Workout Anytime
Greg Maurer
Milk can be a highly nutritional beverage packed with protein, calcium, and B Vitamins. That being said many people experience digestive discomfort from drinking milk. Food sensitivities and misleading information have led many people today – including children – to shy away from dairy products.
You probably know someone does not drink cow’s milk due to protein sensitivity or concern. While sensitivities to milk protein exist and should be respected, it’s important to be aware of the facts about milk as you could needlessly be missing out on the milk’s many benefits.
A recent meta-analysis of observational studies and controlled trials dispelled the common myth that protein found in milk is bad for humans. Researchers concluded that milk and dairy products are good sources of high-quality protein and that dairy protein is a source of essential amino acids.
Another commonly cited problem with milk is lactose.
Lactose is a sugar in milk that requires the lactase enzyme to break it down. People with lactose intolerance cannot digest lactose properly. The condition is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable.
However, in many cases, the digestive distress some people experience after drinking milk has nothing to do with Lactose. Instead, there is a protein found in milk that is often the cause for these uncomfortable and often embarrassing symptoms.
The Two Forms of Beta-Casein Protein
The protein in cow’s milk is made up of whey (1 to 2%) and casein (6 to 8%), with the primary protein known as beta-casein.
Beta-casein protein comes in two forms, A1 and A2, that affect your body differently. Most modern-day cow’s milk is a combination of A1 and A2.
Unfortunately, the A1 protein may cause stomach discomfort.
When A1 protein is digested it produces a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7). BCM-7 has been linked to stomach discomfort with similar symptoms to lactose intolerance.
A2 protein is more comparable to human breast milk, as well as milk from goats, sheep and buffalo. More natural to the human body, A2 is easily absorbed.
Historically, cows milk only contained the A2 form of beta-casein. However, over time, a genetic mutation occurred in cows and resulted in cows with two types of proteins – A1/A2.
Due to the genetic mutation that evolved in the cows, A1/A2 milk is here to stay – with many people unable to enjoy milk’s nutritional properties without frustrating discomfort.
Fortunately, A2 milk is available. Through selective breeding a New Zealand company farmers learned to breed cows that only produce the A2 form of Beta Casein.
A2 Milk has the4 same nutrition, and creamy, great taste as regular milk and is available in many stores including Kroger, Walmart, Publix, Safeway, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Ahold, ShopRite, Wegmans, and Target.
There are even 100% grass-fed and organic forms of A2 Milk available – just google them!
Since grass – not grain – is the evolutionary form of food for cows it should be no surprise that grass fed milk has higher levels of key nutrients. This includes increased levels of Omega 3 Fatty Acids along with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which actually helps reduce bodyfat!.