Chris Kresser recently wrote a fantastic post debunking the claims that raw milk is dangerous.   It’s such a hot topic even some states ban the sales of raw milk, as Marcus previously posted.   I’ll let you read Kresser’s post for a play by play debunking of the dangers of raw milk, but the gist of the numbers is:

• you have about a 1 in 6 million chance of being hospitalized from drinking raw milk.
• the absolute risk of developing a serious illness (i.e. one that would require hospitalization) from drinking raw milk isexceedingly small: about 1 in 6 million.

In a subsequent post, Kresser goes on to talk about the benefits of raw milk.  Now, it bears in mind that Marcus has already posted about dairy being ‘gray’ when it comes to eating clean.  It’s up to the individual to eliminate it in a Whole 30 month and then reintroduce it to see if you suffer any ill effects from it.  However, some of the common ill effects from milk consumption (ie phlegm, congestion, indigestion) don’t manifest themselves when you drink raw milk.  The reason for this is due to the probiotics in raw milk that are killed in the pasteurization process.

Raw milk also comes from grass-fed cows (cows are natural herbivores, not grain eaters), which yields far greater omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, as well as other nutrients.  Grass-fed cows are raised on eco-conscious farms that are better for the environment (less soil erosion, decreased pollution, etc).   And, since they feed on grass, they spend the day grazing in pastures rather than in overcrowded inhumane ‘factory farms’ and thus are more ethically treated.  Who wants to drink milk from stressed out sick cows that live in their own manure?

I’ll end with the disclaimer that Kresser began his post with.  I’m not advocating that everyone go out and guzzle raw milk.  However, if you are looking to reintroduce milk into your diet post Whole 30, this post simply puts the current misconceptions about raw milk into proper context and allows for you to make up your own mind about its dangers and its benefits.

Read the rest of Kresser’s posts here: Part 1, Part 2.

**We will be re-opening Saturday 9am and 10am class this weekend. The gym will remain closed on Monday, May 28th.**

WOD 05.22.12

Deadlift 1×5 or Wendler

Max Push Ups in 30 seconds
Max Slam Balls in 30 seconds

Rest 2 minutes. Then:

3 Rounds:
Run 240m
25 Push Ups
Run 240m
25 Slam Balls