The Devil in the Milk

re: The Devil in the Milk

Nicolelm — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:06:07 GMT

my raw dairy supplier uses brown swiss cows. What type is that?

re: The Devil in the Milk

Tommaso — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:34:35 GMT

Milk from the Guernsey Breed has been known to have different characteristic than the other breeds for sometime. This was confirmed in 1991, when research showed that the beta casein in milk of Guernseys was 96% of the A2 allege. Research done in New Zealand by dr. R Elliot since 1997, now positively proofed that the Guernsey Breed is the only one of the six major international dairy Breeds that carries 95+% of their Beta casein as the A2 allege. The remainder carry it at between 33% and 50% with some carrying a lot of the B allege. These studies proofed Guernsey milk a safe and healthy drinking milk especially to susceptible people and children in whom the beta casein alleges A1 and B could cause the formation of betacaso-morphins which were starting to be linked with heart disease, Type 1 diabetes, autism and several other problems of children. The Guernsey cow is known for producing high-butterfat, high-protein milk with a high concentration of beta-carotene that gives that extra special taste. Guernsey milk is a natural for wholesome, tasty, healthy products that please the discriminating customer. These products are marketed for a substantial premium, because of the uniqueness, quality and taste. The products, which can be manufactured from Golden Guernsey milk, are almost endless. Most will retain the unique Golden Guernsey colour, flavour and nutritional values even after processing. Guernsey cheese for example is unequalled for its unique qualities.

re: The Devil in the Milk

whimsley — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:17:01 GMT

I am confused about something. I reread the passages carefully. Can anyone clarify this for me?

"One of the major proteins in cow’s milk is casein, the predominant variety of which is called beta-casein."

"...(In A-2 cows) the beta-casein contains an amino acid called proline."

"...beta-casein also contains an amino acid called BCM-7..."

" Well, the proline that exists in A2 cows has a strong bond to BCM-7, which helps keep it out of the cows’ milk. "

These passages are saying: 1. The predominant protein in cow's milk is beta-casein. 2. Beta-casein contains proline (in A-2 cows) and BCM-7. Therefore, A-2 cow's milk contains proline and BCM-7. And 3. The proline keeps the BCM-7 OUT of the milk.

Well, is iBCM-7 in the milk or not?

re: The Devil in the Milk

jeanangle41 — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:41:22 GMT

A friend advised that neither skim milk or whipping cream are pasteurized; she mixes the two to get a milk product tasty enough to suit her family.

Is this practice giving one the same benefits of unpasteurized whole milk?

Jean Angle 7/19/09

re: The Devil in the Milk

DeeDee02 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:37:46 GMT

If you are looking for a source of raw milk try the Weston A. Price Foundation website www.westonaprice.org . They have some info and lists of producers. If you don't find anything there try to contact your local Weston Price Foundation chapter.

re: The Devil in the Milk

Charles Drace — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:17:46 GMT

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

RE A2 milk, Food Standards Australia New Zealand chose not to study A2 milk; instead they relied on the European Food Safety Authority report only. You must remember that the milk company Fonterra is one of the biggest companies in New Zealand, the biggest exporter, and one of the most influential government lobbyists in New Zealand. They recently convinced the NZ government to sign a free trade agreement with China that only benefits Fonterra but will put thousands of small NZ companies out of business. Many groups are trying to put pressure on the gov't to so a proper study of A2 milk, but we've got a VERY business friendly gov't.

Charles Drace

Christchurch, New Zealand

re: The Devil in the Milk

frogger — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:01:13 GMT

Clarevale puts out a very good raw milk, with that cream on the top if whole, in returnable glass bottles that is from a 100% Jersey herd. It isn't organic but antibiotics are not used on the milking herd. They feed hay or grass. I am lucky enough to get it in California. The lawmakers tried to get rid of raw milk by upping the standards for extremely low bacteria counts bt the milk still keeps coming.

re: The Devil in the Milk

Scarlota — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:59:13 GMT

My raw milk comes from an AYRSHIRE cow (raised on organic pasture). I think they are an older breed, but in trying to find if they produce mainly A1 or A2 milk, I found a website that says A1 - unfortunately. Does anyone know anything about Ayrshires and the type of milk they produce? I've actually visited this cow, and participated in the milking, so I feel "at one with my food" and the wonderful milk she gives us, so I'd be so disappointed to know she's giving us A1 milk.

re: The Devil in the Milk

GoldCoaster — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:18:05 GMT

I was confindent in the fact I was nourishing my body by drinking raw milk. Now I have to worry about if it's A2. It is Cleopatra Bath Milk from Queensland Australia. How can I find out? Another problem with pasturised milk is that it's also homogenised, which breaks up the fat molecules in a form not metobalised properly and it not good for the arteries. So I wouldn't like to even drink supermarket A2 milk.

re: The Devil in the Milk

joemarsh — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:45:34 GMT

The A2 milk case: a critical review.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../15867940$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed

THESE STUDIES SUGGEST THE JURY IS STILL OUT...

Health implications of milk containing beta-casein with the A2 genetic variant.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../16403684$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed

Beta-casein variants and atherosclerosis-claims are premature.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../12957677$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

re: The Devil in the Milk

joemarsh — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:44:52 GMT

Listed on the alternative market (NZAX) of the New Zealand Exchange, the company owns and licenses a suite of intellectual property that relates to the identification of cattle and the production and subsequent marketing of a2 Milk™ and related products. The company has entered into business and licensing partnerships to bring a2 Milk™ to the market in New Zealand, Australia, Korea and the United States, and is negotiating arrangements in other markets.

Is A2 superior to A1 milk?. Are Holstein (a.k.a. Friesian) cows inferior to Guernsey cows?

Further studies are a problem because the industry is the main funding source for those sorts of things, and since the dairy industry is overwhelmingly dominated by the Holstein cow, which supposedly makes mostly A1 milk, there would be no industry interest in funding such research. No one else with interest in it has the money to do much research.

I have heard that many American breeders of Guernsey cows, which the A2 people say make mostly A2 milk, are routinely testing their herds for this and favoring it in breeding decisions, but they aren't making public noise about it yet (perhaps to avoid angering the industry at large).

Here is some research found (One showing correlation, two showing NO correlation, and two uncertain):

THIS STUDY SUGGESTS THERE'S A CORRELATION...

A casein variant in cow's milk is atherogenic.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../12957678

THESE STUDIES SUGGEST THERE IS NOT...

A comparison of the effects of A1 and A2 beta-casein protein variants on blood cholesterol concentrations in New Zealand adults.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.../16298373$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

re: The Devil in the Milk

joemarsh — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:43:18 GMT

Hello Dr. Mercola,

After doing a litte research on this whole "A1 vs A2" controvery I came the conclusion that this is most likely is another "Blood Type Diet" scheme. I am skeptical about A2 milk because it has become a commercial venture ("A2 Corporation") with research paid for by the organization promoting it. Is this a marketing ploy by a large corporation or is A2 milk a genuine disease-preventive beverage? Most of the reported research involves statistical information that has been used to prove the value of A2 milk.

"Correlation does not imply causation" is a phrase used in science and statistics to emphasize that correlation between two variables does not automatically imply that one causes the other (though it does not remove the fact that correlation can still be a hint, whether powerful or otherwise.

A2 Corporation is a for-profit corporation selling proprietary testing for cows & a trademarked brand of milk. This should send up a red flag.

Directly from the A2 Corporation website: "The potential advantages of a2 milk™ were first identified through epidemiological studies which showed that in countries where the dairy herds produced a higher proportion of the A2 protein in their milk, there was a significantly lower incidence of childhood diabetes and coronary heart disease. It was recognized that this statistical correlation was not, in itself, proof of a beneficial effect of the A2 beta casein in relation to disease, but the link appeared so strong that the findings have triggered further study and review."

Although still in its developmental phase, A2 Corporation is sustained by the results of ongoing research by scientific teams worldwide, as well as by remarkable anecdotal reports from consumers that support the beliefs from which a2 Milk™ arose.

re: The Devil in the Milk

Yung Red612 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:56:42 GMT

It dont make sense to drink milk from another animal. cows dont drink human milk

re: The Devil in the Milk

ruthandjoe — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:54:20 GMT

Thank you, SteveSega, for your wise and wonderful comments about dandelion tea and calcium. For more information, see Calcium: Ounce for Ounce, More than Milk

re: The Devil in the Milk

werdnanotroh — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:00:14 GMT

This is old news. A2 milk has been available in Australia for a few years now.