What’s The Difference Between Raw Milk And Pasteurized Milk Anyway?

Influencers like Ballerina Farm have put a whole new sexy spin on dairy. Beautiful women in sundresses walk out onto their spacious farm in the early morning hours to milk their cows, barefoot with dewy skin. This kind of content generates millions of views and shares. While the romanticization on social media doesn't exactly portray an accurate farm life, it has played a role in getting people more excited about dairy in a nostalgic way. At the same time, there have been more people than ever interested in raw dairy. Even though you've likely heard the term raw milk before, you may not know what it means exactly and how it differs from the pasteurized milk you get at the grocery store.

What Is the Difference Between Raw Dairy and Pasteurized Dairy?

For centuries, humans have been consuming milk and milk-based products as a part of their daily diet. A rich source of essential nutrients, milk is undoubtedly a valuable addition to a healthy eating plan. However, in recent times, a debate surrounding the consumption of raw milk versus pasteurized milk has stirred up, and understanding the difference between the two can help you make an informed choice.

Raw milk, as the name suggests, is milk that comes straight from the cow, sheep, or goat without undergoing any processing. It retains all the natural enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are inherently present in milk. Advocates of raw milk argue that it's not just highly nutritious but also contains beneficial bacteria and raw fat, which contribute to improved digestion and immune function. It's an unprocessed food that contains microorganisms from the animal, which have immense benefits for humans, whether it's in the form of milk, cream, yogurt, butter, etc.

Raw dairy also contains protein and immunoglobulin that support growth and immunity, as young cows don't have an immune system fully developed yet so they borrow immunity from their mother. When humans drink this raw dairy, their immune system gets the same benefits. The pasteurization process kills off the beneficial proteins and bacteria, rendering it less digestible for humans. There are also scientific studies showing that raw milk is related to decreased rates of asthma, allergies, eczema, and respiratory infections. It also helps people recover from antibiotic use.

On the other hand, pasteurized milk is raw milk that has been heat-treated in order to extend its shelf-life and make it more commercially available to generate the most profit. Pasteurization is also meant to kill off potentially harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, which could be present in raw milk. This process, named after French scientist Louis Pasteur, involves heating milk to a specific temperature for a set amount of time. We've been made to believe that raw milk is dangerous to society because it can be harmful and even deadly when certain bacteria aren't killed off through the heating process.

However, when milk comes from healthy, grass-fed cows reared on pastures, as nature intended, it transforms into an entirely different, highly nutritious product. This is a far cry from the milk produced by cows in the late 1800s, who were often fed low-quality, inflammation-inducing swill, resulting in "sick milk." Today's raw milk from healthy cows is a nutrient-dense superfood, packed with beneficial bacteria that nourishes the gut microbiome, a cornerstone of overall health. Healthy, pasture-raised cows are not subjected to the antibiotics and growth hormones that could be transferred through the milk. The pasteurization era, started by Pasteur in 1862, was used as a life-saving method to kill bacteria in milk that came from unwell cows.

But the advantages of raw milk aren't an endorsement for all milk types. The milk industry is complex and nuanced, involving decisions about grass-fed vs. grain-fed, pasture-raised vs. feedhouse, raw vs. pasteurized, whole vs. skim, and even genetic considerations like A1/A1 vs. A2/A2. What's undeniable, though, is that whole-fat dairy, particularly from quality sources, is not the enemy.

How Do You Incorporate Raw Dairy into Your Diet?

The CDC and other public health organizations claim that raw dairy is not safe for consumption, and in most states, it is illegal to sell the product as food. Many farmers will sell raw dairy as "pet food," and many times people have to buy the milk directly from the farm rather than getting it at a shop or grocery store. If you are interested in trying raw dairy, it's important to find a trustworthy source that has sold to people you know. Even though there is a low risk of getting sick from raw dairy, there is certainly always the possibility as there is no regulation of the product, and that's something you need to keep in mind. But most people who drink raw milk regularly from a reliable source have no problem with it whatsoever.

Health officials and mainstream experts want to make people believe that pasteurized milk provides a safe and nutritious alternative, delivering the benefits of milk without the potential hazards of harmful pathogens. But many speculate that the government has mandated pasteurization and homogenization in order to better control the industry and encourage companies to make even bigger profits from milk because when it's pasteurized it has a much longer shelf life.

If you or any of your family members (including children) struggle with lactose intolerance, you might be surprised that raw milk doesn't cause any issues because it is much easier to digest due to it being more nutritious and containing more of the healthy bacteria for your gut. Try to drink a small amount a few days each week and build up from there. You can cook and bake with it just like you would with any of the pasteurized milk you get from the grocery store. Just keep in mind the shelf life is much shorter, so you may have to finish it within seven days. The great thing about purchasing raw dairy is you get to support local farms and farmers without going through the grocery store chains.

Ask around your local town and see if they have any connections with farms that sell raw dairy. You might also find success with Facebook groups in your local area that share their experiences with nearby farms. A bonus is that you'll probably find that raw dairy tastes so much better and creamier than pasteurized milk. Make protein smoothies, milkshakes, and even homemade ice cream to please your whole family.

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