(NaturalPath) A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology looked at which factors in raw cow’s milk contribute to protection against allergies. Previous studies show that those who grew up in a farming environment have a decreased risk of allergies. One factor that has been suggested is the ingestion of unheated cow’s milk. The same reasons raw cow’s milk seem to reduce the risk of allergies are in breast-feeding as that has also been linked to a decreased risk of the development of allergic diseases. One way breast milk helps the children’s immunity is through cytokines, specifically anti-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines seem to vary in concentration according to the allergic status of the mother and the duration of lactation.
The researchers also note that breast milk-induced tolerance might also depend on factors such as vitamin A and osteopontin, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.
The study also mentions how the presence of bovine milk-derived vaccenic and rumenic acid in breast milk correlates with a decreased risk of allergic sensitization. “In analogy to breast milk, several epidemiologic studies have identified that the consumption of untreated bovine milk can also reduce the risk of allergy, most prominently of allergic asthma.
The composition of both human and bovine milk is complex. There are many factors with more than 400 different components. Some include genetics (for example the species and breed), the food the mammal consumes, and other factors such as lactation stage, parity, milking frequency, and the presence of disease (for example, mastitis).
Overall, raw bovine milk has a likeness to human breast milk, and both can help keep allergies away.
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.