Listen to Story Milk and dairy products are essential for overall health as they provide vital vitamins and minerals needed for bone health, improving digestion and cell repair. However, in India, a common practice like drinking raw milk has been under the radar for a while now, especially among experts. While in many regions of the country, drinking raw milk is considered to be a natural food with a superior nutrient profile containing more amino acids, antimicrobials, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, experts have opposed this view, suggesting that drinking raw milk could be dangerous for health.
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRINKING RAW MILK In India, the standard of milk consumption consists of getting milk straight from the farm and boiling it before drinking. However, of late, drinking unpasteurized milk has been gaining traction, especially from social media trends. Many people believe that raw milk does not cause lactose intolerance because it contains lactase secreted by "beneficial" or probiotic bacteria present in raw milk.
Probiotics are beneficial for maintaining a gut microbiome, which means healthy digestion. Raw milk contains several kinds of bacteria such as E.coli, Coliform bacteria, salmonella, listeria, and staphylococcus, among others.
(Photo: Getty Images) However, studies including the US Food Drug and Administration (FDA) have revealed that raw milk does not contain probiotics. In fact, there are several health risks attached to drinking raw milk. Raw milk con.
