India is the largest consumer of milk globally, consuming more than the entire European Union. Finding the best milk in the Indian market is quite challenging, but we love to drink milk in distinct forms, be it directly or in sweets, ice-creams, etc.

There are few questions that we must answer:

• Is the milk we are drinking safe for drinking?

• Which Type of milk is best for us?

So wasting no time, let’s get started.

Milk adulteration is a common problem in India. However, water remains the most common milk adulterant.

Detergent, caustic soda, glucose, white paint, starch, and refined oil are increasingly being used to make the milk thicker. Adulterants like detergents, salt, and glucose add up to the thickness and viscosity of the diluted milk, while starch prevents its curdling.

Besides detergents and paints, other dangerous chemicals like Oxytocin, Formalin, Hydrogen peroxide, etc.

With so many harmful chemicals possible in the milk, it is good to check the quality of milk you are drinking each day. Wait for the next blog to know how you can do that at home.

Which is the best milk in India

There are three types of milk in the Indian market

First is the carton milk or homogenized milk, the most expensive milk in the Indian market. With a high shelf life of 100 to 180 days and this milk is produced by homogenization, which is a mechanical process where fat globules are broken down into smaller droplets. Therefore you don’t see the cream or fats on top of homogenized milk like others.

• CARTON MILK 

There have been multiple claims on the harmful effects of Homogenised milk increasing chances of heart disease due to smaller fat molecules. But still, no conclusive results have been drawn.

However, given the ample availability of fresh milk, homogenized milk with possible harmful effects and longer shelf life may not be the preferred option.

The second type of milk is the pasteurized packet milk which contains a wide array of selections like toned, double toned, full cream, and cow milk. These are the standard go-to options for most of us but Are these packets of milk beneficial for us? Not essentially. Because nowadays, these milk packets contain mixed A1 milk mixed with A2.

This brings us to a fundamental question What is A1 and A2 milk?

Milk has two types of proteins casein and whey. Further, casein is divided into alpha, beta, and kappa casein; dividing beta-casein more can be categorized in A1 or A2 type.

A1 and A2 protein depend upon the type of cow that the milk came from; most foreign breeds like jersey cow, Holstein Fresian cow, etc., which are not native to India, have A1-type milk.

The saddest part is A1 milk protein, upon digestion, produces a compound called BCM7, which has been related to severe diseases like heart, autism, type -1 diabetes, etc.

If you look at the US, 3 out of 4 people can be found are lactose intolerant. Also, certain documentaries suggest the adverse effects of dairy on a diet.

In that context, they talk about the A1 milk, which is a standard in the US and other western countries. A1 milk is the result of excessive cross-breeding, and genetic mutation started some 80 years ago.

If we compare it to Indian standards, we have our old Desi A2 milk cow breeds like Gir, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Sahiwal, and Kankrej. They are carefully bred, and most of them produce A2 milk. A2 milk has benefits like a high level of omega-3 that cleans cholesterol deposits of blood vessels, cerebrosides which increases the brainpower, strontium which enhances the body immunity and protects it from radiation and rich in vitamin d for solid bones.

Even in the Ayurvedic scripture “CharakaSamhita,” the milk is always referred to as the desi cow milk, not the A1 exotic milk we consume these days.

Lower milk production by A2 cows is often why pure A2 milk is almost two times the cost of regular packet milk from major brands. However, it is better to drink less pure milk than drinking milk that harms your body.

Apart from A2 Cows, buffalo milk is another source of A2 milk and is recommended for those who want to put on weight.

The third type is the less available and expensive goat and camel milk. Both of which are highly nutritious and mentioned in high praise in the ancient book “CharakaSamhita.” It advises a patient to avoid food and water and drink camel milk for a week and even a whole month, depending upon the strength of the patient and stage of the disease.

Goat milk is medicinal and is used to cure cough, TB, dengue, infertility, fevers, etc. Both of these milk are of A2 type.

POWDERED MILK (A STRICT NO-NO)

They are focusing on other options like powdered milk or non-dairy kinds of milk. Most milk powders are A1 milk-based and have unwanted sugars, preservatives, and emulsifiers. This is a strict no, and secondly are the non-dairy kinds like almond, soy, coconut, and rice milk. Upon extensive research, it was found that they are also loaded with preservatives, and they are too costly due to extreme brand marketing. These vegan milk are more of a smoothie and do not have the same properties as regular milk.

 

Nowadays, oats have also become part of Indian breakfast and many people prefer to have them with milk. Hence, it becomes important to know the best oats and oatmeals for your milk. After all, when it comes to a healthy breakfast, deciding on a particular brand is a tough choice. 

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