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Raw Milk Depression Fighter The slogan goes, "it does a body good..." to which I respond, "well, the raw kind does..." For years I had heard how milk was one of the unhealthiest foods that I could eat, and I heard this from the most prominent minds in the natural health movement. I was told it created mucus, was impossible to digest, that the little nutritional value it offered could easily be gotten elsewhere, and numerous other negatives. The propoganda worked: I didn't drink pasteurized milk for about 5 years. Then I started to hear about raw milk. At first, I dismissed it, thinking "how different could it be from pasteurized?" I wondered if there might be a raw milk depression connection. Then, one morning I attended the food buying club where I heard raw milk was available. This may sound really superficial, but what convinced me was how attractive all the people purchasing the milk looked. They had beautiful skin. The children were healthy looking and happy. There were very few, if any, overweight people--not what I expected from people drinking full-fat milk and butter. Rosy cheeks and bright eyes abounded. Raw milk, depression fighter?I purchased a few gallons, and my love affair with raw milk began. Now, I have had issues with pasteurized milk and digestion. Not so with raw milk -- in fact, it soothed my stomach when I did have any indigestion. It also tasted differently than I remembered milk tasting as a kid. Creamy and fresh, with subtle undertones of something like chocolate. Really. I can't say that raw milk alone has cured my depression, but I'm convinced it's helped. First of all, it provides a good source of vitamin B12, a deficiency of which can cause all kinds of problems like irritability, temper flareups, and depression. Secondly, it provides an good source of vitamin A which is crucial for the neurological system, as well as sight, heart health, skin health, and immune support. Third, it supplies an adequate amount of saturated fat, which provides flexibility and structural integrity to cells (J F Mead, et al, Lipids: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Nutrition, Plenum Press, 1986, New York)and strengthens bones and the immune system as well as protect the liver. It provides cholesterol, which has shown to be necessary for serotonin production, the "feel-good" neurochemical. I ask you, how is it possible to feel bad when drinking such an amazing, natural, health food? Saturated fat is so important to our bodies that if we don't give our bodies enough saturated fats, it will produce it from carbohydrates. Saturated fats are supportive in utilizing essential fatty acids -- which support prostaglandin production, resulting in reduced inflammation, and neurological nourishment.
Digestion and Mood -- Directly Related?According to the father of modern psychiatry, Phillippe Pinel (1745-1828), "The primary seat of insanity is generally found in the region of the stomach and intestines."Books like Natasha Campbell McBride's The Gut and Psychology Syndrome support this belief. For those of us who know a child on the autistic spectrum and their many digestive struggles, we have seen first-hand the connection between mood and the stomach. Low-fat, vegetarian diets are low in cholesterol, providing inadequate brain support through lacking serotinin, and do not support intestinal impermeability, leading to problems like leaky gut, candida, and other digestive issues. With leaky gut, undigested proteins enter the bloodstream creating an immune response that interferes with nutrient absorption, digestion, and even brain function. So the fats found in whole milk are protective to our gut and brain health. The Mineral ConnectionWithout adequate fats, our bodies are unable to assimilate minerals, which are crucial to our health.Some of the minerals found in milk are:
CalciumCalcium not only supports the bones and teeth, but also the nervous system and the heart. Like B-12, the calcium found in raw milk is easily assimilated.MagnesiumIn addition to its role in helping assimilate calcium, magnesium supports brain function (among many other roles). A diet high in carbohydrates impairs magnesium absorption, and MANY people are deficient in this important mineral today.In Addition to these Minerals, Milk Contains Copper and Manganese, Both of Which are Important to Brain FunctionRaw milk is nature's perfect food because it provides fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, valuable enzymes, saturated fat and cholesterol, and many, many other components that are crucial to our general health, but which definitely support brain health and mood stabilization.Raw milk, depression fighter, has been a crucial element of a traditional, whole foods diet that has been a large piece of my recovery from depression. It is my wish that many more of us will return to this special, natural food, so that we may all enjoy greater health and happines.
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