Armed with a basic understanding of milk and its benefits, we should be confident we’re on the right track whenever we raise a glass to our lips. Yet many of us remain intrigued as to which milk is the best for human genetic make-up. The science behind the health benefits of real milk has been the role of one scientist’s recent work. Dr. Bruce German, Food Chemist and Director of the University of California Davis Food for Health Institute, has been advocating its consumption, as the key to life-long health and disease prevention. (1)
Study Stands-Up For Real Milk
Dr German has been studying the role of diet and health for 30 years, and has received different honors. He is also recognized by the Institute for Scientific Information as a Most Highly Cited Scientist. Some of his research has led to him to use milk as a model for the genetic blueprint for foods that support health.
Giving real milk an elevated position in the ranks of human nutrition, he is continually amazed by mothers (both humans and mammals), being walking miracles, producing real milk. (1, 2)
In a recent interview with The Bill Martinez Show, he broke down the values of real milk:
- It’s uniquely balanced – offering protein, nutrients and fats – in a distinct way that we need for our health
- When sitting at a computer or phone screen all day, the body is deteriorating each hour. Only real milk has been scientifically proven to help protect bones, muscles and the immune system
- Simply adding just two servings of dairy a day can have positive effects on health
- Research has shown cow’s milk closely resembles mother’s milk making it a logical next step to include in children’s diets as they transition from consuming human milk
German states that it’s a “scientific embarrassment” that we do not give real milk the credit it deserves. (3)
Milky Myths
The study highlights real milk is the only biomaterial that has evolved under the Darwinian selective pressure for the specific and sole purpose of nourishing growing mammals. Dr. German reiterates it evolutionary history, what’s in it, and the benefits. For those who have chosen to be lactose free, dairy free or vegan, he has a message! (2)
He believes that it is not only lack of promotion of real milk that has caused popularity decline in real milk. He thinks too many studies have been done on a disease-centered approach, where the curative effects of milk never look particularly great. Yet to prevent disease in the first place, this brings a different context, making real milk the champion, providing vitamins, minerals, proteins and calcium (with calcium being incorporated into the structure of milk proteins). His research promotes cow’s milk closely resembling mother’s milk, making it a logical next step to include it in children’s diets as they transition from consuming human milk. (2, 3, 4)
Disease Prevention In Milk
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the basics of milk production. What may have compromised our disease prevention or management strategies is the ongoing conflicting advice. Many food companies are not focused on people’s individual health, and depending on food regulatory bodies it could be said many questionable claims are made about different man-made milks being best for human.
In favor of man-made milks, real milk is largely produced by small farmers in most developing countries, where milk production for small-scale farmers, milk offers relatively fast returns and is an important source of cash. Some importing countries still ban the import of real, unpasteurized milk, based on assumptions and questions of cleanliness, bacteria calculated risks, and the fact that many milk markets are still underground and unregulated. (1, 5)
Mothers Nature’s common sense may just be what’s needed, to give us some new interpretations of old ideas, for healthy milk for everyone.
