The raw truth of raw milk: 5 health benefits of drinking raw milk
09/08/2020 / By Joanne Washburn / Comments
The raw truth of raw milk: 5 health benefits of drinking raw milk

No health-conscious consumer or fitness enthusiast hasn’t heard of raw milk. This food trend that’s been making the rounds within health circles in recent times.

To skeptics, “raw milk” might sound like just another food fad, but make no mistake, raw or unpasteurized milk is a nutrient powerhouse. It’s nos surprise then that more and more consumers are making the switch to raw milk.

Unlike store-bought pasteurized milk, which is heat-treated to kill off bacteria, raw milk goes straight from udders to bottles. This just means one thing: more nutrients and more beneficial bacteria, or probiotics.

The many health benefits of raw milk

Natural health proponents go further, calling raw milk a superfood that aids digestion and boosts immune health, among other reported health benefits. These include:

  1. Contains essential nutrients – Raw milk boasts a higher nutritional content than pasteurized milk – and for good reason. Raw milk comes from cows allowed to graze, not from those that are kept inside factories. Studies suggest that free-range cows have higher levels of good fats, antioxidants and micronutrients in their milk, all of which disappear after pasteurization.
  2. Regulates blood pressure – Raw milk is abundant in proteins that can help protect against high blood pressure and its related conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. Vitamin D, another essential micronutrient found in raw milk, can improve blood pressure control. In fact, poor vitamin D status is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, according to multiple studies.
  3. Supports gut health – Raw milk is rich in beneficial bacteria. These bacteria are critical to maintaining optimal health. In particular, many of these microbes are beneficial for the gut. These allies help ward off harmful bacteria and keep our intestines in top shape. Raw milk is also abundant in enzymes that help our bodies absorb nutrients better.
  4. Maintains strong bones and teeth – Compared to pasteurized milk, raw milk contains a larger amount of calcium, an essential bone-building nutrient. If obtained from raw milk, calcium is also better absorbed in the gut because of the beneficial microbes that come with it. Besides maintaining strong bones and teeth, calcium also aids in regulating blood pressure.
  5. Boosts skin health – Thanks to nutrients essential for skin health, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and selenium, as well as vitamins A, D, B6 and B12, raw milk can be utilized as a skincare product. For example, raw milk can help purge out all the gunk inside clogged pores. Letting raw milk sit on the skin will also soften and moisturize it. You can even make an exfoliating cream out of raw milk!

Recipes for homemade milk products

Raw milk isn’t without its critics, so it might still be a long time before manufacturers start rolling out raw milk products in stores and supermarkets.

Instead of waiting for raw milk products to go mainstream, just make some at home! Butter, cream and cheese all have one thing in common: milk. Use these recipes for some homemade milk products.

Raw milk butter

Butter using raw milk sourced from grass-fed cows contains more nutrients than standard butter. These nutrients infuse it with immune-boosting and cancer-fighting benefits. You can make a small or large piece of butter depending on how much raw milk is available.

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredient:

  • Raw milk

Preparation:

  1. Separate the cream from the milk. Just let the milk sit for at least 24 hours to let the cream rise to the top, then spoon it out. You can start off with raw milk cream if it’s available beforehand.
  2. In a blender, blend raw milk cream on high for about a minute. The cream should resemble whipped cream after 30 seconds.
  3. Once the butter separates from the buttermilk, turn off the blender.
  4. Pour both the butter and buttermilk into a large bowl.
  5. Using a large wooden spoon, press the butter against the sides of the bowl to separate it from the buttermilk.
  6. Rinse off the buttermilk or pour it into a container for later use in baking.
  7. Form the butter into a nice ball and smooth it out.
  8. Refrigerate until it hardens.

Simple farm cheese

This recipe creates a mild but sweet cheese. It also doesn’t call for rennet, which makes it ideal for beginners.

Total time: 1 hr 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 gallon raw milk
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons fine salt

Preparation:

  1. Line a colander with two sheets of cheesecloth or one sheet of butter muslin.
  2. Pour the raw milk into a kettle. and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Stir to prevent burning.
  3. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low.
  4. Stir in the white vinegar. The milk should then separate into curds and whey.
  5. Pour the curds and whey into the lined colander and rinse with cold water.
  6. Sprinkle the curds with salt, then tie up the cheesecloth and press to remove excess whey.
  7. Let the cheesecloth hang in a cool area for 1 to 2 hours.
  8. Once done hanging, chop the cheese into smaller chunks and store them in the fridge for a week.

Raw milk is a much bigger deal now than it was decades ago. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious, what with all of the processed foods and artificial ingredient-ridden produce at the supermarket.

Milk is a kitchen staple used in a wide range of foods and dishes, so it’s important to choose the healthier kind. Make the switch now to reap the incredible nutrients and health benefits that raw milk has to offer.

Sources:

Food.NDTV.com

MayoClinic.org

Bellatory.com

FarmhouseOnBoone.com

NourishedKitchen.com

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