The organic craze has left no grocery aisle untouched, including the dairy case. In the first half of 2011, sales of organic reduced-fat milk soared 18 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dairy Market News. The USDA’s National Organic Program regulates the standards, and accredited agents carry out inspections and review documentation to ensure organic farms are meeting the mark, says Heather Mangieri, MS, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
Those are excellent reasons to buy organic milk. But many organic-milk customers make the purchase because they think it’s healthier than the conventional stuff. That’s where the science says not so fast.
First, some background: In the mid-’90s the FDA approved the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) in cattle. This practice resulted in greater milk production at less cost to the dairy farmer, a savings that has been passed on to you at your local supermarket. But it has also sparked much controversy, because rBGH boosts milk's concentration of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a hormone that's been linked to cancer.
Nor is rBGH good for the cows. They suffer from a variety of problems because of it, including a persistent and painful udder infection. That’s why cows are given so many antibiotics.
But is rBGH dangerous to humans? Probably not. “Unlike steroid hormones, which can be taken orally, rBGH and IGF must be injected to have any effect,” says Men’s Healthnutrition advisor Alan Aragon, M.S. “That's because the process of digestion destroys these ‘protein’ hormones. So drinking milk from hormone-treated cows doesn't transfer the active form of these chemicals to your body.” Just don’t inject it.
What’s more, all organic and conventional milk is tested for antibiotic residue, and any milk that contains it is removed from the food supply.
The bottom line? “Whether or not consumers choose organic or conventional, they should feel confident that they are receiving a quality product that is full of nutrition and safe to consume,” Mangieri says. “An 8-ounce serving of regular milk offers the same nine essential nutrients—including calcium, vitamin D, and potassium—as a glass of organic milk.”
That said, if you’re concerned about the way cows—or the land they’re grazing on—are treated, organic milk is probably the best choice. You can find out more about your milk by entering in the code from the container at WhereIsMyMilkFrom.com. Or buy from a farmers’ market or local dairy, recommends Mangieri. Smaller farms may not be certified organic because the USDA’s process is expensive, so ask how the milk is produced
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/menshealth/organic-milk-healthier
.
Those are excellent reasons to buy organic milk. But many organic-milk customers make the purchase because they think it’s healthier than the conventional stuff. That’s where the science says not so fast.
First, some background: In the mid-’90s the FDA approved the use of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) in cattle. This practice resulted in greater milk production at less cost to the dairy farmer, a savings that has been passed on to you at your local supermarket. But it has also sparked much controversy, because rBGH boosts milk's concentration of insulin-like growth factor (IGF), a hormone that's been linked to cancer.Nor is rBGH good for the cows. They suffer from a variety of problems because of it, including a persistent and painful udder infection. That’s why cows are given so many antibiotics.
But is rBGH dangerous to humans? Probably not. “Unlike steroid hormones, which can be taken orally, rBGH and IGF must be injected to have any effect,” says Men’s Healthnutrition advisor Alan Aragon, M.S. “That's because the process of digestion destroys these ‘protein’ hormones. So drinking milk from hormone-treated cows doesn't transfer the active form of these chemicals to your body.” Just don’t inject it.
What’s more, all organic and conventional milk is tested for antibiotic residue, and any milk that contains it is removed from the food supply.
The bottom line? “Whether or not consumers choose organic or conventional, they should feel confident that they are receiving a quality product that is full of nutrition and safe to consume,” Mangieri says. “An 8-ounce serving of regular milk offers the same nine essential nutrients—including calcium, vitamin D, and potassium—as a glass of organic milk.”That said, if you’re concerned about the way cows—or the land they’re grazing on—are treated, organic milk is probably the best choice. You can find out more about your milk by entering in the code from the container at WhereIsMyMilkFrom.com. Or buy from a farmers’ market or local dairy, recommends Mangieri. Smaller farms may not be certified organic because the USDA’s process is expensive, so ask how the milk is produced
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/menshealth/organic-milk-healthier
.