Organic Milk Significantly Unhealthier Than Regular Milk

A widely accepted view is that organic food is healthier than nonorganic equivalents. Or that at least it is not worse. However, when it comes to dairy milk it's quite a different story. A new book 'Organic Milk Myth' reveals the shocking truth that organic milk is significantly worse for health than regular nonorganic pasteurized milk. This is fully backed up by the latest research.

The idea that organic milk is actually much worse for health will sound bizarre to most people, particularly those who pay extra for what they think is a better product. Individuals and families are willing to pay a premium price for organic milk, but only if they think it is healthier. But when you realize that organic milk is quite a lot worse compared to regular milk, it no longer makes sense to pay extra.

You may wonder how it is possible that organic pasteurized milk, available from retailers everywhere, can truly be worse for you than regular pasteurized milk? You may consider that organic milk is not particularly better than nonorganic milk. However, to consider that organic milk is very much worse for health (compared to regular milk) is a different matter entirely.

However, just about all the latest research is showing exactly this. Worse still is the fact that UHT milk (also known as Long Life milk) is actually even worse for health than organic milk. About 80% of organic milk sold throughout the world is UHT milk; so if you consume organic milk it is very likely to be UHT.

It is hardly surprising that most organic milk is UHT when you consider that in many countries nearly all milk sold is UHT. For example in Belgium, Spain, Brazil, and France over 95% of total milk consumed is UHT. Throughout the world UHT sales are fast catching up or overtaking non-UHT sales. This is welcomed by milk producers because UHT has a much longer shelf life, making the supply chain to the consumer an easier task as no refrigeration is required. Governments worldwide are also encouraging the production of UHT milk because this is considered to be better for the environment (less emissions from less use of refrigeration). In fact, the opposite is true - organic milk is considerably worse for the environment.

Even in parts of the world where UHT sales are less than half of all milk sales, most organic milk is UHT. For example, research carried out by Professor Rusty Bishop from the University of Wisconsin shows that in the USA and Canada "over 80% of organic milk is sold as organic UHT milk."

All kinds of UHT milk (whether organic or nonorganic) are worse for health than non-UHT milk for a variety of reasons. For example, it is a fact that UHT is much higher in damaged whey proteins compared to non-UHT milk. Damaged whey proteins are a major cause of brain diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Alzheimer's disease. There is plenty of research to support this view.

For example, in a study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology in January 2007, shows a strong link between milk consumption and Parkinson's Disease. Over 130,000 people were analysed and it was found that the people who consumed the most milk had a frightening 70 percent higher risk of getting the disease.

Why, though, is organic milk so much worse for health than regular milk? Isn't organic milk assumed to have less pesticides and no antibiotics? Isn't organic milk assumed to be more environmentally friendly and kinder to cows? When the evidence is fully examined, none of these assumptions hold true. The research is clearly showing that organic milk has no less pesticides and antibiotics than regular pasteurized milk. And the vast majority of organic cows (in all parts of the world) are treated no better than nonorganic cows. For commercial and practical reasons most cows are kept in cow sheds and restricted to very confined spaces for most of their lives. The assumption that organic cows are allowed to go out to pasture most days is simply a myth.

Regarding the environment, all the research is showing that organic milk is very much worse for the environment in terms of global warming emissions and energy consumption. This occurs because organic milk requires greater energy consumption (pint for pint) for transportation, distribution, and warehousing. Most organic milk is produced on smaller farms, and consequently cannot match the economies of scale applicable to nonorganic pasteurized milk.

About the Author, Russell Eaton:

To get information on why all kinds of organic milk and UHT (Long Life) milk are so much worse for health (compared to regular milk) see Organic Milk Myth. Other resources can be found at www.about-milk.info. Glyconutrients for health.