Is Raw Milk Safe

Is Raw Milk Safe

with Mark McAfee

Why is raw milk illegal in some states? What are the risks associated with drinking it? How could a simple, straightforward product—like milk from a cow—have become so controversial? On today’s episode, Mark McAfee, the Chairman of the Raw Milk Institute, and the head of Organic Pastures Dairy, expounds on the topic with first-hand knowledge, experience, and passion. You’ll soon discover that Mark is a proponent of real, unadulterated, unpasteurized, grass-fed and pasture-raised raw milk. Mark explains the history of raw milk and pasteurization; he dives into the proteins and beneficial bacteria in raw milk; he contrasts raw milk with pasteurized milk and even “nut milks” on the market; and he discusses the role raw milk plays in the health of our gut microbiome. He gives us the big picture of the dairy industry world-wide, along with important information as to the benefits of including raw milk in your own diet.

Notes:

Highlights from the conversation include:

what raw milk is exactly
how raw milk is babies’ first food
how raw breast milk contains 700 different kinds of beneficial bacteria (contrast this with four or five types found in yogurt)
how there are 2,500 different kinds of proteins in raw milk
what babies drink, traditionally, after weaning
why drinking raw milk from pastured animals is important
why there is fear surrounding raw milk (and why it is well-founded)
how cattle were kept in filthy conditions in the 1880s and 1890s, leading to tainted raw milk and many deaths
why the Raw Milk Institute was created, including self-regulation for the dairy farmers and safety for the public
the role of lactose intolerance in the public’s avoidance of dairy
how raw milk can help treat asthma, allergies, and eczema
why there are not more studies on raw milk conducted in the U.S.
why dairy farming is on the decline
how pasteurized milk is the most allergenic food on the market today
the problem with imitation milks made of almond, hemp, soy, flax, rice, etc.