Hum Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Traditional Milk The lowdown: After it?s taken from the cow, the milk is pasteurized (heated, then quickly cooled) to kill bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria. It?s an excellent source of protein, calcium, and vitamins D and K. Skim is the healthiest option, says Tanya Zuckerbrot, a registered dietitian in New York City. ?It?s nutritionally similar to whole but doesn?t contain saturated fat and actually has more calcium.? If skim is too watery for you, try enhanced skim milk, which has a richer texture. Good to know: Getting more (skim) milk may help you avoid weight gain. Recent research has found that a lack of calcium may trigger the release of certain hormones, leading to increased fat storage. Organic Milk The lowdown: Cows that produce organic milk are given organic feed or roam freely and graze on pesticide-free grass. They?re not treated with synthetic growth hormones to increase milk production or injected with antibiotics to prevent illness. (But like traditional milk, organic is pasteurized.) Although experts maintain that there?s no nutritional difference between organic and traditional milk, two studies from Newcastle University, in England, found that the organic variety contains higher concentrations of some beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. It also can cost twice as much as regular milk. Good to know: Organic milk contains the most health benefits in summer; the levels of inflammation-reducing fatty acids are at their peak then, because cows have access to more fresh grass and clover. Raw Milk The lowdown: While raw milk comes from a cow, it?s not pasteurized. Advocates believe pasteurization destroys potentially beneficial bacteria, proteins, and enzymes that may aid digestion. But health experts say that none of these supposed benefits outweigh the possible negatives. ?Drinking raw milk puts you at risk of serious food-borne illness or even death from infection,? says J. Bruce German, Ph.D., the director of the Foods for Health Institute at the University of California, Davis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, raw dairy products caused 82 percent of milk-borne illnesses between 1973 and 2008. It is not available for purchase in some states. Good to know: Raw whole milk contains more calories and fat than pasteurized whole milk. full story Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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