Ultra-pasteurization is not only used by manufacturers to help preserve organic milk. The process is also used to enable milk arrive far distribution areas. What it usually does is to heat the milk using 200 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature. This heating would last for about 15 seconds. Since the milk undergoes this kind of processing, it has a longer expiry date than regular milk. Due to this, the taste of the milk is a bit changed. Some individuals who have tried drinking it have said that its taste is quite unusual and unexplainable.

The main purpose of the extended shelf life of this milk is for it to still stay fresh until it reaches the destinations that it gets delivered to. Since the standards of the USDA are very strict, there are only few manufacturers of this milk. For this reason, the source is very far and needs to travel long distances just to be delivered to groceries and supermarkets. It really helps to have a long shelf life for without it, this milk would not be able to stay fresh for a long time. The ones who drink this milk would also get a chance to enjoy their milk for a long time after it was opened due to the product’s long shelf life.

One good thing about ultra-pasteurized milk is that, you don’t need to refrigerate it if it is not yet opened. It could stay fresh for six months in this condition. But once you open it, expect the milk to have a good taste for only a few weeks. All milk of this type is UHT pasteurized. This explains its long shelf life. However, this advantage asks something in return. Organic milk is quite expensive and that only a few people are able to afford it. Although the price is high, it is also understandable because of the many benefits that can be gained from the product.

This milk has all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients which all of us need to become healthy individuals. You want to be healthy don’t you? Most health conscious people choose to buy this milk because they are aware of the many advantages that it has. If you are a wise buyer, you would really choose this product because it is extraordinary and it has the ability to provide many health benefits which cannot be found in regular milk. Never mind the price, as long as you know that it is good for you, go for it and start living a healthy lifestyle today!

The first stage that organic milk is made to undergo is called pasteurization. In this stage, the bacteria in the milk are killed through heating. If this kind of processing is used, the milk will have an extended shelf life. Ultra pasteurization is considered as an excellent alternative to ordinary pasteurization. When this process is being executed on milk, it is being heated up to 280 degrees of temperature. This would take at least two seconds to finish. After the processing, milk can now be placed inside packages or plastic containers and maintain its freshness with no need for refrigeration.

This process continues to amaze users because the product would then have a shelf life of at least 60 days. Although this may seem to be good news to some, a lot of controversy has revolved regarding the effect of ultra-pasteurization on milk. It still continues to be a hotly debated topic to some health conscious individuals. The second process is that this milk goes through is called homogenization. In this process, milk and its fat are made to stay together. The result then is that milk becomes silk and smooth. You can select from two types of organic milk and these are; homogenized and non-homogenized. The last and final process is known as fortification. This is the time when the lost nutrients and vitamins from the milk are brought back. Usually, the vitamins that are brought back are Vitamin A and Vitamin D.

All these processes are what this kind of milk goes through before you could find it in grocery stores. Are you wondering why this milk has to undergo the UHT process instead of the regular pasteurization process? The major reason for this is because, when this kind of milk is produced, no antibiotics or drugs were used in it. Aside from that, this is also used to help in prolonging the shelf life of this product. In short, only a few organisms are able to live after undergoing this process thus the milk would last for a long time. One disadvantage of this is that, it gives an odd taste to the milk and the smell also becomes a bit weird. Although this might be the case, this milk still has several health benefits that users can enjoy. Whatever, the taste or smell of the product may be, it doesn’t matter as long as it is good for the health!

Organic milk is milk that is produced from cows which fed on food which did not use any harmful pesticides, fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics. This product has a longer shelf life compared to other milk types. It undergoes a process called ultra-pasteurization wherein, it is heated to a high temperature so that the bacteria present in it are killed. This process is the one responsible for its extended shelf life. Since it lasts longer than other types of milk, the price is quite high. Most dieticians and health experts recommend this product because it is said to give numerous health benefits. Aside from that, it also contains several vitamins and nutrients which can do a lot of good to our bodies.

On the other hand, grass feed milk is just a bit different because it is produced from cows who only feed on grass. According to some studies, this type of milk has more antioxidants, proteins, vitamins and minerals than the organic type. Aside from that, this milk also has higher levels of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) in it. This means that it can help people control their weight and also protect them from cancer. Moreover, this milk is also said to taste good and has less fats as compared to the organic version. It is also less expensive so if you are on a tight budget, this could be a good alternative. A lot of people are debating on which among these two is better.

While it is true that organic milk may have a longer shelf life and has a couple of health benefits, some people do not like its taste and extremely high price. Others also do not like this product because it is said to have a higher fat content than the grass feed type. The truth is, both of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. They just went through different processes and were obtained from different sources. If you are a milk lover, the price or the process wouldn’t really matter to you. What you must consider as most important are the benefits that it can give to your health. Based from what you have read above, which one do you think is better? Both claim to be healthy and good for the health. However, do they really prove true to their claims? To end all confusion, it would be best to try both products to find out which among the two really is the best.

Crooks have immediately noticed this and it led them to take advantage of the milk’s fame. Little do they know that there are also a lot of individuals who considered this as a major concern. These people, who are actually German scientists, were planning of a way to stop this problem. The end result of their plan was an analytical test. What served as the basis of the test that they formulated is the milk fat analysis in exchange for the stable carbon isotopes ratio. The said test would help determine if there is a high content of maize on the feeds that were given to the cows in the milk samples.

If this was detected in the results, it would mean that the milk that was tested is conventional. If the milk was organic, it should show in the samples that the cows from which it was obtained from had less maize content and more pasture. However, these are not the only things that can be detected by the test. The milk fat and alpha-linolenic acid content of the milk would also be identified. It has been said that there is more alpha-linoleic acid in organic milk than other types of milk. Isn’t this newly created test amazing? Aside from helping us find out whether the milk we’re buying is really the organic type or not, it also helps us get what we really paid for. This means that we will no longer be fooled by those who are trying to mislead us.

More and more people are buying this milk due to the several benefits that it offers. If a person would drink organic milk instead of regular milk, he would become healthier. This is a highly debatable topic but not drinking even trace amounts of pesticides has to be better for you. Why is this so? This is because you are not able to take in all the harmful chemicals and substances which are in ordinary milk. Aside from that, this type of milk also has a lot of vitamins and nutrients which our bodies need. Some examples of these include; Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, Omega 3, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Potassium, Magnesium and many more. It is a well known fact that this milk is the number one competition of regular milk.

If you have tried using the product yourself or have heard from friends who are using this milk, you would know that it has a long shelf life. This means that it could last for long period of time after it has been opened. It has been said that organic milk has an expiration date of one month! That explains why it usually costs more than that of the usual milk that we buy. Aside from that, this milk could also last that long because of the process that was used in making it. It often makes use of extremely high temperatures when it is being pasteurized. This is done so that it would be able to achieve a grade A standard. During this process, all the microorganisms which ruin the milk at an early time are killed.

There are even some manufacturers who used “ultra-pasteurization” in making this milk. What does that mean? Simply put, the way that the milk was heated is so extreme that even though you place the milk in the refrigerator, the microorganisms in it would not settle. With the use of this method, this milk would stay for a long time and would not easily expire. There are even times when this type of milk would last for up to 90 days! This again boils down to “ultra-pasteurization”. The process kills more bacteria so this is the end result when it is used. It is also important to note that this expiry date only implies of the milk has not yet been opened. If it has been opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator for it to be able to maintain its fresh taste for at least 15-30 days. If you are interested in milk that has a long shelf life, choose this milk and have a chance to enjoy this fresh and healthy drink!

Usually, infants are sustained by small amounts of water, formula and breast milk during their first four months from the day they were born. After the fourth month have passed, babies now get to try new food but formula is still part of their diet. If you stop formula or breast milk prematurely, the end result is not good because they are not able to get their daily dose of the nutrients that they need. As time passes by, babies can slowly let go of baby bottles and finger foods. As a parent, I’m sure you are excited in feeding your baby with fruits, vegetables and bread. While it is true that you can now do this, formula must always be fed to your little one first before letting him binge on the solids until they reach the age of 1.

Once your baby has turned one, you may now replace formula with organic milk. This is also the perfect time to let your baby start drinking from a cup instead of a bottle. Keep in mind that the shift must not be quick. Instead, it should be done gradually. How do you do this? What you should do is substitute one formula feed with milk everyday. Try to see if your baby is not allergic to it by observing him. Examine his skin and check if there are rashes on it. Other possible signs of intolerance include; bowel movement changes and tummy aches.

If your baby is experiencing them, there is a big possibility that his system is not yet ready to take in the proteins that are coming from organic milk. For this reason, it would be a good idea if you stop letting him drink this milk and wait for one month more. However, if these symptoms continue to occur, you should now go to your doctor. By doing so, you will be able to know what can be done to treat your baby’s condition and also to determine what other foods your baby is allergic or intolerant to. Don’t ever think that the taste of milk is the reason why your baby does not love it.

Adding flavorings or sugar to the milk surely wouldn’t help. What you can do though is to try using bright-colored cups or add a straw to make drinking milk more fun for him. Another good tip that you can use is to add small amounts of it to the food of your baby so that he would slowly become familiar with the taste. Try mixing milk with cereal, mashed potatoes, yogurt before feeding them to your baby. He will definitely love it. No matter what you do, just don’t forget that introducing organic milk to your baby’s diet should only be done once he turns one.

The clear answer is an overwhelming yes. A Dutch study followed 2,500 pregnant women through their pregnancy and the first two years of their infants’ lives. Half of the group ate conventional foods and drank conventional milk. The other half ate organic foods and organic dairy products. This included the food the mother’s ate during their pregnancy and what the infants were given after birth.

The researchers found that children who were breast fed by mothers who consumed organic dairy products and who were weaned on organic milk, cheese, yogurt and other organic dairy products were 36% less likely to suffer from allergies.

The author of the published study, Dr. Machteld Huber, of the Louis
Bolk Institute, states that the difference was significant, but only for children exclusively eating organic dairy products. She and her research team believed that the results are explained by the higher concentrations of conjugated linoleic acids that are found in organic milk.

Organic dairy farms are certified and do not use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and do not give feed to their dairy cattle which have been exposed to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic dairy cattle do not receive any antibiotics and are not given food containing preservatives or additives.

Organic dairy cattle have a clover rich natural diet. This results in the organic dairy cattle having 71 percent more Omega 3 essential fatty acids. These Omega 3 essential fatty acids help jumpstart a healthy lifestyle and promote healthy heart functions and are also important for joint and bone health as well.

The infants who received organic milk were significantly less likely to develop asthma and eczema. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors the contents of conventional milk. Recent USDA data shows that 27 percent of milk from conventional dairy farms contained synthetic pesticides. Organic milk is produced without exposure to pesticides and without the use of antibiotics or artificial hormones. Pesticides such as synthetic pyrethroids can act as skin and respiratory allergens.

Dr. Alan Greene, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University’s Packard Children’s Hospital recommends organic milk for children because of the extra Omega-3s and beta-carotene it provides.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is very important for over all body health and a well functioning immune system. CLA is a fatty acid and experimental evidence in health research studies indicates that it might have an anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-diabetic and immune-modulating effect.

The major source of CLA for people is diet and predominately through dairy products and meat. Other studies have shown that organic milk has higher levels of vitamin E and antioxidants than non-organic milk.

The research also suggests that CLA can help with body fat regulation by affecting the proportion of fat tissue to muscle mass. Improving the bodies overall health and resistance to disease (boosting the immune system) helps the body fight allergic reactions as well.

In dairy operations, cows may be injected with bovine growth hormone (BGH) to increase milk production.  Although BGH is considered safe in milk, organic products cannot contain any hormones.  Dairy cows in organic operations cannot be injected with any antibiotics and their feed cannot be treated with any pesticides.  Further, the dairy cattle must have access to pastures instead of being kept in feedlots.

These strict requirements add to the cost of organic farming and organic dairy production and people buying organic milk find that it can cost twice as much as non-organic milk.  Nonetheless, the Organic Trade Association has documented increasing sales of organic food over the last 19 years.   Organic milk production is a growing dairy industry and accounts for three percent of milk sales in the United States.  The Organic Trade Association predicts that sales of organic foods and dairy products will continue to increase an average of 18 percent per year in the United States.

At one time, people looking to purchase organic milk and foods had limited choices.  Often, they had to resort to specialty health food stores.  Now, most chain grocery stores, including large chain retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart that also carry groceries, stock organic food for their customers.  Organic producers also sell their products directly to the public at local farmers markets.  The internet has provided an avenue for customers wanting organic products.  This emerging trend is followed by restaurants offering organically grown foods as well as meats from free range animals.

In spite of the growth of sales of organic food, the number of acres dedicated to organic farming and dairies is less than one percent world wide.  The United States ranks fourth in the number of farming acres managed organically.  Australia leads with China and Argentina following in second and third place.

In recent years, organic farming has become popular in the US.  However, do we really know what organic means?  According to the National Dairy Council, “organic” refers to how the farm is managed, not to the products itself.  Both organic and conventional dairy products must meet government standards ensuring the milk is wholesome, safe, and nutritious.

Organic farmers also abide by the requirements set forth by the USDA’s National Organic Program.  Dairy products can only contain the “USDA Organic” label if these additional requirements are met.  These requirements state:

1. Organic fertilizers and pesticides are used on the farm, not rbST.
2. Organic milk must come from cows not treated with bovine growth hormone (BGH).  The BGH is used to increase milk production.
3. Organic milk must come from cows not treated with antibiotics.  If the cow falls ill and must be treated with antibiotics, they are not to be returned to the herd for a period of 12 months.
4. The cows must have access to pasture.

Soy milk is another alternative to conventional milk.  It’s one that has also come into light especially in the last few years.  Soy milk, hence the name, is made from soybeans and is nutritionally close to cow’s milk.  Many of the soy products are enriched with calcium and have little saturated fat and no cholesterol.  Soymilk is a good alternative to milk for those who are lactose intolerant.

Conventional milk is held to the same standards set by the USDA to ensure quality milk that is antibiotic free, wholesome, and safe.  Conventional dairy farmers have been known to boost their cows milk production by supplementing their cows’ bST, however, extensive studies have shown that this hormone only ensures higher production, the milk that is produced is as wholesome and safe as organic milk.  Lastly, according to the National Dairy Council, pesticides in conventionally produced milk are not of a concern because pesticides can be found in low amounts in all products, organic and conventional.  Extensive tests are done on all milk products to ensure us that we are not consuming dangerous levels of anything harmful.

Now that we’ve gone over the differences in the products we have to choose from in the dairy aisle, we must now decide which one is the best product for our family.

First we must look at the price, to which you will see an increase in organic and soy products.  This is possibly because these products have higher production costs ultimately passing on the cost to their consumers.

Secondly, we must decide what is important to us individually.  Some individuals choose organic products merely because of how the animals are raised.

Some choose organic products or soy products due to safety and nutrition facts, which you will not find in this article, because no viable facts have proved that organic or soy products are more nutritious or safe than conventional milk.

Some individuals choose their dairy products based on their personal taste likes and dislikes.  All milks can have a different flavor depending on the type of cow the milk was produced from, the season, variations of the cows diet, even the brand of milk conventional, organic, or soy have different tastes.

So now that we’ve found that products do vary in taste and price, but do not vary in quality, nutrition, or safety, which will you choose for your family?

After putting more effort into my research, I found that only a small percent of farmers manage their farms using organic techniques.  Organic management techniques include: using only organic pesticides, not allowing any form of antibiotics into the farmed products (meat and dairy), no products on the farm can be treated with hormones, and cows on the farm must have access to a grazing pasture.

After researching conventional farming I found that the meats we eat are many times routinely treated with antibiotics to prevent illnesses and control diseases in animals.  Although, all products on every farm meet USDA standards and have been found to be safe, I was not convinced that I wanted my unborn child consuming these potentially unnecessary products.  Therefore, I choose to go organic.

I found that organic products were everywhere.  Not only did I purchase organic fruits and vegetables, but also I found organic milk, meats, even baby food!  Organic sales have grown 21 % and availability of organic products continues to grow.  I am confident that going organic is not only the best possible choice for me as an adult, but it’s the best possible choice for my baby as well.

Going organic is important to me and carefully considered in every aspect of my life.  I learned that although many products were more expensive, how the products were grown, harvested, and overall treated (pesticides, lack of antibiotics, etc.) put my mind at ease.  I am confident that the extra price of organic products is worth the added benefits to our health!