Make It: Homemade Natural Beauty Products

Make It: Homemade Natural Beauty Products

  No time or option to get beauty products from a local artisan but still want all natural products? You could buy store brand organic products and spend a fortune or buy regular brands and embrace the chemicals Or you could Make It Yourself!! :)

Natural Beauty Recipes

Herbal Shampoo for Oily Hair

• 2 tbsp. dry peppermint
• 2 tbsp. dry spearmint
• 1 tbsp. dried sage
• 1 cup water
• 2/3 cup baby shampoo

Combine herbs and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain out the herbs and mix the baby shampoo with the herbal water. Pour into an empty, used shampoo bottle.

Dandruff Treatment

• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2/3 cup boiling water
• 2/3-cup cider vinegar

Place the herbs in the bowl. Pour in the boiling water. Cover and allow to steep for 20 minutes.Strain into the bottle, add the vinegar, and shake. Store in a cool dry place. Shampoo and rinse the hair thoroughly; massage a small amount into the scalp. Between shampoos, massage in a small amount before going to bed. This can help eliminate dandruff.

Chamomile Shampoo

• 1 handful fresh or dried chamomile flowers
• 1 3/4 cup boiling water
• 3 tablespoons pure soap flake, OR save leftover pieces of soap.
• 1-tablespoon glycerin

Place the flowers in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes, then strain into the other bowl.Clean the first bowl. Combine the soap and hot infusion in it. Let stand until the soap softens - a few minutes. Beat in the glycerin until well blended. Pour the mixture into the bottle. Keep in a cool dark place.

Fruit Conditioner

• 1 avocado (peeled and mashed)
• 1 cup coconut milk

Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk. Mash together until it's smooth and about as thick as shampoo. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 -15 minutes, wash out.

Banana Conditioner

• 1 ripe banana
• Few drops of almond oil

Massage into your hair and then allow to work its wonders for about 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water and then shampoo and condition as usual.

Rosemary Conditioner

• Rosemary essential oil

Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to the palms of your hands, work through out your entire hair.

Homemade Hair Spray

• 1 lemon or orange
• 2 cups water

Chop one lemon (or an orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with 2 cups water. Boil until half of the initial amount remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator. If it is too sticky, add more water. Add one ounce rubbing alcohol as a preservative and then the spray can be stored for up to two weeks unrefridgerated.

Homemade Hair Gel

• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon unflavored vegetable based gelatin
• 1 cup warm water

Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup warm water. Keep refrigerated and use as you would a purchased gel.

Whip up these natural beauty recipes and give yourself the "spa" treatment without ever leaving home.

From: www.allsands.com/Fashion/naturalbeauty_wwy_gn.htm

Homemade Rinse: For shiny hair, rinse with cider vinegar; one half cup to every quart of water. If natural highlights are what you're looking for, use chamomile tea, or make your own rinse by steeping chamomile flowers in hot water, then strain. Remove build up caused by hair sprays and other products with a rinse of Witch Hazel. Whichever one you use, make sure you catch the liquid in a bowl if you want to rinse your hair more than once.

Facial: A refreshing facial is as simple as pouring boiling water over chamomile flowers in a bowl. Just hold your face a few inches above the water and let the steam work its magic. (You can do this, and then later use the liquid for your hair.)  

Astringent: If you need an astringent after your facial, Witch Hazel is an all-natural one that can still be bought for about one half of what the name brands cost.

Baths: For an all over beauty treatment, relax in a tub full of water with one half cup of powdered milk, which acts as a skin softener. To make your beauty bath do double duty, add a cheesecloth or muslin bag filled with your favorite herbs. Soothing herbs are chamomile flowers and rose flowers. For a stimulating bath, you can use basil, bay, rosemary, or thyme. Sage and strawberry leaves relieve aching muscles and joints. Or, you can make a cleansing body scrub with a handful of oatmeal and two teaspoons of sea salt.

--from http://styles101.homestead.com/hrecipes.html

Herbal Ingredient List:

• Burdock: root helps prevent dandruff
• Catmint: leaves encourage hair growth and soothes scalp irritations
• Chamomile: flowers soften and lighten hair
• Flannel Mullein: lightens hair
• Goosegrass: tonic and cleansing, helps prevent dandruff
• Henna: red hair dye and conditioner
• Horsetail: non-fertile stems and branches strengthens the hair
• Lavender: antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and degreases
• Lime: flowers clean and softens
• Marigold: lightens hair color
• Nasturtium: for hair growth
• Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
• Rosemary: tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair
• Rhubarb: the root makes a yellow hair dye
• Sage: tonic and conditioning, darkens the hair
• Southernwood: encourages hair growth and helps prevent dandruff
• Stinging Nettle: tonic and conditioning and helps prevent dandruff
• Witch Hazel: leaves and bark are astringent and cleanses oily hair

 WooHoo Stay at home spa day and since you don't have to drive bring on those drinks and pamper yourself :)

Would Love your comments :)

MAKE IT: Duck Tape Wallet

MAKE IT: Duck Tape Wallet

So Ive been seeing these duck tape wallets around and thought they were neat and looked pretty easy to make. I gave it a shot and they are really easy to make. What you need: Roll duck tape & sharp scissors.

1. Cut a strip of duct tape 8.5 inches (22cm) in length or more and place it sticky-side up.

2. Cut a second piece of equal length and place it sticky-side down, covering half of the first piece lengthwise. The other half of this new piece will now be sticking to the flat surface.

3. Fold the sticky part of the first strip down over the second.

 4.Flip the two strips over and place a third strip sticky-side down to cover the remaining sticky part of the second strip. Once again, the other half of this new piece will now be sticking to the flat surface.

5.Continue flipping and extending the width of your duct-tape sheet until it measures at least 7 inches (18cm) from top to bottom not including the sticky edge.

 6. Fold the last sticky edge over and trim the edges so that the sheet is a rectangle of 7 by 8 inches (18 x 20cm). This will make your wallet approximately 3.5 inches (9cm) from top to bottom.

7. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and tape the two sides closed to create a large pocket. Your crease should run in the same direction as the lines of the tape. This pocket is where you will place your bills.

8. Fold the pocket in half and press to make a folding crease.

9. Personalize as you like at this point. I added card pockets by cutting two pieces of tape and sticking them together and taping the sides to the wallet repeating three times overlapping. For my picture pocket I made a square like the initial wallet but smaller then folded and cut a center square and taped three sides to the wallet leaving an opening to slide the pic inside.

That's it your done. I'm thinking about picking up some of the fun duck tape they now make, skulls, pink, camo and making a few of these for my Etsy store

I gave this one to my son who keeps loosing his wallets, he loved it :)

FOOD: What-Ever-You-Got Cake

FOOD: What-Ever-You-Got Cake

   So in an attempt to reduce waste especially food waste I came up with this super simple recipe to use all your soon going bad or left over fruits and veges or anything you may want to throw in it :) You can then eat it immediately or freeze it for later. No more throwing out fruit and Veges, always good. 

Ingredients: First you will need the basic cake supplies, these stay the same no matter what you put into it.

 2 cups flour      3/4cup sugar (White or brown)  1 tsp baking powder  1 tsp B.Soda  1/2 tsp salt  2 eggs or substitute  2/3 cup oil. 

Mix the above items in a big bowl. Then it's the fun part go look in the fridge and counter and see what you need to eat now or throw out. I had carrots, pineapple, and 1/2 can fruit cup. You will add in total 1 1/2 cups of your "Need to eat" food. 

I purred my fruit but you do not have to at all it's up to you. I then grated my peeled carrots and added them too.

Greece and Flour (Just rub some butter or oil all over the inside of the pan, remove excess, pour a little flour in the pan moving the pan to cover all sides in flour then hold upside down over your sink and give a few good taps to get excess flour off. No more cakes sticking to pans) then pour in your mix.

Put a pan with water in it on your bottom rack, then add your cake to the rack above. You should have your oven at 350 degrees and it should bake for about 25 minutes.

 

Top with jam or whip cream or icing or butter or plain, whatever you want. Sit back get a cup of tea/coffee and enjoy a slice feeling good about not throwing out food. :)

If you make this cake would love to know what you used in yours and how it turned out in the comments section below.

Awesome Find: Earth Origin Shoes

Awesome Find: Earth Origin Shoes

  I want to talk about shoes (I can feel my sisters ears perk up :) Specifically Earth Origin brand shoes.

I'm not a big brand name person or a big shoe person. I go through so many shoes I could never afford to be. I am awful on shoes, I wear them to death and they die young. I wear them from the moment I wake up until I go to bed at night and I have a bad habit of not wearing socks. They die. I hate not having something on my feet and since I have a massive (insert frustrating, loud, "thank God she's pretty") dog I have to go outside a lot so slippers do not cut it. I have had many brands over the years and of all the brands I have tried  Earth Origin has been the absolute best, Dr. Sholls comes in as a close second. 

  They are the most comfortable thing I have ever put on my feet. They even help my hips and lower back when I wear them. Little did I know when I bought them they do that on purpose. It seems they have a science behind them. They have Negative Heel Technology. 

  What is Negative Heel Technology? They have inclined soles which ensure your toes will be placed higher than your heels when you walk. Your center of gravity does not change and you carry your weight on your heels, this is said how you should carry your weight.

  What does that do? Well it removes back, feet and calve pain. There is also numerous reports that these shoes help you loose weight! (I swear I had no idea about the weight thing when I bought them but WOOHOO!!) They say these shoes will tighten your feet muscles, firm thighs, and burn calories. The same way as you would walking uphill or on an incline. I don't know about all that but they feel like you are bare foot so that's awesome.

   Not only do these shoes feel awesome they hold up. They are made with strong leather so despite my constant wearing they have lasted more than any other shoe. They also have a biodegradable synthetic sole which is pretty awesome. 

  If you are looking for a new pair of shoes why not try them, they are really affordable and an awesome find.  You can find them here

If you have Earth Origin shoes or any experience with them please comment. 

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I was not paid in anyway for this review these are just my personal opinions on an awesome product.

In The Garden: Organic Natural Insecticides

So I am going to try and grow a vegetable garden this year (Yes it's winter I'm thinking ahead :) at least a herb garden for sure and I want to use all natural insecticides. So I've been looking around and this is the best list I have found. If you have any more not listed please add them to the comment section. You have got to admit thinking about gardening is making you feel and warm and sunshiny despite the draft coming through your back door :)

Each also lists the insects it kills and what plants to use them on.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR AN HOMEMADE ALL PURPOSE INSECTICIDE SPRAY

Information provided by http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/natural-pesticides.html a pretty awesome site.

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1 quart liquid soap

Mix directly into a spray container. Do not spray in direct sunlight as leaf damage may occur. Spray, then let sit for 20 minutes. Spray plant down with clear water to reduce foliage damage. Spray every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Alcohol sprays is effective on aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, thrips and whiteflies.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE CHAMOMILE SPRAY

This spray is used to prevent the damping off of seedlings and powdery mildew. Take 1 cup chamomile leaves and place in a non-metal bowl. Add 3 cups of boiling water and allow to steep until cool. Strain. Dilute with equal parts of mixture to water.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE GARLIC SPRAY

This organic pest control is useful against sucking insects and some caterpillars.

90 g chopped garlic cloves

2 T mineral oil or liquid paraffin

15 g of pure soap or soap flakes

500 ml warm water.

Mix garlic and oil together and let is steep for 48 hours. Dissolve grated soap or flakes in warm water and then mix the 2 solutions together and then strain. Use 1 part mixture to 50 parts water. Spray as usual.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE LANTANA SPRAY

In some countries lantana has been banned as it is seen as a noxious weed. However, this organic spray is effective against aphids.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A  HOMEMADE MILK SPRAY

This homemade insecticide is effective against the tiny red spider mite.

1/2 cup buttermilk

4 cups flour

20 L water

Mix the buttermilk with the flour and then add the water. Spray over a 2 day period to make sure that the infestation has been successfully been eradicated.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE MUSTARD SPRAY

If you find that your plants have scale this is the organic insecticide for you. Take one 1 tablespoon ground mustard seeds and add 20 parts of water to the seeds. Place in a sprayer and spray the affected plant.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE NASTURTIUM SPRAY

This natural pest control is effective against woolly aphids Mix 1 cup nasturtium leaves with 1 cup of water. Simmer together on top of stove in an old pot for about 15 minutes. Cool and strain. Dilute with equal parts mixture to water. Spray where needed.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE NICOTINE SPRAY

1 cup liquid dish soap

1 cup antiseptic mouthwash

1 cup chewing tobacco juice (Place 3 fingers of chewing tobacco in an old nylon stocking and soak in a gallon of hot water until mixture turns dark brown.)

Put mixture into a 20 gallon sprayer and fill the rest of the container with warm water. Spray on vegetables every alternate week.

Here's another recipe:

Take a handful of pipe or rolling tobacco into a gallon of water. Give it a stir and leave it for 24 hours. Then dilute it until it is a pale brown color. Spray the solution on to the affected plants, and you will find that any aphids on your plants will die off very quickly.

Important: Do not spary on potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, egg plants or any other members of the Solanaceae family, as the tobacco spray will kill them too.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE OIL SPRAY

Oil is great for suffocating the eggs and insects, especially in winter when the eggs are more porous at this time, and the oil more effective as a method of getting rid of a variety of pests. However, use only in winter, or when the temperatures are below 25°C. Any higher and the oil will burn the leaves.

1 kg soap

8 L oil

Combine oil and soap and boil until it dissolves. Dilute with 20 times the volume of water. It doesn't store well, so should be used immediately. Oil spray is effective against ants, aphids, leafhoppers, squash bugs and whiteflies.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE ONION AND CHILI SPRAY

This homemade insecticide and pesticide is very effective against any leaf-eating insects and has a limited effect against most scale and hard-surfaced pests such as shield bugs.

4 bird's eye chilies, chopped (or as hot as you can find)

4 large onions, chopped

2 bulbs garlic, chopped

2 L soapy water

Combine all the ingredients, including the seeds from the chilies. Cover with the soapy water and allow to steep for 24 hours. Strain. Add water to dilute if required and spray. Can be stored in a sealed container in a dark place for up to 2 weeks.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE PYRETHRUM SPRAY

Pyrethrum and neem are by far the most effective natural insecticides around and miticide there is and kills most aphids, cabbage loopers, celery leaf tiers, codling moth, Colarado potato beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, stink bugs, several species of thrips, tomato pinworms, and whiteflies, flies, gnats, mosquitoes and midgies.

As soon as insects come into contact with the spray, they will die, attacking the nervous system. Pyrethrum is an African flowering plant from the chrysanthemum family and is deadly to most insects. However, because it is not systemic and is destroyed by UV light, it is not deadly to mammals and can be safely sprayed on vegetables and fruit when picked 12-48 hours after application. Unfortunately, it is also deadly to good bugs as well, so use with care and only spray on heavily infested plants as a last resort.

Spray both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, because spray must directly contact the insects such as thrips that hide in leaf sheaths and crevices. Spray in cooler temperatures as it is more effective then, evening or late afternoon being ideal. Never use pyrethrin products around waterways and ponds. And for those of you who have dermatitis, asthma and sinus you may have an allergic reaction when using pyrethrum.

Grow your own pyrethrum from seed, which can be bought from your local seedman and use the flowers that are in full bloom. The active ingredient is found in the immature seed. Cut them off early in the morning and hang upside down to dry and leave in a well-ventilated dark place to dry. Light will cause the plant to lose its potency. When dried, grind with a pestle and mortar until you have a fine powder.

Mix 10 gm of pyrethrum powder to 3 litres of water. Let stand for 3 hours in a dark place. Add 1 teaspoon of dish washing liquid as a fixative just before use.

You can also steep your flowers in a jar filled with boiling water, and apply after it has cooled down.

However, the best way is to cover the flowers in a container with brandy, although kerosene and mineral oil will also work but not as well. Leave this mixture overnight keeping it away from any light. Strain the liquid and use 1 part liquid to 6 parts water.

To store your flowers place them in a freezer up to 6 months and use accordingly.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE RHUBARB SPRAY

This is a very effective general spray that is extremely poisonous, however unfortunately it is also poisonous to bees so use with care, and keep out of reach of children.

Boil 1.5 kg rhubarb leaves in 3.5 L of water, straining and bottling. Dissolve 100 g soft soap in 2 L of hot water and add to the leaf mixture when cold.

Use only on ornamental shrubs, and flowers, but NEVER use on herbs or vegetables.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE SOAP SPRAY

This is useful against aphids and some caterpillars.

56 g of soap flakes or pure grated soap mixed with 5 L of hot water, which must be cooled before use.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE SUGAR SPRAY

This organic spray control is effective against nematodes. Dissolve 2 kg sugar in a bucket of water. Drench the soil to kill nematodes. Molasses can also be used, but don't use honey as this may transmit disease back to the bees.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE TOMATO LEAF SPRAY

2 cups of chopped tomato leaves

2 pints of water

1/4 tsp of liquid soap

Soak tomato leaves in water overnight. Strain this mixture then add another pint of water and liquid soap. Spray foliage and soil as needed. This spray is effective against asparagus beetles and flea beetles, ear-worms and maggots.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE WHITE OIL SPRAY

White Oil can be purchased at your local gardening store at great expense. Or, you can make your own homemade white oil at a fraction of the cost using the same simple ingredients!

This is effective against scale. Pour a cup of cooking oil and a few drops of washing-up detergent into a 1 L plastic bottle.

Add 1/2 cup of water and shake well. Pour 250 ml into a 9 L bucket of water and mix.

Spray the mixture over and under infested leaves. Use on a cloudy day. The oil can burn the leaves if you live in a country with high temperatures.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR HOMEMADE WORMWOOD SPRAY

Wormwood is effective against fleas, flies, moths, mosquitoes, aphids and snails.

Collect large amount of wormwood leaves and cover with a bucket of boiling water. Steep for 3 hours. Dilute, using 1 part mixture to 4 parts water. Allow to cool before using.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR GETTING RID OF FLEAS

Add a little sulfur to the dog's drinking water. Another method is to put 1/2 cup vinegar into the final rinsing water of your dog's bath water. Another is to boil a large quantity of mint leaves in 2 L of water. Strain and cool. After washing and rinsing the dog, pour the cooled mint solution over the dog and allow him to dry off naturally. Any fleas that remain will leave immediately.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR GETTING RID OF FRUIT FLIES

The best way to do this is to set up fruit fly traps in the orchard. These can be made out of jam jars, or old ice cream containers and then strung up in the tree boughs.

A Homemade Fly Trap Recipe:

Prepare 300g pulped oranges, 15 g ammonium carbonate (purchase from the chemist), and add 600 ml water. Mix and fill jars or buckets with the bait.

Natural pest control is always better than toxic insecticides and pesticides as they usually only target the pest at hand, and are not harmful to bees and other useful insects.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR GREENHOUSE PESTS

Kill off those unwanted greenhouse pests using laurel leaves. Bash up some laurel leaves so that you bruise them well. Leave them like that in bowls in either your greenhouse or your coldframes overnight. 

The bruised laurel leaves give off prussic acid gases which is deadly to most small insects.

Hope this helps looking forward to sharing all my backyard farm experiences with you this summer :)

FOOD: Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized Milk

FOOD: RAW vs. Pasteurized Milk

    To be honest I never even thought of Raw vs. Pasteurized milk. I never thought there was an option. Since I was born (1976) we have been drinking pasteurized  milk so I was not aware there was an option for otherwise. I was told that if milk was not pasteurized you would get sick, no where along the line did I doubt this. Until I was watching a documentary about the milk industry in the US and the difficulty small farms were having selling and drinking raw milk. First I thought why would you even want to do that? So I looked into it. Unbeknownst to me there is a huge cry for Raw milk and here are the reasons why.

Real Milk–Nature’s Perfect Food 

(Information provided by http://www.realmilk.com/faq/)

Galen, Hippocrates, Pliny, Varro, Marcellus Empiricus, Bacchis and Anthimus, leading physicians of their day, all used raw milk in the treatment of disease. During the 1920s, Dr. J. E. Crewe of the Mayo Foundation used a diet of raw milk to cure TB, edema, heart failure, high blood pressure, prostate disease, urinary tract infections, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic fatigue and obesity. Today, in Germany, successful raw milk therapy is provided in many hospitals.

Studies show that children fed raw milk have more resistance to TB than children fed pasteurized milk (Lancet, p 1142, 5/8/37); that raw milk is very effective in preventing scurvy and protecting against flu, diphtheria and pneumonia (Am J Dis Child, Nov 1917); that raw milk prevents tooth decay, even in children who eat a lot of sugar (Lancet, p 1142, 5/8/37); that raw milk is better than pasteurized milk in promoting growth and calcium absorption (Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 518, p 8, 1/33); that a substance present in raw cream (but not in pasteurized cream) prevents joint stiffness and the pain of arthritis (Annual Review of Biochemistry, 18:435, 1944); and that children who drink raw milk have fewer allergic skin problems and far less asthma than children who drink pasteurized milk (Lancet 2001 358(9288):1129-33).

  It seems that clean, grass fed, raw milk has amazing benefits but what about the risks associated with non-pasteurized milk? Well that depends on who you ask. According to the regulatory boards Raw milk can be very dangerous. But is that true? According to the below article absolutely not.

FRESH, UNPROCESSED (RAW) WHOLE MILK: SAFETY, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC ISSUES

Posted on November 19th 2009  (Information provided by http://www.realmilk.com/faq/)

Print PDF

The Safety of Raw Milk

PROTECTIVE COMPONENTS: Raw milk contains numerous components that assist in:

• Killing pathogens in the milk (lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin, leukocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, antibodies, medium chain fatty acids, lysozyme, B12 binding protein, bifidus factor, beneficial bacteria);
• Preventing pathogen absorption across the intestinal wall (polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, mucins, fibronectin, glycomacropeptides, bifidus factor, beneficial bacteria);
• Strengthening the Immune System (lymphocytes, immunoglobulins, antibodies, hormones and growth factors) (Scientific American, December 1995; British J of Nutrition, 2000:84(Suppl. 1):S3-S10, S75-S80, S81-S89).

PASTEURIZATION HARMFUL: Many of these anti-microbial and immune-enhancing components are greatly reduced in effectiveness by pasteurization, and completely destroyed by ultra-pasteurization (Scientific American, December 1995; British J of Nutrition, 2000:84(Suppl. 1):S3-S10, S75-S80, S81-S89).

DANGERS EXAGGERATED: Although raw milk, like any food, can become contaminated and cause illness, the dangers of raw milk are greatly exaggerated.  In an analysis of reports on 70 outbreaks attributed to raw milk, we found many examples of reporting bias, errors and poor analysis resulting in most outbreaks having either no valid positive milk sample or no valid statistical association (Response to Marler List of Studies).

USDA/FDA STATISTICS: Based on data in a 2003 USDA/FDA report: Compared to raw milk there are 515 times more illnesses from L-mono due to deli meats and 29 times more illness from L-mono due to pasteurized milk. On a PER-SERVING BASIS, deli meats were TEN times more likely than raw milk to cause illness (Intrepretive Summary – Listeria Monocytogenes Risk Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Sept. 2003, page 17).

OUTBREAKS DUE TO PASTEURIZED MILK: Due to high-volume distribution and its comparative lack of anti-microbial components, pasteurized milk when contaminated has caused numerous widespread and serious outbreaks of illness, including a 1984-5 outbreak afflicting almost 200,000 people.  In 2007, three people died in Massachusetts from illness caused by contaminated pasteurized milk.

FORTY-YEAR-OLD SCIENCE AND ANCIENT HISTORY: Claims that raw milk is unsafe are based on 40-year-old science and century-old experiences from distillery dairy “factory farms” in rapidly urbanizing nineteenth century America.

MODERN ADVANTAGES: Compared to 30-50 years ago, dairy farmers today can take advantage of many advancements that contribute to a dramatically safer product including pasture grazing, herd testing, effective cleaning systems, refrigeration and easier, significantly less expensive, more accessible and more sophisticated milk and herd disease testing techniques.

UNIQUE FOOD: Raw milk is the ONLY food that has extensive built-in safety mechanisms and numerous components to create a healthy immune system.

Health Benefits of Raw Milk

BENEFITS IN EARLY HUMAN STUDIES: In early studies involving humans, raw milk was shown to be superior to pasteurized in protecting against infection, diarrhea, rickets, tooth decay and TB; and children receiving had better growth than those receiving pasteurized milk.

BENEFITS IN EARLY ANIMAL STUDIES: In early animal studies, animals fed raw milk had better growth, denser bones, greater integrity of internal organs, less anemia, fewer signs of anxiety and stress, and fewer signs of nutrient deficiency than animals fed pasteurized milk. 

ASTHMA: Three recent studies in Europe found that drinking “farm” (raw) milk protected against asthma and allergies (Lancet. 2001 Oct 6;358(9288):1129-33;J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Jun;117(6):1374-8; Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 2007 May; 37(5) 627-630).

RAW HUMAN MILK: In recent studies, infants on pasteurized human milk did not gain weight as quickly compared to those fed raw human milk (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1986 Mar-Apr;5(2):248-53) and premature babies given raw human milk had more rapid weight gain than those given pasteurized human milk. Problems were attributed to pasteurization’s destruction of lipase (J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1986 Mar-Apr;5(2):242-7).

THE MILK CURE: In the early 1900s, the Mayo Clinic administered the “Milk Cure,” which consisted in drinking 4-5 quarts of raw milk per day, obtaining favorable results for a range of illnesses including cancer, weight loss, kidney disease, allergies, skin problems, urinary tract problems, prostate problems and chronic fatigue; these results are not obtained using pasteurized milk.

DANGERS OF PASTEURIZED MILK: Many studies have linked consumption of pasteurized milk with lactose intolerance,  allergies, asthma, frequent ear infections, gastro-Intestinal problems, diabetes, auto-Immune disease, attention deficit disorder and constipation. During a period of rapid population growth, the market for fluid pasteurized milk has declined at 1% per year for the past 20 years. Fewer and fewer consumers can tolerate pasteurized (and ultrapasteurized) milk (Don’t Drink Your Milk, Frank Oski, MD, 1983).

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE: In a survey of raw milk drinkers in the state of Michigan, over 80 percent of those advised by a healthcare professional that they were lactose intolerant were able to consume raw milk without problem. (Pilot Survey of Cow Share Consumer/Owners Lactose Intolerance Section).

POSITIVE TESTIMONIALS: Hundreds of testimonials involving reversal of failure to thrive in infants; allergies, asthma and behavior problems in children; and digestive disorders, arthritis, osteoporosis and even cancer in adults (Testimonials, Michigan-Raw Milk Health Testimonials-PDF).

NUTRIENT DEGRADATION BY PASTEURIZATION:

Vitamin C	Raw milk but not pasteurized can resolve scurvy. “. . . Without doubt. . . the explosive increase in infantile scurvy during the latter part of the 19th century coincided with the advent of use of heated milks. . .” (Rajakumar, Pediatrics. 2001;108(4):E76).
Calcium	Longer and denser bones on raw milk (Chapter 14 from History of Randleigh Farm-PDF).
Folate	Carrier protein inactivated during pasteurization. (Gregory. J. Nutr. 1982, 1329-1338).
Vitamin B12	Binding protein inactivated by pasteurization.
Vitamin B6	Animal studies indicate B6 poorly absorbed from pasteurized milk (Chapter 14 from History of Randleigh Farm-PDF).
Vitamin A	Beta-lactoglobulin, a heat-sensitive protein in milk, increases intestinal absorption of vitamin A. Heat degrades vitamin A. Said and others (Am J Clin Nutr. 1989;49:690-694. Runge and Heger. J Agric Food Chem. 2000 Jan;48(1):47-55).
Vitamin D	Present in milk in protein-bound form, assimilation possibly affected by pasteurization. Hollis and others ( J Nutr. 1981;111:1240-1248).
Iron	Lactoferrin, which contributes to iron assimilation, destroyed during pasteurization.
Iodine	Lower in pasteurized milk. Wheeler and others (J Dairy Sci. 1983;66(2):187-95).
Minerals	Lactobacilli, destroyed by pasteurization, enhance mineral absorption (MacDonald and others. 1985).

What is your opinion on Raw milk? Have you had any experience drinking Raw milk? Do you feel we should have the option to buy it if we wished to do so? Would love your comments.