Should You Drink Raw Milk?
By Sara Butler
You may have seen it available at your local farmers market: Raw milk. So, what's that all about. At first glance, raw milk may seem like a good idea, but it's important to understand exactly what it is and what the dangers are to your health if you decide to drink it. Here are a few common questions people have about raw milk so you can have all the facts.
Raw Milk: What Is It?
Raw milk is simply milk that has not gone through the pasteurization process to kill germs that can make you sick. It's not legal to transport raw milk between states, but it is legal in all 50 of the United States to buy and consume raw milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why Raw Milk?
Some people feel that in an effort to eat less processed foods that raw milk is a good choice. Still, other people have been led to believe that raw milk has more nutrients than pasteurized milk or is a good way to support local farms.
Why It Is Dangerous
Will you get sick every time you drink raw milk? Probably not. But is your risk to get sick from it greater than with pasteurized milk? Yes.
Raw milk can contain bacteria and other germs that can make you sick or even kill you. And while you do take a risk of getting sick from anything you eat, raw milk is a very risky food to consume. Raw milk and things made form it such as yogurt and cheese, can cause E. coli, listeria, and salmonella infections.
It's important to understand that even healthy animals can produce milk that is tainted. Just because you buy it from a farmer that is certified organic doesn't mean that the product is any safer.
How to Stay Safe
When buying and drinking milk, you can keep your family safe by:
- Always buying pasteurized milk and products made from it
- Buy organic milk if you'd like, but still make sure it's pasteurized
If you decide to try raw milk and become ill, then you should seek medical attention immediately.
Of course, you want to feed your family only the best and you also want to help the environment by buying local and supporting local farms -- that's all great. But make sure to keep your health and the health of your family a priority as you make those choices!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Orlando, Fla.