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TagsBY VICKY DeROSA
COMMENTARY
Milk is packed with vitamin D, rich in calcium, and has a great balance of carbohydrates and protein. Wow, milk really does do a body good! So, why all the controversy? Let’s see!
Why is organic milk all the rage and what makes organic milk organic? There are four criteria for milk to be considered organic.
First, organic milk must come from cows that have not received antibiotics. If a cow does need to be treated with antibiotics because it is sick it will be removed from the rest of the herd for one year to assure that the antibiotics are out of its system and we will not get the antibiotic in our milk.
Second, cows must have access to pasture, much like free range chicken. It makes me happy to know I am drinking milk from a happy cow not a cow stuck in a crowded space.
Three, the cows that will produce organic milk will be free of Bovine Growth Hormones or BGH and rBST. Both of these hormones are used to increase milk production in the cows. It is believed that the hormones will adversely affect the hormone levels in humans which have been directly linked to breast, colon and prostate cancer. Big danger sign!
Lastly, cows must feed on food that is free of pesticides.
I am not thrilled at the prospect that the milk I am drinking has come from a cow which is diseased or shot full of cancer causing hormones. Even worse, the USDA allows up to 1.5 million white blood cells per milliliter of milk. I’m disgusted, how about you?
If you are thinking that organic milk is too expensive here is my tip for you! Organic milk lasts a lot longer than non organic milk. This has nothing to do with it being organic, it’s actually due to the way it is preserved. Non organic milk is preserved through standard pasteurization. The process that makes organic milk last longer is ultra high temperature (UHT). Milk is treated at 280 degrees Fahrenheit and this kills all bacteria versus pasteurization which heats milk to 145 degrees Fahrenheit and does not kill all bacteria. Yet another reason to buy organic! So buy organic milk when you find coupons or when it is on sale and stock up, it lasts a long time! Plus, it might even turn out to be cheaper!!!
Whole fat, low-fat or no fat…so many options! Actually all three varieties contain the same nutritional benefits! My recommendation is go for the reduced or non fat variety which has less fat but only after age five. I certainly don’t believe there is anything wrong with a little extra fat in a young child’s body (if you are nervous about too much fat try 2 percent).
So, after reading this I hope that your choice will be organic low-fat milk-especially for your children! With an understanding of what is in regular milk, let’s make a conscious decision to save money elsewhere and spend it on organic milk. Here’s a thought: put down the expensive cocoa puffs and make your child a bowl of inexpensive oat meal with some fabulous, organic, low-fat milk!
Vicky DeRosa is Founder and CEO of Studio V Health Corp. For more information check out www.studiovhealth.com.
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Families have to make choices about how to budget their food dollars. Organic products cost more and do not necessarily provide any added health benefits. Please consult Registered Dietitians for nutrition information (http://holmdel.patch.com/blog_posts/where-do-you-get-your-nutrition-advice).
You may want to check out the following links to learn more about the nutritional benefits of organic dairy and organic foods in general:
American Dietetic Association, "Advising Consumers About Organic Foods and Healthful Eating": www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=10606
NDC Dairy Council Digest, “Modern Dairy Farming Practices & Milk Quality: Myths & Facts”: www.nationaldairycouncil.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/research/dairy_council_digests/2007/dcd783.pdf
No milk contains rbGH. After cows are injected with the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, the rbGH works
on her brain's hypothalamus and pituitary to produce an increase of the same naturally occurring hormone which has been identified as the key factor in breast cancer. The rbGH is broken down before it reaches the milk. See: notmilk.com
IGF-I is the key and it is identical in the cow's body to human IGF-1.
Robert Cohen - notmilk at earthlink dot net