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Researchers Natural raw milk protects children from asthma
Children who have been drinking raw milk from the farm since early childhood are less likely to suffer from asthma on average. This shows a new study from Munich. A major role is played by a higher proportion of omega-3 fatty acids. However, it is lost through industrial processing. Could help here gentler procedures.
Natural raw milk from the farm
Previous studies have shown that: raw milk protects children from infections and fever. But that's not all. Children who drink from raw milk on a small scale develop asthma less frequently than children receiving industrially processed milk. This could be helped by the higher omega-3 fatty acid content in unprocessed milk, as the authors around Tabea Brick from the working group of Professor Dr. med. Erika von Mutius from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, (LMU) in the journal "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" report.
According to a study, raw milk protects children from asthma. Picture: Kzenon - fotolia Children are less likely to develop asthma
The LMU stated in a press release to the investigation that about 1,000 mothers regularly recorded the nutrition and health of their child up to the age of six as part of the long-term study PASTURE. According to the information, the risk of developing asthma at the age of six was lower among those who regularly drank unprocessed farm milk from early childhood. "This effect can partly be explained by the higher fat content and a higher content of omega-3 fatty acids in farm milk," explained Tabea Brick. According to the study, the results are independent of other possible influencing factors.
Raw milk can also make you sick
Despite the positive results, the researchers do not recommend the consumption of raw milk, as it may contain pathogenic microorganisms. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and other experts had also pointed out in the past that you should always boil raw milk to protect yourself from infection. "Raw milk from the farm should always be boiled before consumption because it can be contaminated with pathogens such as Campylobacter or EHEC", explained Prof. Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR in an older press release.
Delivery of raw milk is prohibited
According to their own statements, every year the BfR receives reports of outbreaks of illness caused by the consumption of raw milk on farms or on holiday in the countryside. Campylobacter infections, which are usually associated with diarrhea, fever and pelvic pain, have been reported most frequently. Rarely has EHEC infections been reported. In Germany, the delivery of raw milk is generally prohibited. Exceptions are made to the "milk from the farm" (where the reference "raw milk, boil before consumption" must be appropriate) and the so-called "preferred milk", which comes from specially controlled farms. Although the latter can be consumed raw, it can not be ruled out that it could lead to health problems for some people.
Plea for gentler milk processing
It makes sense to think about new methods in milk processing. As the LMU writes in its press release, researchers from the University of Munich in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Marburg have investigated different types of milk: Unprocessed and heated raw milk and processed whole milk or reduced-fat milk. It turned out that the more the milk was processed, the lower the omega-3 fatty acid content. The content of omega-6 fatty acids, however, hardly changed. Milk is heated during industrial processing, when pasteurized to temperatures between 72 and 75 degrees Celsius. In addition, the milk is homogenized so that it does not cream. The scientists argue for the development of new, gentle processes in industrial milk processing, so that the milk preserves its protective ingredients, but at the same time it is harmless to health. (Ad)