Diet, food sensitivities and abounding misleading information have led many people today – including children – to shy away from dairy products, cautiously displacing them from their eating habits.
One of the most avoided dairy products is milk. An exceptional superfood, milk offers protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, B vitamins, iodine, healthy fats and amino acids.
That said, odds are you probably know someone who elects not to drink cow’s milk due to a protein sensitivity or concern. While sensitivities to milk protein exist and should be carefully attended to, it’s important to be aware of the facts and misinformation surrounding milk, as you could be needlessly missing out on the many benefits of this refreshing beverage.
A recent meta-analysis of observational studies and controlled trials dispelled the common myth that protein found in milk is bad for humans. Researchers concluded that milk and dairy products are good sources of high-quality protein and that dairy protein is a source of essential amino acids.
Another potential issue brewing negativity about milk is lactose.
Lactose is a natural sugar in milk that requires your body’s lactase enzyme to break it down. People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest the lactose in milk. The condition, which is called lactose malabsorption, is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable.
However, in many cases, the discomfort people feel after consuming milk may have nothing to do with lactose. Instead, there is a common type of protein found in the majority of today’s milk that may be the main cause for these uncomfortable and often embarrassing symptoms.
How An “Unnatural” Protein Mutated Into Today’s Milk
The protein in cow’s milk is made up of whey (1 to 2%) and casein (6 to 8%), with the primary protein known as beta-casein.
Beta-casein protein comes in two forms, A1 and A2, that affect your body differently. Most of modern-day cow’s milk is a combination of A1 and A2, often shown in the form “A1/A2.”
Unfortunately, the A1 protein may cause adverse effects, such as stomach discomfort.
When A1 protein is digested in the small intestine, it produces a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7). Your intestines absorb BCM-7, and it then passes into the blood. BCM-7 has been linked to stomach discomfort and symptoms similar to those experienced by people with lactose intolerance.
On the other hand, the structure of A2 protein is more comparable to human breast milk, as well as milk from goats, sheep and buffalo. More natural to the human body, A2 is easily absorbed.
Historically, cows produced milk that contained only the A2 form of beta-casein. However, over time, a genetic mutation occurred in cows and an A1 beta-casein variation resulted in cows with two types of proteins – A1/A2. That’s why most cow’s milk today, whether it’s from your local grocery store, or even from a local organic dairy, is predominantly A1/A2 milk.
Due to the genetic mutation that evolved in the cows, A1/A2 milk is here to stay – with many people unable to enjoy milk’s nutritional properties without frustrating discomfort.
Fortunately, there is an alternative...
The Elimination of A1 Protein by This Innovative Family Farm
There are a few innovative dairy farmers who have paid the ultimate price in time and expense to breed their herds to A2/A2.
Located in Northern California, one of the most noteworthy farms that took on this challenge is the Alexandre Family Farm™.
Fourteen years ago, the proprietors of the farm decided to breed the A1 beta-casein out of their herd of cows. The result is that, today, they have 100% A2/A2 cows producing 100% A2/A2 organic milk.
Because of their A1-free organic milk, they have helped thousands of people to once again be able to enjoy dairy. And for even more convenience, the A2/A2 organic milk is now available in a dry whole milk powder.
Solspring® Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk:
- Comes in a convenient powder form that’s available in two smooth soy- and gluten-free flavors – original and chocolate.
- Provides a delicious alternative to traditional dairy milk.
- Offers the nutritional properties of milk without the potential digestive A1 woes.
- Is produced using low heat for enzyme and flavor retention.
- Comes from 100% A2/A2 organic milk produced by America’s first Certified Regenerative Organic dairy farm, Alexandre Family Farm.
When mixed with water, Solspring® Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk powders easily reconstitute into milk – making them convenient choices for baking and travel.
Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk chocolate powder is especially useful as a smooth and delicious alternative to the many varieties of powdered chocolate milk on the market. Not only are most of these varieties non-organic, but many are made using A1 milk, soy, added sugars and artificial sweeteners.
Instead, our chocolate-flavored Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk uses organic cocoa powder and stevia leaf for a sweet chocolatey taste.
How Organic is Your Milk?
At this point, you may be assuming that the milk you currently consume is just fine, without any need to consider another alternative.
The issue to be aware of is that not all dairies, even organic ones, are created equal. Even though organic standards require that cows have free access to certified organic pastures for the entire grazing season, there are large loopholes in the requirement.
In some cases, bigger organic dairies have been found to have their cows primarily kept on feedlots, not pastures, and are often nothing more than CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) in disguise.
Fortunately, the certified organic dairy that produces the organic A2/A2 milk used in Solspring® Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk powders avoids any of these loopholes when it comes to how their cows are pastured and fed. Other than a few months out of the year when it’s too wet, the Alexandre Family Farm’s dairy cows graze year-round in open green organic pastures.
The exciting news is this is only part of the incredible Alexandre Family Farm story…
A Farm Steeped in Family Tradition Committed to Regenerative Farming
As the first-ever Certified Regenerative Organic dairy farm, the Alexandre Family Farm is truly a study in how a small family (fifth generation farmers) works together to produce exceptional organic farm products.
The Alexandre’s depth of commitment to family tradition, regenerative organic farming and to providing consistent quality from their single-origin farm is matched only by the depth of taste in their products.
It certainly helps to be blessed with bountiful green pastures in Northern California’s Humboldt County.
In this setting, where redwoods meet the sea, the temperate weather allows for the soil, land and pasture to prosper every day of the year. Cool seasonal grasses and legumes thrive, such as perennial, annual and Italian Ryegrass, New Zealand white clover, red clover, plantain and chicory.
Dairy cows enjoy true outdoor living, as they graze these open pastures alongside other farm animals, a way of farming that the Cornucopia Institute describes as “Exemplary – beyond organic.”
As part of the regenerative process and to mimic nature as it should be, the cows on the Alexandre Family Farm are rotated throughout the pastures. They enjoy new green grass every time they go into the fields.
Cows that eat only grass produce more nutrient-rich milk, with 100% grass-fed organic dairy producing significantly more omega-3s. There’s also typically a better balance of omega-6 to omega-3 in 100% grass-fed dairy.
Why Farming for Soil is Key
Along with the Alexandre Family Farm’s primary focus on health, regenerative farming starts with the soil. And when it comes to growing quality grass, “nourishing the soil that nourishes us” is their proudly stated top priority.
To them, it’s quite simple – don’t do anything that harms the microbes in the soil. Good pasture management means good soil management. They generally do not plow, till, or disc their fields. Other than sprinkling upgrades of new seed varieties every now and then, their pastures are permanent.
To improve the fertility of their pastures, they use composted farm manure to apply nutrients on a seasonal basis. As part of their commitment to regenerative practices, organic matter is regularly measured to determine the health of the soil and biodiversity of plants.
Through biodiversity of plant species and biodynamic green pastures, the Alexandre Family Farm’s “Pasture Promise” is a singled effort in healthy green grasses sequestering atmospheric carbon back into the soil.
The Alexandre’s EcoDairy™ seal further exemplifies the family’s commitment to the highest quality dairy products through regenerative farming practices that include:
- Animal Feeding – Livestock is pasture raised and fed.
- Animal Health – Compassion and humane treatment of animals is a top priority. This is ensured by dedicating their farm to a third-party animal humane certification program, Certified Humane.
- Animal Genetics – The farm is dedicated to A2/A2 genetics, for all milk sold with crossbred A2/A2 dairy cows.
- Holistic Farming (regenerative farming) – They are committed to manure management, biodiversity, land, soil, microbiome and pasture varieties.
- Sustainability – With carbon fixing and sequestering, along with land management to help reverse climate change, sustainability practices are an important priority.
- Green Grass 365 – “Living” green grasses available every day of the year shows the farm’s commitment to 100% grass-fed cows.
The Regenerative Organic Certification acknowledges that the Alexandre Family Farm goes beyond sustainability to improve the biology of the soil and the ecosystem while sequestering carbon to help with climate change.
Experience the Solspring® A2/A2 Difference
The Alexandre Family Farm’s dedicated holistic and regenerative approach is clearly expressed by this simple truth: “the earth’s most delicious, most healthy foods are made when farmers work in harmony with nature.”
You’ll have peace of mind knowing our Solspring® Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk powders are exclusively produced from organic A2/A2 milk from America’s first-ever Certified Regenerative Organic dairy farm.
Experience the delightful difference with Solspring® – the growing authentic food brand that creates access to wholesome biodynamic and organic foods from regenerative farms – and order your Solspring® Organic A2 Dry Whole Milk today.