Molds And Drugs Found In Milk
Chemicals, molds, sex hormones and estrogens hidden in our milk supply are being blamed for illness and weight gain. “There are, on average, 20 different chemicals and medications,” said Dr Josh Axe, physician to professional athletes and author of The Real Food Diet Cookbook. He goes on to say, “There are an average of 5 different types of steroids and growth hormones, 6 different types of antibiotics, 4 different types of pain killers, (and) hormonal medications.”
MailOnline, a science and tech online newspaper from the UK says, “Using a highly sensitive test, they found a host of chemicals used to treat illnesses in animals and people in samples of cow, goat and human breast milk.”
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The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) says they’ve seen, “Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by two species of Aspergillus, a fungus which is especially found in areas with hot and humid climates. Since aflatoxins are known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic, exposure through food should be kept as low as possible.”
These molds have been traced back to seasons of drought, adverse weather conditions, insect damage and other factors specifically in the corn crop fed to livestock. Cows that eat this feed, contaminated but undetectable to the naked eye, produce milk containing the molds.
An outbreak of aflatoxin in milk from 1977 caused the FDA to visit the situation where they said the, “Corn crop grown in the southeastern United States was severely affected by growth of aflatoxin producing molds. The Agency conducted surveys in the southeastern states to determine the incidence of aflatoxin M1 contamination of fluid milk products. The results of these surveys showed that aflatoxin contamination of milk in at least four southeastern states was a potentially serious public health hazard.”
Another study was done at the University of Missouri in 2013 where they found, “Detection of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk.”
Cornell University studied the same thing in 2013 also finding Aflotxin M1 in milk. They reported,”A number of molds and fungi produce toxic compounds collectively referred to as mycotoxins. Aflatoxins are forms of mycotoxins produced by specific molds (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus) that under certain conditions can be found in animal feeds and human foods.”
The main health concern reported by Cornell is, “Aflatoxins are best known for causing liver cancer and other liver damage in humans. These toxins also suppress the human immune system and interfere with the proper use of nutrients. For this reason, the maximum concentration of aflatoxin permitted in food consumed by humans in the U.S. is 20 ppb (parts per billion) except for milk for which the maximum is 0.5 ppb. These levels are set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”
Ten research scientists from India collectively published a piece on aflatoxin saying, “Aflatoxins are potent toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, immunosuppressive agents, produced as secondary metabolites by the fungus Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus on variety of food products.”
They go on to say the source as, “Found in milk of animals that have consumed feed contaminated with aflatoxins.”
Indian Journals.com reported a study on livestock feed in relation to the contamination of animal feed causing the problematic microbes and found, “Random samples of cakes, cereal grains and their by products and concentrate mixtures were collected from different markets around Karnal. Groundnut cake (GNC) samples were highly contaminated (29/29) followed by rice bran (2/2), wheatbran (9/11), maize (5/7) and cotton seed cake (2/3).”
The Times Of India reported the source of the chemicals came from, “A cocktail of up to 20 chemicals used in various painkillers and antibiotics.”
Daily Times, a Voice of Pakistan reported the milk studied, “Contained traces of anti-inflammatory drugs niflumic acid, mefenamic acid and ketoprofen – commonly used as painkillers in animals and people.” It also contained the hormone 17-beta-estradiol, a form of the sex hormone oestrogen.
“Oestrogen is a steroid hormone produced by the ovaries that binds to specific receptors inside oestrogen-responsive cells and stimulates them to make proteins involved in producing secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development and in regulating the menstrual cycle. Oestrogen also has several other actions in various metabolic processes including maintaining bone mass and lipid (fat) metabolism,” says inhousepharmacy.biz. They go on to say it is used to, “Stimulate the development of female sexual characteristics for male to female transsexuals,” as well as, “relieves symptoms of menopause caused by oestrogen deficiency, such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, headaches, mood swings.”
These medications, chemicals and steroids affect our ability to loose weight or hold onto weight says Dr. Axe. He recommends getting your milk from a farmer who uses ethical, organic and humane methods in farming.
It is important to ask your farmer exactly what feed they are giving the cows and if possible choose milk that only comes from grass fed cows. Most times it is more important to go visit the farm yourself and see their method of business, even farmers tell you what they think you want to hear.
Farmers who uphold the highest standards feed the animals minerals and salts or non-GMO feed while milking. Some farmers have admitted to feeding their cattle candy, like Twix, Snickers, Reese Cups, in an effort to, “Give them carbohydrates and energy.” Others claim unused food from buffet restaurants, including spoiled food, cakes and highly refined sugars, to feed their livestock.
In a perfect world we would all have our own cow, fed healthy fast growing grass in the spring. In the real world we need to make choices and do the best we can. Sally Fallon, author of Nourishing Traditions and Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, neurologist and author of GAPS, both recommend if your only source of milk is store bought sources to choose full fat milk, preferably organic, and culture it into yogurt or kefir where it becomes a probiotic feeding your intestinal tract. Dr. McBride is credited with curing many thousands of patients from autism disorder, PANDAS, bipolar disorder and depression through food. She describes the pathogenic bacterium found in these patients and the foods that cures the disorder in GAPS.
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*Nourishing Plot is written by Becky Plotner, ND, traditional naturopath, GAPS who sees clients in Rossville, Georgia. Since her son was delivered from the effects of autism (Asperger’s syndrome), ADHD, bipolar disorder/manic depression, hypoglycemia and dyslexia through food she continued her education specializing in Leaky Gut and parasitology through Duke University, finishing with distinction. This is not a news article published by a paper trying to make money. This blog is put out by a mom who sees first hand the effects of nourishing food vs food-ish items. No company pays her for writing these blogs, she considers this a form of missionary work. It is her desire to scream it from the rooftops so that others don’t suffer from the damaging effect of today’s “food”.
Other sources:
http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/pdfs/2013.Aflatoxin.Facs.pdf
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2012050/The-cocktail-20-chemicals-glass-milk.html
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/aflatoxins.htm
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074482.htm
http://www.icrisat.org/aflatoxin/aflatoxin.asp
http://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:ijan&volume=14&issue=4&article=012
http://www.inhousepharmacy.biz/p-604-estrin-0625mg.aspx
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf400043z
