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Milk in History and Evolution
Is milk a 'natural' food for humans?
Not
everyone agrees that milk should be part of
the human diet after infancy. The argument
is made that just as all other species drink
no milk after weaning, neither should we,
especially that of another species. Many adults
have difficulty digesting pasteurized milk,
and allergies to pasteurized milk products
are common. While this lends credence to arguments
against milk, such reactions are usually due
to pasteurization itself and the poor quality
of conventionally produced milk and milk products.
While for some individuals genetic influences
play a role, for most the body's reaction
to milk depends largely upon the quality and
state of the particular milk used.
The
Swiss of the Loetschental Valley were one
of the few native groups Weston Price studied
that used milk (the others were certain African
tribes, including the Masai). The Valley people
used raw, whole milk, both fresh and cultured,
cheese, and butter, all in substantial quantities.
The milk was from healthy, grass-fed animals
and was used unpasteurized and unhomogenized.
Such foods clearly can play a major role in
a health-building program for the individual
genetically enabled to utilize these foods
well. They are a rich source of fat-soluble
vitamins A and D and other crucial nutrients
in short supply in diets lacking in high quality
animal fats. (Contrary to popular opinion,
liberal amounts of animal fats, particularly
from grass-fed animals, are essential for
good health and resistance to disease.)
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