RAW MILK – Is It Beneficial?

What is raw milk?

Raw Milk is a milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. It can come from any animal. Raw milk can carry dangerous germs which can pose serious health risks to you and your family. Getting sick from raw milk can mean many days of diarrhea, stomach cramping, and vomiting. 

However, many people still believe that raw milk is beneficial for them because it will provide healthy bacteria and nutrients. But this claim that raw milk is beneficial has not been scientifically proven yet. It is illegal to buy or sell raw milk due to its potential health danger.

Here are some things you should know: 

Illness can occur from the same brand and source of raw milk that people had been drinking for a long time without becoming ill. 

Each ill person’s symptoms can differ depending on the type of germ, the amount of contamination, and the person’s immune defenses.

What are the common symptoms of drinking raw milk?

Sometimes, consuming raw milk can lead to severe symptoms in most people. Getting sick from raw milk can mean many days of diarrhea, stomach cramping, vomiting. Some people who drank raw milk have developed severe life-threatening diseases which can result in kidney failure, stroke or even death.

 

Who is at greatest risk of getting sick from drinking raw milk? 

The risk of getting sick from drinking contaminated raw milk is greater for infants and young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer, an organ transplant, or HIV.

What is pasteurization, and what is pasteurized milk? 

Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill illness-causing germs. Pasteurized milk is milk that has gone through this process.

Does pasteurization change milk’s nutritional benefits? 

Most of the nutritional benefits of drinking milk are available from pasteurized milk without the risk of disease that comes with drinking raw milk.

Is it true that raw milk has more enzymes and nutrients than pasteurized milk? 

The heating process of pasteurization inactivates some enzymes in milk, but scientists do not believe these enzymes are important in human health. Some nutrients are somewhat reduced in pasteurized milk, but our diet generally has plenty of other sources of these nutrients. For example, Vitamin C is reduced by pasteurization, but raw milk is not a major source of vitamin C for humans.

Has pasteurized milk ever been linked to illnesses or outbreaks? 

Pasteurized milk products have occasionally caused illnesses and outbreaks. Usually, this has happened because of germs introduced in the dairy after the pasteurization process. Pasteurized milk that is correctly handled in the dairy, bottled, sealed, and refrigerated after pasteurization, and that is properly handled by the consumer, is very unlikely to contain illness-causing germs.

How does milk get contaminated? 

Milk contamination may occur in these ways: 

• Animal feces coming into direct contact with the milk 

• Cow diseases 

• Bacteria that live on the skin of animals

• Unsanitary conditions in milk processing plant 

• Cross-contamination from dairy workers, such as contact with dirty clothing or boots

Does milk have a “built-in” safety mechanism that prevents bacterial contamination? 

No, disease-causing germs can be eliminated in milk only by pasteurization or by adding chemicals to the milk. Pasteurization is the best method of getting rid of disease-causing organisms in milk and is the only method routinely used in our homes as well.

My farmer performs laboratory tests for bacteria in raw milk, so isn’t it safe? 

No. Negative tests do not guarantee that raw milk is safe to drink. Milk that is safe one day may not be safe the next day. Also, tests do not always detect low levels of contamination.

My farmer uses grass-fed cows and goats to produce raw milk, so isn’t it safe? 

Outbreaks of illness related to raw milk have been traced back to both grass-fed and grain-fed animals.

My farmer’s raw milk is organic, so isn’t it safe? 

Raw milk, regardless of whether it is organic, can contain harmful germs. Pasteurized organic milk is available in many places, including supermarkets, farmers’ markets, and dairies.

Conclusion: 

So, in my opinion, use properly pasteurized milk if available at some good price. Otherwise, do pasteurization at home properly. Stay safe, stay healthy. If you will be healthy then you’ll be able to perform your daily tasks with positive energy.