Raw Milk: Yay or Nay?
The Surprising Upside to Going Keto
April 8, 2019
Raw milk is having a moment. Fans say it’s more natural, healthier and just, well, tastier than the supermarket kind. But many health experts aren’t so sure. If you’re wondering if you should give it a try, here’s what you need to know.
The cult of raw
There are lots of reasons why raw milk is getting so much love lately. For starters, there’s flavor. Because milk that’s fresh-from-the-cow isn’t homogenized or pasteurized, enthusiasts say it’s richer, creamer and more delicious. But the real draw seems to be its supposed health benefits.
Many raw milk drinkers claim it can:
- Deliver more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and beneficial bacteria
- Protect against asthma and allergies
- Improve symptoms of autism
- Prevent chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease
Science says…
While taste is a personal preference, there are lots of reasons drinking raw milk might not be the greatest idea. The first is, it can make you really sick. The reason milk is treated with heat, (a.k.a. pasteurized) is to kill all kinds of disease-causing bacteria that love to hang out and multiply in cow’s milk like Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli. That might sound alarmist, but people who consume raw dairy are 840 times more likely to become ill from it – and 45 times more likely to end up in the hospital – than those who stick with pasteurized milk products. (1)
As for claims it contains more nutrients, the FDA says not so much, explaining that nutritional differences between raw and pasteurized milk are minimal at best. (2) What about disease prevention? Turns out, those claims have been debunked as well. (3)
In the end, raw milk may sound healthy, but it’s actually incredibly risky. Why take the chance?
What are your thoughts on raw milk?
