What’s in a glass of milk?

Every day I see something new being shared online about milk and dairy products. Some new diet telling you to cut out dairy, folks sharing about what they read online about how cows are treated, and many others talking about all the “gross stuff” in cow’s milk. I’m not gonna lie, some of this stuff is pretty convincing and if I didn’t have the privilege of becoming a dairy farmer almost ten years ago, I might have fallen for all of it. So let’s get straight to the point…

So what’s actually in a glass of milk?

Calcium (30% DV*) – Calcium helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth. It also plays an important role in nerve function, muscle contraction and blood clotting.

Potassium (11% DV) – Potassium regulates the body’s fluid balance, helps maintain normal blood pressure and is needed for muscle activity and contraction.

Phosphorus (20% DV) – Phosphorus strengthens bones and generates energy in the body’s cells.

Protein (16% DV) – Protein builds and repairs muscle tissue and serves as a source of energy during high-powered endurance exercise.

Vitamin A (10% DV) – Vitamin A helps maintain normal vision and skin, helps regulate cell growth and maintains the integrity of the immune system.

Vitamin D (25% DV) – Vitamin D helps promote the absorption of calcium and enhances bone mineralization.

Vitamin B12 (13% DV) – Vitamin B12 helps build red blood cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to working muscles.

Riboflavin (24% DV) – Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, helps convert food into energy – a process critical for exercising muscles.

Niacin (10% DV) – Niacin (or niacin equivalent) is important for the normal function of many enzymes in the body and is involved in the metabolism of sugars and fatty acids. Source: http://bit.ly/2mr8YHw

What’s not in a glass of milk?

Pus- Read more here: http://bit.ly/2o9MTRm

Antibiotics & Painkillers- Read more here: http://bit.ly/1XL7vsz

Blood, Feces, Bacteria & Pathogens- Read more here: http://bit.ly/2bzq3wI

What you should know about milk:

Approximately 80 percent of the protein in milk is casein protein, while the other 20 percent is whey protein. This is not a bad thing. Read more here: http://bit.ly/29nhPF7

Hormones are naturally occurring in all milk- Read more here: http://bit.ly/2ngaHxV

The naturally occurring hormones in milk do not cause early puberty- Read more here: http://bit.ly/2nu3qfV

Does the consumption of natural estrogen in cow’s milk affect reproductive health?

Are there antibiotics in milk from conventional dairy farms? Recently the FDA confirmed that milk is safe after they preformed  a study of our nation’s milk supply. “The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine study collected milk samples from nearly 2,000 dairy farms across the country. Samples were tested for residues of 31 different drugs, including all of the antibiotics most often used on U.S. dairy farms.” Read more here. Also, be sure to read my post on how we ensure that milk from cows that are treated with antibiotics do not enter the food supply. Keep in mind that antibiotic use is NOT common. Antibiotics are only used as a last resort for sick animals. Keeping animals healthy is our number one goal, healthy animals do not require treatment.

If cows are fed GMOs, does it impact their milk?

The short answer is NO. Click on the following quote to read more.

Nowhere in the cow, or in you, can parts of plants be found (except, of course, in the digestive tract). When humans, or cows, eat plants, the plants are broken down into tiny molecular-sized fragments in the digestive system, so that the chemical factories in our body (or the cow) can make new fats, sugars, and proteins that we need.

Dairy farmers are committed to the care of their cows and providing others with a safe, healthy and affordable products. We feed our families the same products we provide for yours. Have questions about how dairy farming works? Ask a dairy farmer.

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Krista Stauffer

Owner at Stauffer Dairy

Krista didn't grow up on a farm but fell in love with a dairy farmer and now works alongside her husband on their family dairy farm, raising five children. Despite her non-farm upbringing, she embraces farm life, enjoys gardening, and remodeling their farmhouse. She also runs a successful women's boutique, manages social media for local businesses, and serves on the board of a non-profit creamery, showcasing her dedication to entrepreneurship and community service.

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