Milk and Milk Alternatives
What’s in your refrigerator? Almond or coconut milk, soy milk, low-fat, raw milk? These days it could be just about anything.
The problem is that humans need the enzyme lactaseto digest milk sugar (lactose) but production of this declines significantly after weaning. That’s why so many people have difficulty digesting milk and other dairy products. Gastrointestinal issues are most prevalent in African-, Asian-, and Native-Americans, with up to 90% of these populations suffering from lactose intolerance. Those of European descent have a less difficult time with dairy digestion.
But there are other reasons that people avoid dairy: allergies, inflammation, veganism, animal rights and environmental concerns sway people to seek milk-alternatives. In fact, the FDA identifies milk as the most allergic food in America.
Google “raw milk” and you will find articles extolling the the health benefits of what some claim is an elixir, but also of the FDA issuing warnings to avoid it. Since the 1987 Federal Ban On Raw Milk For Human Consumption – which prohibits any unpasteurized milk or milk product crossing interstate lines – and the 2006 FDA enforcement of that ban, there have actually been dozens of armed, federal raids of dairy farms, including families held at gunpoint. All because they have either provided, or attempted to purchase, raw milk.