The Inaugural Wellness Wednesday ft. Raw Milk
And a wellness roundup
Welcome to the *very first* Wellness Wednesday! This is my conscious effort to bring wellness content to you more consistently. I’m not quite sure how this series will evolve, but for today, we have a bit of investigative journalism in addition to a roundup of the wellness content I have been posting on my Instagram. Be sure to follow me there if you don’t already. Now let’s get into it!
What am I investigating this week? Raw milk. I know it’s controversial but I do like to live dangerously. LOL. In all seriousness, I have been hearing about raw milk and its benefits for a couple of years, but I never tried it because I have been hesitant. It’s also difficult to come by in North Carolina, but I recently learned that you can get it just across the border from Charlotte in Fort Mill, SC at the famed Peach Stand—yes, that’s its official title for those of you who aren’t local. So, Chris and I hopped in the car this past Saturday and crossed state lines to buy the illicit raw milk. OK, it’s not illicit, although in North Carolina, you are not legally allowed to sell it. You’re welcome to drink it from your own cows, but you can’t sell it to other people. I actually found a farm in Wingate, NC who skirts this rule by allowing a small number of people to buy a “share” of their cows so they can distribute raw milk to the shareholders each week. Pretty ingenious if you ask me, but let’s talk about the milk now.
What did I buy? The milk at the Peach Stand comes from Milky Way Farm in Starr, SC. All their cows are A2, meaning they have the A2A2 gene, which yields milk that is easier for humans to digest than non-A2 milk. While the milk from Milky Way Farm is not organic, their cows are completely grass-fed and pasture-raised. Not everything they produce is raw, either—they do have several pasteurized products such as whole milk, chocolate milk and some seasonal flavored milks. Since I was there for the raw of it all, that’s what I got. They had a variety of sizes, but I bought a full gallon due to the distance I had to travel for this stuff. I figured if I liked it, I wouldn’t want to make the ~30-40 minute trip to Fort Mill too soon. Plus, Chris and I drink a ton of coffee—lattes in particular—so I assumed we’d use it up quickly. The gallon cost about $20, which is expensive, but I was willing to pay the price just to try it. I buy expensive supplements all the time (that’s just who I am) and I considered this raw milk in a league with those supplements.
Why did I want to try raw milk in the first place? Well, I am about as crunchy as they come, which you’re about to learn, but I don’t just hop on any old wellness trend. The good things I’d heard about raw milk genuinely intrigued me. For one, it has more vitamins and minerals than pasteurized milk. The heat of pasteurization depletes the nutrients found in milk, but when it’s raw, the vitamins A, D and K, plus the Protein, Iron, Omega 3’s and CLA are all left fully intact. Raw milk is also better for people who have lactose intolerance because, unlike pasteurized milk, it contains lactase, which helps your body process lactose. Additional pros of raw milk include its ability to boost both gut and immune health, as well as its anti-inflammatory properties. There are a slew of other reported benefits, but these are the most common and the ones that caught my attention. I am always looking for ways to get more vitamins into my diet, I am lactose intolerant, and I’m pretty obsessed with gut health, so I had to break down and try it.
Is raw milk any good? While I can’t speak to its longterm health benefits yet (I’ve only had it a few times) I can tell you it is delicious. One thing you might not know about me (because why would you) is I hate cow’s milk. I always have. I wouldn’t drink it when I was a little kid because I hated the taste and it made me feel sick (probably the lactose intolerance). I drink almond milk lattes, not because I’m vegan, but because I dislike normal milk that much. The first time I tried the raw milk, it was admittedly in my latte, so I didn’t really experience its full flavor. I did notice, however, that there was none of the weird aftertaste I detect in lattes when they are made with cow’s milk. I also didn’t die, which made me trust the raw milk more. :P Armed with my trust and happy taste buds, I tried some plain raw milk the next morning, and let me tell you, it’s fantastic. It’s hard to describe it, but it’s like it has its full milk essence. It’s not weird and watery and repulsive like pasteurized milk. It’s creamy, rich, smooth and aftertaste-free. Needless to say, I will be continuing to drink it and I will also track its effects, which I will share here eventually. Each morning, Chris and I drink shots of various juices with our breakfast—we will be adding raw milk to our flight.
What about the risks? They say raw milk can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which is why many people steer clear of it. While I don’t doubt this potential danger, I do think you can consume raw milk wisely and safely if you do your research and take certain precautions. Make sure to keep it under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, even in transport, and read up on the farm your milk is coming from. Do they do third party testing on their cows for diseases? How do they clean their filtering equipment? Do they store their milk properly? Etc. Any good farm will make this information clearly available on their website. Do your research and then make the choice that’s best for you. If it’s not your thing or you’re worried about it, that’s totally OK. There are endless ways to enhance your health if this particular one doesn’t resonate with you. If you do end up giving raw milk a try after reading this, please let me know! I’d love to hear about your experience, good or bad.
This is printed on the jug. Honestly, same.
If this kind of wellness content interests you, check out my Reels from the past week for more (maybe less risky) wellness tips.
The Fullest Co. Saffron Supplements (use my link for 15% off)
My favorite clean alt milk, MALK
My favorite non-toxic nail salon, Freecoat Nails (they have locations throughout the Southeast)
My go-to sleepy time magnesium/tart cherry tonic recipe
Our pilgrimage to the Peach Stand for raw milk
As always, thank you for being here and supporting Chouette. Y’all are really making my dreams come true <3