Milk

I read an article today about milk that really bothered me, I have felt in my gut that it is not healthy nowadays with all the processing, and all the vitamins are added, only the commercials claim its health benefits for sales.  Apparently milk comes from not one cow into one bottle, it is a mixture of farms from all over, and nobody knows from exactly where.

Since I got married, we keep kosher, and the laws are very detailed and make a lot of sense, where animals are concerned, they are checked thoroughly for diseases before a Rabbi deems them Kosher.  Where dairy is concerned, since the animal is still alive, you cannot check their organs and tissues for disease, and many dairy cows have infections in their lungs, and their mammary glands are infused with bovine growth hormone so they are large and produce more milk, this leads to health problems.  Another interesting kosher law is that an animal is not kosher if it will die within one year.  This article was saying that how the industry is now, milk on the shelves is not kosher, and even Cholov Isroel milk which is supervised by a Rabbi, does not guarantee how the animals are treated.  I was reading that the cows feel an electric shock periodically to keep their backs in a certain position, so their wastes go into a certain area, and are chained by the neck.

Don't get me wrong folks, I eat meat, I am not an animal activist, although I believe in treating animals with respect.  What I am specifically talking about is how an animal is treated, the stress as well as the hormones and antibiotics are ingested by us when we eat them.  There are some organic farms that let their cows graze in the fields, but for them its hard to compete with the big guys.  The food we eat affects our mood, weight, energy, even spirituality. 

As a nursing mom, I feel so lucky that my baby is getting the best food, immune, and nutrients through my milk.  I have heard that after we don't need milk anymore, we really don't need any milk anymore.  Cows milk is not for humans, saying that, growing up in Russia and in Russian culture, I love everything dairy, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt - and those processes make the milk products healthier.  Milk however I have never been a fan of, there are many ways to get calcium and vitamin D from other foods.  Nowadays there are amazing substitues, I love my almond milk, which is really just almonds and water.  Our body needs healthy fats, and my philosophy is a little bit of everything is ok.


Here I am, probably 6 months old, do you see a resemblance?
 I think Matisyahu looks more like my father,
will have to dig up his baby pics :)

I nursed my older two for 10 months, and hoping to nurse my baby for a year, and the first six months just my milk - feeling blessed - tomorrow is the first day I have a full day seminar, and my husband will be giving him my pumped milk.  Thank God for modern technology!

Happy Sunday - Have a Great Week - Shavua Tov

Coach Yulia

My cute 3 month old, maybe when he turns 6 months
he will look more like his mama :)