Received: Accepted: Milk-derived proteins and peptides in ...
Milk proteins Good & Bad.docx
-
Upload
jose-palomar -
Category
Documents
-
view
228 -
download
0
Transcript of Milk proteins Good & Bad.docx
-
7/28/2019 Milk proteins Good & Bad.docx
1/3
Milk proteins: The Good and the Bad
Dr. Phil Maffetone
Remember Little Miss Muffet, eating her curds and whey? These are the two
proteins found in milk. Whey protein is the thin liquid part of milk remaining afterthe curdscalled caseinare removed. But not all casein is the same.
Casein
The curds from milk are used for most cheese making. Cottage cheese is the best
example of what curds look like. However, the curd, casein, is the protein in milk
most people are allergic to when theres a dairy allergy. Newborns and young
children are especially vulnerable to curds because their intestine and immune
system is too immature to tolerate this protein.
But not all casein is the same.
Most of the protein in milk is casein, but there are different kinds. The two most
common ones are A1 and A2 beta casein, and they have very different effects on
our health. A1 has been associated with ill health and disease, but A2 has not. If
you consume dairy products, its important to purchase those made from milk with
little or no A1.
Most people think of black and white cows as the source of their milk. These
animals, called Holsteins (the U.S. breed) and Friesians (the European version), are
the most common sources of milk on the market. These large, high volume milk
producers are most commonly used by big corporate dairy farms. They are typicallygiven bST (bovine somatotropina hormone used to increases the cows milk
production), and provided with special feeds of corn and synthetic vitamins rather
than grass. These cows produce milk that contains higher amounts of beta-casein
type A1, a protein that behaves like an opiate and has been associated with chronic
illness. (Reddish colored cows, including Ayrshire and Milking Short Horns, are also
in this category and less common).
The other types of dairy cows are smaller, and brownish and white in color. These
are called Jersey, Guernsey, and Brown Swiss cows. They produce lesser volumes
of milk, are naturally resistant to disease, and convert grass to milk quiteefficiently. The level of A1 casein in these animals is very low, and they have higher
levels of A2. Their milk is similar to that of other animals including goat, sheep,
buffalo, yaks, donkeys, and camelsmilk from these animals contain mostly A2 and
little A1.
Research shows a strong association between the consumption of A1 casein and
various health problems. Numerous studies, including data from the World Health
-
7/28/2019 Milk proteins Good & Bad.docx
2/3
Organization (WHO), have linked A1 with increased risk of heart disease, high
cholesterol, type 1 diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome, and neurological
disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, and possibly allergies. But these
health issues are not associated with consumption of A2 casein.
How can you tell which type of animal your milk comes from? Unfortunately, inmost cases, the milk from many different herds of cows are mixed by the time it
gets to the store as milk or cheese. This makes it impossible to tell what youre
getting regarding the kinds of casein it contains.
Short of going to the farm to buy raw milk, and seeing the types of cows there,
which a surprising number of consumers can do, you will soon have more access to
milk higher in A2 and low (or no) A1. New Zealand public company, A2 Corp, LTD,
licenses technology that identifies milk with the A2 beta casein protein. The
company also sources and supplies A2 milk, with operations primarily in New
Zealand, Australia, and now the United States (with plans to soon enter the Asian
market).
Whey
The milk containing most of the vitamins and minerals, including calcium, and also
is a complete protein, is whey. During the making of cheese, which mostly is
produced from curds, whey is often fed back to the animals for nutritional reasons.
However, making whey cheese is great optionthe one most people are familiar
with is ricotta. When buying it, check the label and make sure whey, not curds, is
the main ingredient (many cheap ricotta products are made with whole milk and
not whey). Whey is also made into powders for use in baked goods and smoothies.
The whey component of milk contains a group of natural sulfur-containing
substances called biothiols that help produce a key antioxidant in your cells called
glutathione. Because it helps the immune system, whey has been used to help
prevent and treat many chronic conditions, from asthma and allergies to cancer and
heart disease. It can also help improve muscle function. Most people who are
allergic to cows milk can usually consume whey without problems. Small amounts
of lactose are found in whey (much less than is found in liquid milk) but this is
usually too little to cause intestinal problems, even in most people sensitive to
lactose. In those who are truly lactose-intolerant (probably less than five percent ofthe population), this amount of lactose could be a problem.
Most importantly, always buy organic to avoid the chemicals, hormones and drugs
commonly used in the dairy industry. I dont consume milk, but instead buy raw
milk to make cultured raw milk cheeses, and butter.
-
7/28/2019 Milk proteins Good & Bad.docx
3/3
When buying cheese, look for raw milk varieties. Those with inflammatory
conditions, and other problems associated with an imbalance of fats, should restrict
dairy until health is restored. Maintaining a balance of fats, as discussed in my
books and on this website, can be accomplished while consuming healthy dairy
products in moderate amounts.