healthy eating: should i be drinking cow's milk?

it’s milk.  not almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.  just milk. 

when did we start drinking milk?

the first people to drink milk from animals — including cows — came from western europe, according to the bbc . the practice of drinking milk from animals started roughly 10,000 years ago, mainly by early farmers in western europe. however, evidence of adults maintaining the enzyme that allows them to break down lactose — a sugar found in milk — only appears about 5,000 years ago. as a result, early milk-drinking europeans were probably pretty gassy.

according to the united states department of agriculture , india is the largest producer of milk in the world, although more than half of its production comes from water buffalo, not cows. 

quebec produces the most milk in canada, with the province producing 34.56 million hectolitres (100 litres) in 2021, according to statista . ontario was only a bit behind with 31.01 million, while alberta and b.c. each produced about 8.5 million. 

get your calcium

cow’s milk is full of vitamins and nutrients, and protein. one cup of milk can have up to eight grams of protein, about a quarter of the recommended daily amount of calcium, vitamin d, and vitamin b2.

milk also contains conjugated linoleic acid and omega 3’s. according to a 2004 study published by the national library of medicine , omega 3’s in milk are linked to a lowered risk of type 2 diabetes in men, and a reduced risk of heart disease in women. 

a majority of the global population could have trouble digesting milk?

according to the national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases , as much as 68 per cent of the world’s population has lactose malabsorption, the condition that causes lactose intolerance. (however, not everyone who has lactose malabsorption will develop lactose intolerance.)

lactose intolerance can cause gas, bloating, cramps, nausea or vomiting, and even diarrhea in those who experience it, according to the mayo clinic . the condition is caused by a lack of lactase, an enzyme in the small intestine, that helps to digest milk products. 

how does it compare to other types of milk?

classic 2% cow’s milk has about eight grams of protein per cup, compared to almond milk, which has only one gram , oat milk which has two, and coconut milk which has zero.  soy milk, however, contains nine grams of protein per cup.

when to drink milk

milk will usually last around a week past its best before date when refrigerated. generally, you’ll be able to tell if your milk has gone bad pretty quickly after opening from the smell being off, or noticing bits in your glass when pouring if it’s been too long. 

by law in canada, all milk must be pasteurized before it is sold, meaning it is heated up to high temperatures to kill off any harmful bacteria. non-pasteurized milk may carry multiple different types of bacteria, that can cause significant illnesses including tuberculosis, meningitis, encephalitis and salmonella.