Importance of Organic Dairy Products in Our Daily Life
Studies indicate that organic milk is better for our bodies than regular and many of the times, constituted milk. Organic milk on a carton of milk means that the animal that produced the milk had consumed organic feed. This feed, in turn, was grown in the land that was certified organic. This means that no fertilizers or pesticides/weedicides were used on that patch of land when the crops were grown. The animals that produced the milk were not given antibiotics or growth hormone shots. The dairy products made out of such milk constitute organic dairy products. This is the best possible situation. These natural procedures in dairy farming, if followed, help to maintain the biological diversity of the soil and beneficial to everyone in the food chain in the long run.
Organic feed for Dairy Animals – Advantages
Organic dairy farms provide high-forage diets to dairy animals, and this includes frequent access to pastures during grazing times. If farmers tend to give mixed ration feeds to the animals most of the times, then the proportion of forage is much lower in these kinds of feeds. In place of forage, the proportion of grains is higher.
Dairy animals with access to pasture are seen to produce milk with a higher concentration of conjugated linoleic acids or CLA, higher concentrations of omega-3 fats and vitamins A, D and E. These are typically less when the farm animals are fed total mixed rations (TMR).
Together all of these lend an anti-carcinogenic effect to the milk and the subsequent dairy products made out of this milk. It is heartening to note that organic dairy products today include not only organic milk but also milk products such as cheese, yoghurt, organic ghee, butter, cream and ice cream.
Organic dairy products are one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire organic food industry.
To support the production of organic dairy products, new regulations are being set up that help to regulate access to pasture for these organic cows. Some of these regulations that will be brought into place are:
- Organic cows/animals must graze in the pasture for at least 120 days in a single year.
- Thirty per cent of their dry matter intake should come from pasture during the grazing seasons.
- There should be a pasture management plan to keep the nutritional requirements of the animals by keeping the soil and water safe.
Advantages of Organic Milk and Dairy products
Organic dairy cows produce only half the quantity of milk as produced by cows fed with TMR. Organic cows are not pushed to limit their milk production capacity. This means they have fewer metabolic issues with the result that they need fewer antibiotics.
Many studies have indicated that consumption of organic cow milk and dairy products results in a lower incidence of allergic dermatitis.
Milk is known to provide nutrients to children that will help them to build stronger bones and muscles. Using organic milk from cows not exposed to antibiotics and growth hormones help to transfer these nutritional benefits to children and other humans that consume this milk.
Organically produced foods also display higher antioxidative properties and antimutagenic activity thus affecting better suppression of cancer cell proliferation. Organic food has also been seen to increase the resilience of living organisms.
Organic Ghee – Health effects
Primarily, ghee is a good source of the vitamins A and D, suppresses inflammation in the body and is a nourishing and healing agent. Unlike many other oils, ghee retains its alkalinity even when boiled. Ghee is good in itself as it is lactose-free and casein-free. Ghee does not have to be refrigerated.
Organic ghee is high in butyric acid, which is also naturally produced in our body. This speaks of the affinity of ghee to our body. It aids digestion, quells inflammation and is beneficial to cells in the human gut. Ghee is also a good hydrating agent for the skin.
Organic Butter
Grass-fed butter is deemed to be a good source of Vitamin A and antioxidant beta carotene. Compared to regular butter, the organic version has a higher concentration of CLA, unsaturated fats, and vitamin K2, which is important for the health of the heart and bones in the body. However, it is best to consume butter in moderation.
Organic Cheese
Organic cheese is made from organic milk derived from pasture-fed cows. Cheese, we know, is a good source of both protein and calcium. Consumption of organic cheese minimizes our exposure to undesirable antibiotics, synthetic hormones, pesticides and GMOs. It is important to note that processed cheese may also be high in sodium, calories and saturated fats.
Organic dairy foods `and other organic plant-based foods fall under the gamut of healthy food and as many observations indicate, consumers of organic food tend to live healthier lifestyles overall.
