Conventional dairy cows are fed antibiotics and injected with BGH (bovine growth hormones) (sometimes as often as every couple weeks!) to increase milk supply.  Of course this also makes the cows uncomfortable and shortens their already uncomfortable life considerably.

Organic milk is the only choice should you choose to eat dairy. 

Unfortunately most dairy cows, even organic, are fed grains instead of being allowed to graze naturally.  This affects their health and the quality of the milk (not to mention when they turn into dinner, the quality of the beef!).  When possible, choose grass-fed and organic cheese, yogurt, milk and other dairy products.

However, many believe we should not be eating dairy at all.  Milk in nature is made for infants.  Breastmilk is the best milk for human babies.  Once the babies become toddlers, most of us move them to Whole Milk, important for children to have the fat for brain development and calcium and protein for strong bones and growing bodies. 

The protein in milk, called casein, is difficult for adults to digest because most of us lose the digestive enzyme that we had as children that helps break down the lactose (the sugar in the milk).  If you're lactose intolerant you may have gas, bloating, diarrhea, and cramping after consuming dairy products.

1% of the population is allergic to cow's milk.  Allergies can be quite serious ranging from hives, wheezing, vomiting to a drop in blood pressure and possible loss of consciousness. 

Milk can aggravate sinus problems because it stimulates mucus production.  In addition dairy is linked to chronic ear infections in children, eczema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, digestive problems and autoimmune diseases.   Dairy can irritate the immune system. 

But everyone agrees that calcium is important to help prevent osteoporosis, especially for women.  Greens including Collards, Kale and Broccoli, Tofu, Sesame Seeds, Canned Salmon and Sardines with the bones, and Beans are alternate sources of Calcium. 

The greens also contain Vitamin K which further helps the bones absorb calcium but Vitamin K needs fat to do this.  Our bodies can't absorb certain vitamins and minerals without some fat.  Vitamin D, for example, is fat soluble.  Vitamin D helps maintain calcium and phosphorus levels in our bodies.  Butterfat in whole milk is a saturated fat.  Saturated fats have been linked to high cholesterol.  Skim or Nonfat Milk has the same amount of calcium without the fat, but fat is necessary to fully absorb the nutrients in milk.  The butterfat in milk is also a source of Vitamin A and has trace minerals and short chain fatty acids.  And, the butterfat, with it's rearranged acids, actually has anti-carcinogenic properties as well. 

Vitamin D is critical for our health and aids in calcium absorption.  Most milk is fortified with Vitamin D to help us make the most of the nutrients in milk.   Living in Florida, we're lucky that we can get Vitamin D by walking outside several minutes each day.  A half hour a day of some sunshine is perfect, as long as we are not laying out or baking; short spurts are fine for our skin and good for our health.  Our bodies make Vitamin D from the sunshine. 

Ironically, the protein in dairy can actually accelerate the loss of calcium from bones in adults.  And toxins like dioxins accumulate in the fat.

Cultured dairy products change the composition of the dairy so Yogurt is good even for lactose intolerant people.  Yogurt is a very good food that we should be eating regularly.  Yogurt increases the absorption of Calcium and contains important flora and probiotics (friendly bacteria) for our digestive health.  Make sure the label reads "live" or "active" cultures not just "made with" live cultures.

Dairy can be very beneficial to our health.  However, the homogenization process of butterfat in the milk changes the large fat molecules (which cannot pass our intestinal wall and get into our bloodstream) into small ones (which can and do get into our bloodstream), toxins (dioxins) can therefore make there way into our bloodstream and harm critical organs in our body. 

The high heat of the pasteurization process changes the composition of milk and how it is digested in our bodies.  Pasteurization allows the casein to move into our blood stream.  Years back this process was necessary for sanitary reasons, but today we have indoor plumbing and clean living environments.  Pasteurization of the milk kills valuable enzymes so many believe that Raw Milk is best.  Raw dairy, especially raw fermented dairy, is a very healthful food. 

When possible, choose Grass-fed and Organic and unpasteurized or short time pasteurized and non-homogenized Cheese, Milk, Yogurt and even Butter.  Delicious Organics offers non-homogenized, low temperature pasteurization, grass-fed dairy products. 

Sally Fallon states:

Pasteurization destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin content, denatures fragile milk proteins, destroys vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, kills beneficial bacteria, promotes pathogens and is associated with allergies, increased tooth decay, colic in infants, growth problems in children, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart disease and cancer.

Calves fed pasteurized milk die before maturity.

Raw milk sours naturally, but pasteurized milk turns putrid and processors must remove slime and pus from pasteurized milk by a process of centrifugal clarification. Inspection of dairy herds for disease is not required for pasteurized milk. The practice of heating milk to kill germs was instituted in the 20s to combat TB, infant diarrhea, undulant fever and other diseases caused by poor animal nutrition and dirty production methods.

But times have changed and modern stainless steel tanks, milking machines, refrigerated trucks and inspection methods make pasteurization absolutely unnecessary for public protection. Clean raw milk from certified healthy cows is available commercially in several states and may be bought directly from the farm in many more. By executive order, it is forbidden to transport raw milk across state lines.

Raw milk, especially organic grass-fed raw milk, is probably a better choice for these reasons.  State laws vary.  In Florida, all raw milk is sold for pet consumption only and is labeled as such.  If you choose to drink raw milk, albeit pet food in Florida, it is important that you find a fresh clean source.  Unfortunately, south Florida doesn't offer the same lush grass needed for cows to graze to create delicious wholesome milk so raw milk usually comes in from other states.  When you can find raw milk from Florida, you may find it distinctively different from other whole milks.  Many are watery, not creamy due to the grass and feed consumed by the cows as well as the type of dairy cow.  Many therefore have their raw milk shipped from out of state.  Since it is shipped into Florida from other states like Amish country Pennsylvania, the freshness may be in question so you'll want to find a good honest source and have it shipped overnight.  For more information contact the Weston Price Foundation (linked below) or the Miami chapter leader.

Links for both sides of the milk debate, and the raw milk debate in between:

• The Green Guide on Milk and RBGH
• Milk Searches Mercola
• Raw vs Pasteurized Milk
• Weston Price Foundation
• Don't Drink Your Milk!  Mercola
• Dr. Weil
• It's a Raw Deal for Raw Dairy
• RBH is Bad, Holistic Med
• Worrying About Milk
• Not Milk
• Dangers of Milk and Dairy, Rense
• Milk, The World's Healthiest Foods
• Why Raw Milk Should Be Avoided