Brandy, I came across something the other day that might apply to your daughter. There seems to be two kinds of milk - A1 and A2. A2 milk has a more easily digested type of protein. It seems that "lactose intolerant" is an overworkd phrase and at least some of the milk intolerances are due to the type of milk one drinks. A2 is milk produced from cows eating more natural diets, from what I understand. It might be worth some research for those who are sensitive to milk. 

Pat:

A2 is milk produced from cows eating more natural diets, from what I understand. It might be worth some research for those who are sensitive to milk. 

That's good to know.

So far she has made no complaints of stomach aches which is usually the first sign of problems.

Brandy:

So far she has made no complaints of stomach aches which is usually the first sign of problems.

Cool, I hope that does it, then!  

I wasn't able to drink milk for years, and then I tried organic milk. I was fine!  I decided I wasn't lactose intolerant.  I was "chemical intolerant."  (I also do better when I get the organic milk in the cardboard cartons or glass instead of the plastic jugs. I actually taste the plastic now that I'm used to the milk without it.)  

I'm sure my bones would have been better off if I had been able to drink milk growing up!

Do you think that most organic milk is A2 or is there another way to tell?

The last few posts concerning chemical additives or sensitivity to milk brings this to the forefront--

The human species is the only species that continues to drink milk beyond infancy, and that milk is from a different species altoghether, not even from our own species.  

I think of this every single time we post about high costs of milk, finding a healthy/natural source for milk, or dietary concerns that may be related to milk.  

The Dairy lobby is powerful.  Very few countries drink the amounts of liquid milk that we do.  I am talking about liquid milk, not dairy products.  There are numerous ways to get the same nutrients that liquid milk offers w/o drinking liquid milk.  

rolo:

There are numerous ways to get the same nutrients that liquid milk offers w/o drinking liquid milk. 

If you may remember, I have agreed with you on this. Our largest applications for milk are adding it to foods and the four year old drinking it. We won't be substituting milk we use in cereal, oatmeal or baking and cooking with another product, that's just a choice based on personal taste. I feel comfortable with the adults taking calcium supplements but not the children, particularly our youngest so she is the biggest milk drinker at this time.

Since we are going to use milk, I'd like to use a healthy choice.

Brandy:

There are numerous ways to get the same nutrients that liquid milk offers w/o drinking liquid milk.

If you may remember, I have agreed with you on this. Our largest applications for milk are adding it to foods and the four year old drinking it. We won't be substituting milk we use in cereal, oatmeal or baking and cooking with another product, that's just a choice based on personal taste. I feel comfortable with the adults taking calcium supplements but not the children, particularly our youngest so she is the biggest milk drinker at this time.

Since we are going to use milk, I'd like to use a healthy choice

I agree as well. My boys are the largest milk drinkers but since they are 3 and 20 months, I feel this is the best means to get the calcium/nutrients they need for their young, growing bodies. I can measure their milk consumption easier than say, cheese. For me, I don't drink milk like I did when I was pregnant (craved cold milk) but I get my calcium through yogurt and cheese. My youngest had a soy protein and milk protein intolerance starting when he was a 5 week old infant (to any kind of milk protein except breastmilk) so for the year I breastfed, I cut all dairy and soy out of my diet--quite a challenge but worth it for a healthy baby. I used rice milk for my dairy needs and took calcium supplements. This forced diet did wonders for baby-weight loss as I am a huge cheese/cream cheese eater, LOL.

We have tried organic and hormone free milk and find it to be good for our needs but the price is often higher than I would like. So I sometimes buy a 1/2 gallon of organic whole milk and add it to the regular brands.

Mimi:

Do you think that most organic milk is A2 or is there another way to tell?

I'm not real clear on it, I'd have to do some research. It has something to do with eating grass rather than grain and it has to do with the type of cow. Holsteins, which are the staple dairy cows, are generally A1 milkers. They can test a cow using a tail hair, I remember that much. I think each cow either does or doesn't produce A2 milk, and if they're looking for that, they have to cull the herd. That's a round about way of saying "I don't know." It might be worth your time to contact the producer of organic milk you use and ask about it. 

Its a wonder that anyone can drink "regular" milk, considering what's done to it. 

rolo:

The Dairy lobby is powerful.  Very few countries drink the amounts of liquid milk that we do.  I am talking about liquid milk, not dairy products.  There are numerous ways to get the same nutrients that liquid milk offers w/o drinking liquid milk.  

Two things to think about: Mankind was drinking cow (and sheep, horse, reindeer, goat...) milk thousands of years before the Dairy Association was ever dreamed of.

Milk was and is, an important food when other food is not available. Poor countries would do well to milk more animals for food. Here in the US, the milk we call "regular," isn't a very good food and isn't any more necessary than other foods for most people. Our food supply, while it isn't the healthiest by any means, is at least abundant, so we have a better chance of meeting our nutritional needs in other ways. 

That's very interesting Pat!  I'll have to look into that more. Thank you for the information!