Organic Milk vs. Regular Milk – a Complete Guide

People have varying opinions concerning which is healthier, better, and safer between organic and conventional milk. Of course, we all know that milk can do the body good. But the question here is whether all varieties of milk are equally good for the body. You’ve certainly heard that keeping food in as natural of a state as possible is the healthiest and safest way to eat it. In this natural form, the highest amount of the food’s nutrients is preserved because it hasn’t gone through excessive processing.

Because of this, the word ‘organic’ appeals to people who believe in the idea of keeping food in its most natural state. In comparing organic milk to conventional milk, therefore, most of these people would naturally pick organic milk as the better choice. But which of these is really the better choice? This article will answer this question and help you to make a choice as to which milk is safest to buy for you and your family.

Generally, all milk (whether organic or regular) is manufactured on dairy farms where the cows are also bred. These cows are usually milked 2 or 3 times a day, every day. After they have been milked, they are fed and given a total of at least 8 grazing hours per day to ensure that they can produce milk. Since the two kinds of milk originate from the same source, what makes them different?

What is the Difference between Organic and Regular Milk?

The basic difference between organic milk and regular milk is that organic milk is from cows that are fed only natural grasses and vegetation, Regular milk, on the other hand, is from cows that have less freedom to roam and are fed corn and other grain diets. In other words, the basic difference between organic milk and regular milk is the lifestyle of the cows that the milk comes from.

In the case of the cows which produce organic milk, they are fed organic feed when they cannot graze out in the pasture. This feed is free of synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, herbicides, and hormones which is what deems it organic.

Nutritional Value of Organic Milk vs. Regular Milk

Organic Milk

Organic milk comes with nutritionally beneficial vitamins such as vitamins D and B12. It also contains potassium which helps with blood pressure as well as heart rhythm, proteins which build the blood, muscles, cartilage, and bones, calcium which is also essential for teeth and bones and finally, magnesium. Organic milk also contains the fatty acids of omega 3 which are crucial to the development of the brain and which also help to reduce inflammation in the body. In addition, fatty acids from omega 3 can help bring down the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke. Organic milk also contains the following:

• 69 percent more of alpha-linolenic acid than regular milk. This is great for the heart as well as the blood vessels.
• 41 percent more conjugated linoleic acid than regular milk. This can help to combat obesity, food allergies and even cancer.

Additionally, organic milk is often treated with ultrahigh temperature (UHT) which heats the milk to 280 degrees Fahrenheit. This process frees the milk of all bacteria as the extra high temperature kills all the bacteria present.

Regular Milk

Regular milk also comes with a variety of beneficial ingredients which are essential to keeping the body healthy. The ingredient which enhances growth is especially beneficial to children. Here are some of the nutritional ingredients in regular milk:

• Vitamin D which is essential to boosting energy levels, the strength of the immune system and even digestive health.
• Calcium which we commonly know is important to the health of our teeth and bones. This ingredient is also essential for the contraction of muscles as well as hormone release and the transmission of messages via your nervous system.
• Protein which is essential for building the muscles, skin, bones, cartilage, as well as the blood. This ingredient also helps other body essentials like hormones and enzymes.
• Vitamin B12 which allows for the proper formation of red blood cells as well as proper bodily functions and the boosting of energy levels.
• Potassium, a necessary ingredient for the regulation of blood pressure and the rhythm of the heart. This ingredient can also help to combat osteoporosis, renal disease, and stroke.

We can see now that both organic and regular milk come with their own nutrients and specific benefits to the body. However, can we say that either of these two is better than the other? Let us find out.

Organic Milk vs. Regular Milk: Which is better?

As noted, organic products in general, compared to non-organic, have a lesser amount of chemical interference and human action involved in their production. This fact alone qualifies organic products to be healthier products on a general scale which includes organic milk. Therefore, even though both organic and regular milk can be said to have nearly the same nutrients, we can still safely say that organic milk is the safer of the two varieties because it stays mostly in its natural state and therefore retains most of its natural goodness.

In conclusion, we can see from the above that organic milk has more nutritional benefits to offer than regular milk does. The main reason for this is that the cows which produce organic milk are fed all-natural meals which have more nutritional benefits that are passed on to the milk that they produce.