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Dairy is often promoted as a major source of the nutrition that we need but at the same time it is also one of the most prevalent causes of allergies in humans. Lactose intolerance is a widespread phenomenon and many people also feel that milk just does not agree with their digestive systems. The main problem with milk in terms of health and the development of illnesses and allergies is pasteurization. Since Louis Pasteur invented the method, pasteurization has been used as a means of controlling pathogens in the milk given by dairy cows, but there are many drawbacks to the process. Among many other ailments, research shows that there is a link between the pasteurization of milk and the development of multiple sclerosis. Let’s take a closer look at what pasteurization does and how it contributes to MS and other ailments in order that you may be more informed about your dietary choices.
Pasteurization is the process of heating up milk to an intense heat for a short period of time in order to rid the milk of pathogens and contaminants. While this is a good practice in terms of getting rid of bad bacteria, pasteurization also gets rid of many of the health benefits of the milk such as the minerals and nutrients like vitamin B6, B12, and C. Probably the most harmful effect of pasteurization is the destruction of the enzymes that contribute to digestion and immunity. One of these enzymes is lactase, which allows the milk to breakdown the milk sugar lactose, contributing to high rates of lactose intolerance. Because pasteurized milk is stripped of its nutrients as well as enzymes it is unable to perform one of its most vital functions—pass on the immune supporting compounds that trigger the immune response and the growth of antibodies. Thus, pasteurized milk becomes a trigger for various illnesses but especially autoimmune diseases like MS. This claim is backed up by science—researchers at Faculte de Medicine in Farnce found a high correlation between drinking pasteurized milk and the development of MS in their study entitled “Correlation between milk and dairy product consumption and multiple sclerosis prevalence: a worldwide study” which was published in 1992.
The scientific community has known about the dangers of pasteurization for years but this does not mean that the food industry will continue to anything but turn a blind eye to the research. Pasteurization is a process that is tied up just as much in politics and money as it is in milk. Still, there are ways to avoid the harms of pasteurization and its potentially damaging side effects like MS. Raw milk or unpasteurized milk is more natural and does not harm the natural enzymes or nutrients. Additionally, there is always the option to choose a non-dairy diet by sticking to soy and other milk replacements such as rice milk. You only have one body in this life so it is important that you take care of it and that means knowing the risks associated with the various processes at work in the modern food industry.