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Only 7% of children who drink grassfed raw milk have allergies versus 44% of those who don’t consume this healthful traditional food. The asthma rate is lower and overall immunity higher for raw milk drinking kids too.
The Hygiene Hypothesis states that when children lack early exposure to infectious agents, parasites, and symbiotic microorganisms like normal gut flora such as would naturally occur in a rural or farm environment, they are much more likely to suffer from autoimmune disorders such as allergies or asthma.
This hypothesis helps to explain why farm kids tend to be so much healthier and far less prone to immune disorders than children raised in an urban setting.
Now, an international team of researchers has taken the Hygiene Hypothesis a step further by looking at how one raw milk protects against allergies in children. This is but one of the health benefits of raw milk, particularly from grassfed cows.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology is reporting that farm children who drink raw milk exhibit a far superior immune response than either farm children who don’t consume raw milk or children living in an urban setting.
Raw Milk Protective Against Allergies
The team of researchers led by Dr. Mark Holbreich MD, an allergy and asthma specialist, compared skin prick tests of mostly raw milk drinking Amish children aged 6-12 years old living in Indiana to non-raw milk drinking Swiss children living in either a farm or urban setting. Amish children in Indiana were chosen due to their genetic similarity to modern-day Swiss children.
The results of the skin prick tests to assess allergic sensitization are summarized as follows:
- Over 44% of the urban living Swiss children exhibited an allergic reaction.
- Approximately 25% of the non-raw milk drinking Swiss farm children had an allergic reaction.
- Only 7% of primarily raw milk drinking Amish children had an allergic reaction.
Reduced Asthma Risk
This study reinforces the results of the 2011 Gabriella study which found lower asthma rates as well.
Exposure to farm milk in early life and consumption of raw farm milk have been associated with a reduced asthma and atopy risk, and it has been suggested that this protection might be mediated through receptors of the innate immune system.
Stronger Immunity Overall
While the results of this large survey combined with allergy testing are very promising with raw milk potentially a very easy way for parents to safely increase the odds that their children avoid the lifelong burden of allergies and/or asthma, further research is warranted.  Dr. Holbreich’s team noted that some of the superior immune response of the raw milk drinking children may be due to the very large Amish families which may provide additional protective factors.
Should parents eager to provide their children with maximum lifelong vibrant health wait for these studies to occur?
While some parents may wish to remain cautious, more forward-thinking parents wishing to provide their children with a health edge today will no doubt seek to source grassfed raw milk immediately based on this information. Â As wisely noted by Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue in her book Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox:
We can’t always wait for science to identify the nutrients and test for them before we go ahead and benefit from them.
References
(1) The protective effect of farm milk consumption on childhood asthma and atopy
(2) Study of Amish children proves raw milk promotes health, boosts immunity
What about sensitivities vs. allergens? Delayed reaction (my son) vs. immediate reaction??
Raw goat milk is also a great option, and it’s higher in protein than cow milk.
I believe Weston A. Price has more info. on raw milk issues, as well as, the book, “Nourishing Traditions”, by Sally Fallon. Not sure about this A1/A2 controversey? Raw is still better than ultra-pasturized dairy any day.
actually the A1 issue comes down to individual cows. A farmer we know in CT testing every single one of his 80 cows (all Randall linebacks) and some were A1, some were A2. I think the older breeds (guernseys and randalls included) are mostly A2 but not all. I agree with thehealthyhomeeconomist that grassfed is the most important piece
Shanna Rangel According to Mark McAfee, owner of Organic Pastures raw dairy in CA, the A1 issue is not very significant if the cows are grassfed. I would give my children raw milk from A1 cows IF they were grassfed no problem. I would prefer jerseys or guernsey cows, but if grassfed holstein milk is all that is available, that is still an excellent choice.
I agree with you Sarah. If the choice was between raw Holstein milk or pasteurized the raw Holstein is far superior but there is such a big difference between Holstein milk and milk from Jerseys and Guernseys. I will occasionally buy the Organic Pastures (Holstein herd) raw milk if the Claraval brand raw is not available. Claraval has a Jersey/Guernsey herd. The Claraval milk is so much thicker, creamier, more cream on top and when clabbered much more curd. The Organic Pastures is almost all whey when clabbered. I hope that Organic pastures will consider this and start improving their herd.
tell this to my kids. Kelly is the only one that is smart enough to buy it and give it to her kids.
Any thoughts in boiling raw milk first? And at what age would you deem safe for a child to start drinking raw milk.
Many thanks,
Leonardo
I would never boil raw milk before drinking it! I do cook with mine, however. My baby, born by emergency c-section at 29 weeks, was fed breastmilk for 3 months. After that, he got the WAPF raw milk formula until he was 1 year old, and now he drinks straight raw milk daily. He is now 2 years old, with no delays, and no problems whatsoever. He and my 5 year old son are extremely healthy! As long as you know your farmer is producing raw milk properly, it is safe for everyone… even preemies.
No. Don’t. I’ve read studies that show that boiled farm milk does not have the same protective effects as raw milk. It really must be raw. Many give it to babies and I started giving to mine around a year as they were breastfed and didn’t need it.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21875744
I’m from Northern Indiana and grew up around the Amish. I see them at McDonalds, I see them at Dairy Queen and shopping at supermarkets like we do. Years ago I went to an Amish bakesale and bought an apple pie. Real apples from their orchards inside? Not a chance – they had dumped the contents of a can of apple pie filling – yes, the goo and the odd slice of mushy apple. These were not Mennonites, but Amish.
My mother later made the observation that surprising the Amish had no problems eating ultra-processed food. She also didn’t much appreciate the switch to poly-blends for their wonderful quilts (!).
Although I visit twice yearly Northern Indiana (no longer live there) I wanted to verify my observations and called a friend yesterday who lives in the countryside where Amish live – they agreed with these observations.
I’m writing this to state: drinking raw milk, exposure to farm animals and large families, absence of vaccines (as one reader stated)…..all this must be incredibly beneficial even when the eating habits aren’t perfect.
Yes, this is accurate. My MIL grew up in Amish country and we go visit there a few times a year. She said because they can’t “dress” in any fancy way, they go fancy with food. A lot of it is processed and not healthy at all. They do suffer from diabetes and such more often, at least in this community (in Ohio). So there are detriments, but raw milk and no vaccines are still protective.
Same observations here in a large Amish community in WI. I know many of them, and additionally, have spoken with a local holistic health practitioner who works with the Amish. She says a large number of them are malnourished, eating harmful things from the SAD diet, especially numerous sweets, processed grains, and bad oils. One look in the offerings in their local dry goods store confirms it. But of course, they do drink raw milk and farm eggs, so I’m sure it helps some.
Just heard that most raw milk is from the wrong A1 cows…any thoughts/research you have to share.