I’ve been buying organic milk and dairy products for the past several years due to concerns about growth hormones and antibiotics found in standard milk and dairy. I grew up drinking 1% and 2% milk, so I continued buying it as an adult assuming it was the best nutritional choice for my family. After reading recent studies, my perspective shifted. New research suggests that consuming whole fat dairy is linked to reduced body fat. While scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes this seemingly counter-intuitive correlation, there are a few theories. Some believe that full fat dairy leads to a greater feeling of satiety, causing people to eat less and feel full. Others point to bioactive substances in the milk that might alter our metabolism. I’ve also learned that organic whole milk contains more helpful fatty acids than conventional whole milk. It has a better balance of fatty acids and is higher in healthy omega-3. This is largely due to the fact that organic farmers must allow their dairy cows to graze in the pasture for a certain amount of hours per week. More and more, the evidence seems to point towards organic whole milk as the best choice for many dairy consumers. People with high cholesterol and other health issues associated with saturated fat intake may want to think twice about making the switch. But for the rest of us, whole milk may be a better choice for maintaining a healthy weight.
I don’t know why I was surprised to learn all of this. After all, whole milk is more natural and closer to what our grandparents and great grandparents were drinking. Of course many argue that raw, unpasteurized milk is the ideal “old fashioned” and nutritionally better way, but I refuse to jump on that bandwagon due to my concerns about food borne illness. That said, overall I’m convinced that we need to take a step back from processed items. The more we gravitate towards simple, natural, organic ingredients, the better off we’ll be. I will continue to enjoy organic whole milk with my family. Not only is it nutritionally superior, it is a heck of a lot tastier than lowfat and nonfat milk.
What do you think? Have you considered switching to whole milk? Are you already drinking it? What do you think about organic dairy vs. non organic? Or have you eliminated milk from your diet completely? I’d love to hear from you.
Janice M Schriber says
I have been learning more and more about the benefits of Raw Whole Milk vs regular milk. WOW!! AND I am not having the dairy issues I used to have from the regular dairy.
Connie Golden says
yep!
Kelly Dunn Fahnestock says
What is your stance on GMOs’? As for milk, nothing is better than farm fresh, grass fed cow’s milk? I buy from a farm when possible otherwise I buy organic milk at the grocery store. We also use coconut milk and hemp milk.
Tori Avey says
Kelly I avoid GMO’s and buy organic whenever possible, however many families are not in a financial position to make that choice. I feel lucky that I can.
Gina Vance says
I and my family drink healthy raw whole milk. I used to suffer from a number of auto-immune diseases. and my son had three life threatening lung diseases along with cardiac issues and other rare health disorders. My diseases are in complete remission, and have been since a month after starting the raw milk regimen, and my son’s diseases are affecting his life less often and less dramatically. Coincidence? Perhaps. I prefer to believe that coincidence is G-d’s way of doing something remarkable and wanting to remaining anonymous.
As far as GMO’s are concerned, I think we should be concerned. Not of all the information out there is hyped. Here is a link I found to be interesting and educational.
http://earthopensource.org/index.php/reports/58
Have a blessed day! 🙂
Beccah says
I have switched to the wonderful rich milk right from the cows. Worth the time drive & cost. I skim some of the cream from each gal. to make my butter & whipping cream. It is out of this world by far better tasting than organic from the store. I love to see the “girls” who gave the milk & give them a pet on their heads and thank them each time. LOL Can’t beat it for sure!!
Lea Van Winkle says
I have been drinking organic milk for years, mostly 2% but whole too. We drink milk and like it a lot.
Hallie Boca says
I’ve also been buying whole organic milk to add to coffee instead of low fat or half and half, my only concern is the quality of regulation over organic foods.
Tamara L Van says
Guess I am strange. Have always used whole milk. never have been able to stomach white colored water. No nut milks allowed in my house though, unless.I plan to go coffin shopping first.
Jackie King says
I made the switch to organic whole milk from 1% when I was pregnant because I craved it. I’m still drinking it now that my baby is 2 1/2 months old and I am thinner than I was before I was pregnant.
Tiggers Buff says
I would love to find a farm near me that sells milk. I drink almond milk but I have been hearing that almond/soy milk is not that good for you because it’s highly processed. Not sure if this is true but sure would like to find out.
Tori Avey says
Tiggers I have a post on how to make your own raw almond milk, so you know exactly what goes into it. It’s actually very easy. Here’s a link if you’re interested: http://theshiksa.com/2013/06/24/how-to-make-almond-milk/
Sara Smith says
Soy is not good for male children or anybody for that matter. Don’t make the mistake that I did. Goat milk is best animal milk. Coconut and almond are good vegetarian milks according to my personal extensive research. You might wanna look into it yourself.
Tiggers Buff says
That is awesome Tory! Thank you so much! And Thanks for the input Sara! 😀
David Cook says
Know your source of soy. The vast majority of soy products are from GMO plants.
Nancy Oviedo Pattillo says
Does it taste good?
Tori Avey says
Nancy my family absolutely loves it! It’s a big change from skim if that’s what you’re used to. It’s much more creamy and flavorful.
Paul McCool says
Tastes like cream, compared to regular skim. Delicious.
Sally Deuschle Berger says
Our family made the switch to organic skim milk years ago…there are two members of our household with IBS so drinking whole milk is not possible for them. We are so accustomed to skim milk that whole milk tastes like cream to us now. I do use it in some recipes for time to time.
Judy Bridges says
I switched to whole milk several years ago because my husband spent some time working on equipment at a dairy place and said they added water and other stuff to the low fat milks. I didn’t think paying milk prices for water was smart!
Cheryl Peskin Walters says
I only use almond milk.
Ann Noviello says
I like coconut milk and almond milk, if I do drink cows milk, it has always been organic whole milk, when I was doing the buying
Kathleen Mrozinski Boyk says
I’m not jumping on the bandwagon with organic milk (seems as though producers have different definitions of what “organic” means to them.) I do however, subscribe to healthier eating by avoiding processed foods.
Michelle says
I’ve been drinking skim milk since I was a little kid. As an adult I switched to organic skim. I’ve tried organic whole milk, but I just can’t get used to it. It tasted like drinking melted butter, ugh.
Becca says
I grew up as a child on milk straight from our local dairy. The kind you have to skim the cream off of. As a young adult, I wouldn’t touch anything but skim. Then I got pregnant with my first, and found that I not only craved whole milk, but it helped me feel better. I thought that was fascinating. Now, I use and drink whole milk–not a lot, but I definitely feel like it’s better for me.
Emily Russell says
I had not heard about this. I have an 18 month old boy and we go through a LOT of milk. Where do you buy organic milk? I live in the middle of nowhere Georgia and Walmart is really the only store we have. Is organic milk expensive? Around here a gallon of Great Value whole milk is $4.18 so I am not sure I could afford organic if it is much more expensive than that. Any info would be great. Thank you for posting the article!
Tori Avey says
Emily that’s a great question. I live in California and our regular grocery stores carry organic milk, as well as Walmart, but I’m not sure about Georgia. If you can track it down it’s great, but it is a bit more expensive than regular milk. Perhaps you might be able to find a local dairy that sells organic? It might be cheaper to buy from the source. Just a thought! Best of luck.
Sarah Silverman says
We’re in GA! I get raw milk which is actually the best, both health-wise and taste-wise. There are lots of farms that sell it. I could help direct you if you give me a better idea of which part of GA you live in.
Emily Russell says
I live in Cochran, GA
Nakia Beverly-Brown says
I heard about this, and I’m just so frustrated! When my son turned three, they told me to switch him to 2% milk in the interest of preventing obesity, and I’ve been drinking skim since I was a child! It seems “they” are always changing their minds on what’s best for our health! I can’t keep up! Ugh!
Tori Avey says
Nakia I hear you, it’s hard to keep up with it all. I think ultimately you just have to take in the information and research that is currently available and make the best choice for you and your family. I agree it can be frustrating!