Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi,

I did do a search in the forum about Raw Milk but couldn't find a subject that exactly matched what I am looking for.

First of all I am aware of the benefits of Raw Milk, coincidentally I drank a lot as a child as my godfather ran a local dairy farm. However, is it best to actually cut out milk all together?

I know Almond Milk is a good Paleo 'dairy alternative' and it is delicious. But, is it really a good alternative and when choosing a brand/supplier are there any hidden ingredients I should look out for?

Second, if you have a recommendation for a UK based Raw Milk supplier that'd be great. I have seen some of the recommendations already on the forums but they are very expensive. So the cheaper the better (although I know the very nature of Raw milk does make it worth more than horrid pasteurised milk).

Thanks,

Paul.

flag	asked Jul 6 2011 at 13:02 Paleo_Hutch 570●1●10

	Pasteurized grass fed milk is probably easier to come by and just as good if not better for some people. Indian people who have a lot of experience with dairy say boiling milk makes it more digestible, with raw milk being the hardest dairy to digest. I wasted a lot of money on raw milk and now drink pasteurized which treats me exactly the same. – cliff Jul 6 2011 at 13:14
	I would not drink almond milk since it's loaded with omega 6. – Jay Jul 6 2011 at 15:17
	Hi, Ok so based on what people have said it seems that if you are ok with dairy by way of opinion or physical ability to consume it then the best advice seems to be: 1, Drink raw milk if you can, if not then pasteurised is fine, but only drink full fat 2, Eat raw cheese etc 3, Have Almond milk very occasionally but make it at home and remove the skins. I think this is quite good advice, thanks to all that chipped in. Look at me, I am learning. :) Paul. – Paleo_Hutch Jul 11 2011 at 12:58

Louisa · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-06 17:05:48Z UTC

I would go for the raw milk every time. Almonds are not meant to be drunk in huge quantities for all reasons mentioned above. However, people can still be intolerant to lactose as it is still present in raw milk, but if you fared well on raw milk as a child, chances are you are not intolerant. Start drinking it in small amounts to start with and check for any symptoms like fatigue, runny nose, discharge (anywhere) or skin problems.

UK is getting better at supplying raw milk, not as good as mainland Europe yet though (Italy has raw milk vending machines on the street all over the country), but try a Farmer's Market first. There is definitely a raw milk seller in Marylebone (London) farmers market and I think one in Winchester, other than that I would recommend looking at the farmer's market website and checking individual sellers according to where you live. There are some raw milk ice cream sellers in the South of England Farmer's MArkets whom I know will sell you raw milk if you ask them......not sure about the rest of the country though.

If not, why not try raw milk cheese? Waitrose sell a variety of French and Italian raw cheeses, just go in there and ask them over the counter, you can try a slice and make a decision based on the one you prefer. French Comte made from raw milk is available on the shelf in Sainsburys.......

cliff · Answer 2 · 2011-07-06 13:11:44Z UTC

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Almond milk is a bad alternative to anything imo. They are really high in phytic acid which I imagine would all end up in the milk. it also has a decent amount of Omega-6.

answered Jul 6 2011 at 13:11

cliff
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	Sorry Cliff... are you saying that the Raw Milk has a decent amount of Omega 6? Thanks. – Paleo_Hutch Jul 6 2011 at 13:16
	Sorry, no the almond milk. – cliff Jul 6 2011 at 13:19
	I see, thanks Cliff – Paleo_Hutch Jul 6 2011 at 13:34

ben61820 · Answer 3 · 2011-07-06 13:17:51Z UTC

Raw milk: since you drank it growing up, did you fare ok on it? I’m guessing you did fine with it. If that’s the case, and you’re still fine with it, then I don’t see a problem drinking it. It’s a great growth promoter, if you’re lifting weights and all.

I usually think overweight people, metabolically damaged people, digestive-issue people, etc should avoid dairy wholly but if you’re cool, go for it.

I, like Cliff said, would avoid almond milk altogether. Forget whether it’s a good replacement for milk taste-wise, etc. Almond milk is a completely processed, wholly unnatural, factory-made fauxfood. I mean, have it occasionally I suppose but I wouldn’t treat it as a staple in the way that milk-drinkers use milk. Just my two cents.

Can’t offer any help about the UK supply issue other than recommending the website: http://www.realmilk.com/

Matt · Answer 4 · 2011-07-06 22:11:29Z UTC

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Most raw dairy is probably ok though. It's a risk that you'll have to weigh the benefits of. Ask yourself: Do you trust your source?

I question any raw dairy myself. I grew up on a dairy and only trust raw products that I would procure. I could control quality from teat to glass to mouth to stomach.

answered Jul 6 2011 at 22:11

Matt
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	Well hopefully the strict health guidelines and trading guidelines we have in the UK will add some weight to the milk is what they say it is and produced responsibly. But then again..... – Paleo_Hutch Jul 7 2011 at 18:34
	Most raw milk in the states is black-market milk. Or at best, grey-market. – Matt Jul 10 2011 at 20:18

Kelly · Answer 5 · 2011-07-07 16:21:18Z UTC

There are actually quite a few benefits from drinking almond milk. I am not necessarily advocating that you replace raw dairy with it, but I personally stay away from dairy and instead use almond milk (and coconut milk) for cooking and making smoothies and protein shakes. Raw dairy and almond milk are both healthy and good choices in their own right. Almond milk is a good natural source of vitamin E. Of course, store-bought almond milk is highly processed (list of ingredients in Almond Breeze Original Unsweetened Almond Milk: ALMOND MILK (FILTERED WATER, ALMONDS), CALCIUM CARBONATE, TAPIOCA STARCH, SEA SALT, POTASSIUM CITRATE, CARRAGEENAN, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D2 AND D-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL (NATURAL VITAMIN E)). A good alternative is to make your own almond milk with just raw almonds and water. As for the phytates, they are located in the skin, so removing the skin can cut down on these (although does not get rid of them entirely). Here is Mark Sisson's recipe for almond milk:

1 cup of almonds 4 cups of water

To activate almonds, soak overnight and then pour off water. The next day, dip the almonds in boiling water, remove from water and peel away skins. Place in a blender with roughly 4 cups of water (less will make the “milk” thicker) and blend until smooth. To sweeten the milk, consider adding half of a banana or a handful of prunes or other dried fruit.

Roger L. Cauvin · Answer 6 · 2011-07-09 16:27:04Z UTC

@Kelly, the fact that almond milk has vitamin E doesn't make it healthy. As others have mentioned in this conversation thread, the fatty acid profile of almond milk is poor, because it has a high amount of omega 6. I would add that, not only is the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 poor in almonds, the total amount of volatile, easily-oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids is much higher than in dairy fat.

All, there are many reasons to stay away from some forms of dairy. Many people are sensitive to casein and lactose. However, you can eat dairy without getting much casein or lactose. Folks like Kurt Harris favor high-fat dairy products such as ghee, butter, and heavy cream. Their fatty acid profiles, particularly if they come from grass-fed cows, are nearly ideal. And the amount of casein and lactose in them is slight and not an issue for most people.

Bottom line: Avoid low-fat or skim milk. Don't drink a lot of almond milk, whether homemade or factory produced. Don't shy away from ghee, butter, and heavy cream unless, perhaps, you are highly sensitive to casein or lactose.

Raw Milk Vs Almond Milk - a few questions if you have the time.

6 Answers