Some of my classmates in my Master’s program felt that
organic milk tastes WAY better than regular cow’s milk. I still have not had the opportunity to try
it. I never think of it when I am at the
store. It is something that I hope to
try. The only downside is that organic
cow’s milk costs twice as much as traditional.
So what are the benefits?
The US Department of Agriculture has 4 requirements in order
to label milk as organic, no growth hormones, no antibiotics, no pesticides and
cows must have access the grazing time.
Cows that produce organic milk are free from synthetic growth
hormones, specifically the Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH), which is often given to
cows to increase milk production. Some
are concerned about this because it has been told that hormones in milk could
raise the risk of cancer, particularly by leading to higher levels of
insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Science indicates that BGH is a protein hormone so the enzymes
and stomach acids in our digestive tract will destroy it anyways. Studies have also shown that high blood levels of
IGF in our bodies are not linked directly to milk consumption but more to
overweight, lack of exercise, and diets high in saturated fat, refined
carbohydrates or total calories (kinda like the SAD diet – Standard American
Diet…kinda sad that our American diet has that acronym, huh?) Anyways…
Non-organic cows may also be injected with antibiotics to
prevent illnesses. If a cow in an
organic herd requires antibiotics, she is not returned to the herd for one
year. In conventional herds, milk from
cows that do receive antibiotics is tested until it is antibiotic free. Organic cows are also fed grass or grain that
is pesticide free and they must have access to pasture. This amount of time isn’t standardized so unfortunately
not all organic herds are roaming freely all year long.
Organic milk is pasteurized like traditional milk. People often choose organic milk because of
environmental and animal rights’ issues.
Some also believe organic milk has more health benefits than traditional
milk such as the decreased risk of cancer as mentioned above. Experts claim that there’s no
nutritional difference between organic and traditional milk, though two studies
from Newcastle University, in England, found that the organic variety contains
higher concentrations of some beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. It is also believed that organic milk contains
the most health benefits in the summer because that is when the levels of inflammation-reducing
fatty acids are at their peak because the cows have access to more fresh grass
and clover.
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