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What Are the Health Benefits of Whole Milk?

By Kaiser Castro
Updated Feb 03, 2024
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Whole milk is essentially raw milk straight from the cow that has been minimally handled or pasteurized. Ample amounts of protein and the amino acids, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and lactoperoxidae are connected with the bionutrients contained in whole milk. These proteins and nutrients improve heart health, the immune system, and a healthy gastrointestinal tract. Most individuals who are at risk of having bacterium take over the immune system, like children or the elderly, can benefit from the regular consumption of this type of milk.

Amino acids are plentiful in a serving of full fat milk, and these protein derivatives are commonly dubbed the body’s “building blocks.” Most systems in the body use amino acids in some shape or form. Fitness enthusiasts and body builders can strengthen their muscular systems by consuming whole milk, as the body will use the amino acids in correspondence with the type of cell using the proteins. This allows the protein to be comprehensively used in various body functions.

Lactoferrin is a multi-functional protein that is naturally found in whole milk. This protein allows for comprehensive absorption of iron, which is a mineral that helps the body to ward off anemia, as well as facilitate a robust immune system. Lactoferrin also has antimicrobial and antiviral properties, allowing the protein to be able to grab onto the viral particles and subsequently destroy them. Candida albicans, a type of yeast infection, can be reduced and controlled with the regular consumption of milk. The lactoferrin in milk has the capability of compressing the formation of mutant cells that can cause breast cancer as well.

Not only is raw milk full of multifunctional proteins, but it also offers a dosage of protective enzymes. Lysozyme is an enzyme that is commonly found in milk products. The enzyme has the ability to disintegrate the cell walls of bacteria, subsequently weakening or killing them. Children who are deficient of the enzyme are susceptible to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal ailments. The enzyme is not only readily available through whole milk, but can also be found in odd places like eggs, tears, and saliva.

Lactoperoxidase is another beneficial enzyme that is commonly found in this type of milk. The antimicrobial power of lactoperoxidase has been noted to nullify yeasts, invading pathogens, and even help to suppress the HIV-1 virus. This enzyme has also been noted to improve the cellular functions of the immune system, subsequently strengthening it.

Drinking this type of milk may also increase fertility in woman. Consuming at least a serving of whole milk every day has been connected to decreased infertility issues as well. Consult the help of a doctor before consuming whole milk to increase fertility.

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Discussion Comments

By clintflint — On Oct 11, 2014

@croydon - Anyone with lactose intolerance needs to just quit cows milk altogether. There are plenty of other things that are close enough and won't cause them any intestinal problems.

I also think that whole milk in general should be more popular. Unfortunately, it fell out of favor when people were being taught that saturated fat was a dangerous substance (a claim that has been shown to be vastly overstated) and so everyone got used to drinking milk that had a lot of the nutrients removed and, sometimes, added back in a different form.

If you look at whole milk nutrition facts, there have actually been studies showing that you're going to be healthier and lose more weight if you drink whole milk rather than skim milk or half and half.

By croydon — On Oct 11, 2014

@MrsPramm - Whole milk can also be more difficult for people to process if they are at all lactose intolerant. It's actually a relatively wide-spread condition (in fact, it's wide=spread enough that you really have to question whether it is the abnormality, or whether being able to drink milk is) and it can make life difficult for people if they don't realize they have it.

If you suspect you are lactose intolerant (and it can develop later in life) then try using a whole milk substitute for a while and see if you feel better.

By MrsPramm — On Oct 10, 2014

I've always heard that whole milk is better for you than milk that has had fat removed because you need the fat in order to metabolize the calcium in the milk properly. Considering that most people are giving children milk in order to increase their calcium levels that's a pretty significant attribute.

Giving someone whole milk isn't the same as giving them raw milk though. Raw milk could be dangerous, as it hasn't been treated at all for bacteria. Whole milk could be raw, but it is mostly pasteurized.

There may be more benefits to drinking raw milk, but the dangers always seemed to outweigh them in my mind.

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