken more milk into my diet (coffe – yogurts – flans – hot chocolate with millk … ) and later on I got ill.
I then tryed soya milk, and I believe it didn;t help at all. so now I’m on rice milk and about to try to make my own almond milk, to see if I feel any difference.
What is not mentioned is the fact that in order for us to consume milk from either goats, sheep or cows, the animal has to be kept perpetually pregnant. Is this an acceptable practice? Is it really necessary for us to drink milk from another animal?
Whether you consume organic raw milk or pasteurised milk, the milk contains huge quantities of natural hormones which are designed to quickly grow a calf. Human milk does not contain such vast quantities of hormones as human babies are not designed to grow so quickly. Why are young girls entering puberty as early as aged 7? An excess of hormones from dairy, animals fed growth stimulants (artificial hormones) and hormones in the environment.
If milk is so good for us, why are so many people lactose intolerant? The answer: we are not designed to keep drinking milk! We are designed to be weaned! We lose the ability to produce the enzyme that breaks down lactose. People of African origin are 90% lactose intolerant. Most Asians are lactose intolerant. Surely this is telling us something?!
If milk is so good for our bones why is it that countries which consume the most dairy have the most osteoporosis? PLUS dairy products are known to promote breast cancer (Read “Your Life in Your Hands” by Professor Jane Plant).
Raw or pasteurised, milk is not a food for humans.
thank you, I totally forgot about that. It was one of the reasons aswell that make me decide not to take more milk.
thank you for the reminder!
🙂
anything in a plastic bottle with an expiry date is not healthy. Note: soy milk, rice milk, oat milk has also been heated. it may not be as bad as cows milk but how much nutrition value would it have left once it has been boiled???
Almond and Hemp is the way to go!
Soy.Oats.Almond milks etc. have Sunflower oil in them. also stay away from protein isolate . The soy.oats etc are ground and soaked in chemicals to extract the oil then the chemical is supposed to be extracted by boiling.??? I like as much as possible to have whole ground soy beans / almonds / Oats. then just without the oil.
Hydrogenated grain oils are known in the long term to damage the “Retina of the eyes. ” and like sugar they put these vegetable oils in everything. also bread. check the labels to limit these oils. good oils. olive.coconut. advocado. ALA flaxseed. fish. Bobbie
Yes, quite an interesting article.
hi, i just stumbled on your article on a coincidence, and as i sometimes do, i start checking out whats here, the article gets a bit interesting after you get a bit further into it. Thanks for putting it up, thanks and have a good evening
If one where to decide to drink milk, raw, unpasturized milk from grass-fed cows,goats and sheep are the way to go. Besides pasturization, we must not forget another potent offender–rBGH! rBGH is superchareged with high levels of a natural growth factor (IGF-1) which has been incriminatrd as a cause in breast, prostate and colon cancers. It also blocks the natural defense mechanisms against early submicroscopic cancers. It also makes the cow sick. Thank Monsanto. If one chooses to not drink milk do not neglect by-products like butter, cheese, creams, yogurts, etc! As a working chef, I run into this problem every day.
I stopped drinking milk years ago. I drink unsweetened almond milk with organic light coconut milk (4 to 1 mix) and it has a whole milk texture and incredible flavor. I use only organic butter and eat raw milk cheese which are more readily available than raw milk.
Do not be afraid of Coconut milk. . One of the most saturated fats on the market . but it is very small and is absorbed direct to the blood and then to the cell where it goes into the mitochrondria. It helps the mitocondria burn fat and not sugar. which children do but as we get older with all the refined charbohydrates we eat we constantly burn sugar. Thats why we get fat. ???
Animal fat is large and difficult to digest. Best to get Green 100% young coconut. or Extra virgin Coconut oil.
i wish u can please get dirty filthy cows milk banned is going to be hardest like getting any government to give money for my inventions that can help the world o much but nothing why was all the cows uteruses of cows surgically worked on by some alien like way once can any answer that