Thursday, October 27, 2011

Raw Milk ~ Part 3

If you are jumping in this is third post on RAW MILK . . . you might want to start here (talking about the basics of milk) and then catch up on the second one(more specifics and some shots of our kids with "our" cows).

I had a few requests to simplify Dr. Pottenger's study on raw milk versus pasteurized milk with cats which I mentioned in the last post on raw milk, and since this has been one of my personal favorite findings in my research on raw milk, I am happy to oblige.




Dr. Pottenger conducted a study from 1932 to 1942.  He took a very large number of cats (we're talking 900 total by the end of his study!), broke them in groups and fed them five different diets.  One group was fed raw milk and raw meat.  The other was fed pasteurized milk.  *All the milk was from the same source.*  And the other groups were fed evaporate or condensed milk combinations with raw meat as well.  AKA - one group was fed "real" food, and all the others a form of "processed" food.


The raw milk group of cats all lived normal, healthy feline lives through the four generations of the study.


The first generation of cats born to the processed groups developed a variety of typically human diseases toward the end of their lifespan, including thyroid disease, cancers, and heart conditions.  Pottenger noticed these cats were more lethargic and less playful.


The second generation: brittle bone disease, osteoperosis, and the other diseases mentioned already towards the middle parts of their lifespan.


The third generation : the same disease at the beginning of their lifespan and many did not survive past six months.




There was no fourth generation from the processed groups because most of the parents of the third generation which survived to mating ages were born sterile, and were very unsocial and inactive.  If pregnancy did occur, all fourth generation kittens were stillborn.


Does this sound familiar?


WE, as a country, are entering our fourth generation as a pastuerized milk nation.  How many fertility clinics were established 30 years ago?  How often did a pediatrician diagnose a child with cancer?  How common were miscarriages?

As someone who struggles with a thyroid disease, has lost four babies to miscarriage, and now with four little ones to provide for . . . this caught my eye in a major way.


When did our grandparents generation begin getting cancers? (3 of the 3 of our living biological grandparents have had cancer in their later years.)


When did our parent's generation begin getting cancers? (Most of the ones we know, at some time during their middle years.)


How many of our children and their peers are getting cancer as minors?  (I don't even like to think about this statistic . . . but it's there.)


I am not saying processed milk is entirely the culprit for these tragic changes in our society, but I don't think it is wise to ignore studies like this and the information we have available about natural nutrition.


There are several write-ups stating Pottenger's findings are indicative of other deficiencies in the cats' diets due to cooking food and are not aplicable to the human diet.  But isn't that the point!!!  Cooking, processing, modifying our food DOES change the nutrient content, whether we are cats, dogs, mice, or people!  That food is no longer in it's most natural state and changes are going to take place.  How those changes affect our bodies is the question to really consider.





I borrowed this from an article on Louis Pasteur (the father of pasteurization).  It was generated for a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors concerning outbreaks from pasteurized milk.  This is startling and nothing you will find on the FDA's website: (and you can read more details here - it's just crazy!)


1997, 28 persons ill from Salmonella in California, ALL FROM PASTEURIZED MILK.


1996, 46 persons ill from Campylobacter and Salmonella in California.


1994, 105 persons ill from E. coli and Listeria in California


March of 1985 19,660 confirmed cases of Salmonella typhimurium illness FROM CONSUMING PROPERLY PASTEURIZED MILK. Over 200,000 people ill from Salmonella typhimurium in PASTEURIZED MILK


1985, 142 cases and 47 deaths traced to PASTEURIZED Mexican-style cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes SURVIVES PASTEURIZATION!


1985, 1500 persons ill from Salmonella infection


August of 1984 approximately 200 persons became ill with a Salmonella typhimurium from CONSUMING PASTEURIZED MILK


November of 1984, another outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium illness from CONSUMING PASTEURIZED MILK


1983, over 49 persons with Listeria illness have been associated with the consumption of PASTEURIZED MILK in Massachusetts.


1993, 28 persons ill from Salmonella infection


1982, 172 persons ill (100 hospitalized) from a three Southern state area from PASTEURIZED MILK.


1982, over 17,000 persons became ill with Yersinia enterocolitica from PASTEURIZED MILK bottled in Memphis, Tennessee.


Another fun, short read on the milk debate with a few videos included.




I realize there is a lot of information out there and we can find evidence for whatever it is we want to believe - that is the beauty and the tragedy of freedom of speech.


So what are your thoughts?  A few of you have shared testimonies that I plan to post (with permission).  Are there any other stories surrounding raw/processed milk?  Do you have thoughts?  Questions?  Do you think we are nuts?

2 comments:

  1. I know there are tons of issues with our milk right now, so tell me what you do with your kids...Do you find unpasteurized milk somewhere? I've also heard soy is bad, but finding other alternatives in my little town is tough (and expensive). Would love to hear your thought (or maybe your next blog :) )

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  2. ....Or, maybe you already addressed this before I started reading your great blog, but for some reason its not letting me go back and see your older posts.

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