Organic Milk Vs. Regular Milk for Little Girl

There is plenty of scientific evidence - it all says the same thing, that regardless of what hormones may be used to increase a cows lactation, they do NOT impact the hormone levels in the milk or the nutritional content of the milk. I am a veterinarian and studied animal science (farm animal production) for my undergraduate degree. I could probably look up some studies if you want to read them yourself - just email me. When it comes right down to it though - the organic milk farmers can't produce as much milk per cow, so they have to charge more to make any money, and then they have to justify to you (concerned mommy) why their milk is worth paying more for.

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While it does cost more, organic is the way to go if you can afford it. As the other response noted....not only are you avoiding the hormones, but also the pesticides and chemicals used. I would particularly use it with a girl as they say that the hormones in milk and meat (which is the largest way most of are exposed to those hormones/chemicals/etc) are a major contributor of girls starting puberty/period at ages younger and younger such as age 8.

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Both Publix AND Target brand are hormone free. So is TG Lee, but it is more expensive. I usually buy Target since it is so close to our home and it is pretty cheap. I use the organic (Stonyfield Farms) yogurt, and my kids love it.

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I buy organic dairy (Greenwise milk) because any toxins the cow ingested are stored in the fat and, of course, the young ones need the fat for brain development. There is scientific proof that puberty occurs earlier than 100 years ago, but there could be many reasons for that.

I just feel that we're exposed to enough unavoidable stuff, so I'll avoid what I can.

Plus, I think organic tastes better--the skim tastes like 2% to me!

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Hi - whole fat milk contains the most pesticides because it resides in the fat. My personal opinion is that from ages 1-2 when they drink whole milk, organic is very important. Publix's milk is made from growth hormone free cows now, so I switched to regular non-organic Publix milk once my son starting drinking 1% (I would prefer to do organic but the budget didn't agree!).

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HI K.! With my first, he did not like the taste of regular milk after having been breastfed for 15 months but he would drink organic. To me it has a better flavor than regular whole milk. I have started giving my 14 month old organic milk as she has begun self weaning from the breast. I have been trying to feed her as organically as possible just because I feel like I'm better informed this time around and their systems are so young/immature that anything I can do to limit her exposure to chemicals the better. It's not even just the big issue of hormones being given to the cows but also the way the cows are fed and such.
Also, please read this info on use of alternative milks:

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/tipmilk.htm

Most alternative milks do not have the calcium, protein or fat content that toddlers require for healthy development. Babies and young toddlers need fat in their diet. It aids in healthy brain development. And unless you have a family history of allergies with diary you shouldn't have to worry.

Organic milk will cost you more $ and is nutritionally equivalent to non-organic milk as far as fat, calcium and calories go. However, I believe milk/dairy is one product where organic is always worth the extra money. In addition to the hormones that you mentioned, there are antibiotics and pesticides that would pass into the non-organic milk and then right into your child (because milk is bodily fluid and contains all of the bad stuff that the cow was exposed to). I expect that you will receive a lot of recommendations to avoid milk altogether. There is a lot out there to research. I personally still have not turned in the direction of avoiding all dairy and my family consumes it in moderation. It is sad that is actually scary to uncover the research about the foods that fill our stores. Good luck to you.

Hi K.,

I guess I have fixed feelings about this, too, but what I've learned is that you don't necessarily need organic to find milk that is hormone free. My little girl is 2 1/2, so this is important to me, too (I don't want her going through puberty at, say 10, which is what the research tentatively seems to suggest - that the hormones lead to early development). But I discovered that Publix brand non-organic milk is labeled BRGH-free (bovine recombinant growth hormone) and antibiotic free. I asked a holistic health counselor friend of mine who is super well versed in food about this - she said that the FDA, I think, tried to force Publix not to carry the hormone free milk (maybe because it put pressure on other companies to do the same? I dont' know), but they still do. So that's what I buy.

Good luck with everything! You'll get through this year.

I have just been considering the same dilema.... I think its a better safe than sorry situation, however, organic milk is awfully expensive so you could give both... also I give 1/2 pediasure and 1/2 milk mixed-- extra vitamins!

I have heard from more than one source that if you can only afford to buy one organic product, then it should be milk for your children. So, my kids both drink all organic milk. I don't think there is any sort of consensus in the scientific or medical communities on this yet, but it makes sense to me that the chemicals given to cows wouldn't be great in their growing bodies.

K., I read an article many years ago about a study that was done in, Idaho, I believe. I honestly do not rememember the state...I think it was Idaho. In any case, the study was over how the girls were developing so quickly and these "experts" found that the girls who were on an organic diet developed slower than the girls who consumed foods that were not organic. With that said, you can bet that the hormones in our foods are causing children to develop faster. I only buy organic milk, yogurts and eggs. When possible, I buy organic produce and when available, I will choose organic canned goods and other grocery type items. Meats are more expensive, but I have bought organic meats from time to time. It is worth going organic, if not for yourself, then for your children. Antibiotics and hormones are added to the things we eat, not to mention pesticides on our produce. Organic is at times more money, but isn't it worth it when it comes to your children?

If you can definitely go organic or at least look for the other brands that say hormone free. BUT also please consider not exposing your daughter to dairy. So many allergies and health problems related to that. Rice milk is a great alternative. A good quality calcium supplement for kids is a better choice. Walmart even sells rice mild at a great price.

as with everything, you need to readearch to find what is best for you. of course you're doing that here, but
there is so much more 'out there' lol

here's this:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Best-...

and this:
http://www.dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=1137

Hormone concerns/arguments aside, I haven't seen much discussion below regarding the nutritional benefits of organic milk other than one person claiming there is no difference. This claim however is NOT true.

See the following link from WebMD (a relatively unbiased source) which summarizes the benefits:

http://blogs.webmd.com/health-ehome/2009/02/organic-milk-...

This site provides detail on the following 7 reasons why organic is better:

1. Organic milk has fewer pesticide residues.

2. Organic milk has more vitamins. (50% higher in Vitamin E and 75% higher in beta carotene)

3. Organic milk has more antioxidants. (lutein and zeaxanthine cited)

4. Organic milk has more omega-3s. (In particular, DHA, which is important for brain development)

5. Organic milk has more CLA. (Cows that are grazed on pastures have 500% more CLA in their milk. See the link for all the benefits of CLA)

6. Drinking organic milk helps improve the quality of breast milk. (leads to increases in rumeic acid which protects against cancer and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, heart disease and asthma.)

7. Drinking organic milk protects young children against asthma and eczema. (Researchers found that children of breastfeeding mothers who ate organic dairy products and who were weaned on organic milk, cheese and yogurts were a third less likely to suffer from allergies.)

So if you can afford it, go organic!

The truth is our food supply has never been safer. You haven’t found anything scientific that says organic is better because there are no scientific studies that prove it. You will of course hear that regular milk comes from cows exposed to antibiotics and pesticides "so it must be harmful." That could be true but has not been scientifically proven. It all depends what you base your decisions on...peoples personal stories and assumptions or scientific evidence.

Hi K...I am a mother of two girls. I do not buy organic but instead go to publix and buy the hormone free milk. It is their regular type of milk but it is hormone free. It is a lot cheaper than organic milk and it doesn't have the hormones. Good luck!! Remember...we were raised on regular milk and we are fine. Sometimes I think the media puts these thoughts in our heads....

Check out WestonPrice Foundation- as they tell the truth.
Soy milk and cows milk mean you'll be explaining the birds and bees to her early,k

K., i personally dont know much about this, except that when cows are given there shots, etc, that somewhat gets stored in the cows fat; with that being said, the more "whole" the milk is, the more fat/ hormones/enoculations etc, is in it from the cow, so, a 1%, or tw0% is recommended now by health departments. milk in its self is healthy (as far as i know.) i dont know anything about organic, but if it means the cows werent pumped with hormones, and such, i would go with that. good luck, and god bless!

I agree with the previous two posts. I buy organic milk for all my kids, but especially for my daughter. I worry about hormones, but I also worry about the antibiotics that are given to the cows. My daughter and I are both allergic to antibiotics and so that worries me.

I don't have any scientific evidence about the effect of the hormones in milk, but I do have an anecdotal experience. My daughter and her friend are both dancers with very lean bodies. They were both told that they were less developed than their peers because of their low body fat percentages. They were both told that their menstrual cycles would probably be delayed another 2 years (still within the healthy and expected age). The friend switched to regular milk soon after and within months had developed breasts and started her period. My daughter kept drinking organic and is still waiting for her first period (and her breasts!-- lol). I don't know if that caused the friend to mature faster, but she sure seemed to...

K.,
Our pediatrician has recommended that we give our daughter Almond Milk and Rice Milk instead of cow's milk. However, when we give her other dairy products they are organic. You can drive yourself crazy trying to protect your child from every little pesticide, hormone and antibiotic out there. (Not to mention your trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, enriched white flour, hydrogenated oils, etc.!!!) But a few simple changes will benefit her greatly in the long run. Your meat, dairy and produce are easy changes to make. A bit more pricey, but look for sales and stock up. Our little ones depend on us to keep them healthy!

Definitely buy organic milk -- or for that matter, anything dairy! It is a bit pricey, but totally worth it. Sometimes the grocery stores will run a sale on them and Publix has their own organic milk, which isn't too expensive. I am about your age. Have you noticed all the teenaged-girls walking around today? They all seem to be a little bit bigger and more developed than when we were younger...I just think that has to do with the hormones that they put in the cows to speed up production. If you keep buying organic milk and organic products, you will just forget how expensive it is, you'll just get used to it. I buy three little plastic bags of groceries and it usually runs about $60 -- so expensive. But then I think about in the long-run about how much healthier and better it is for our bodies. Good luck!!

I'm not one of those all organic Moms, but I have heard that the place to start is with milk and eggs. With my twin girls, I gave only organic milk and eggs for the whole first year that they ate them and mostly organic veggies. One good thing about the milk is that it lasts so much longer than the non-organic. Since the shelf life is longer it was easy to buy two gallons or so at a time to always have some around so you don't run out. The cost is higher, so lately I have had to switch back to save some money.

The biggest difference you will find is your wallet! Three of my girls are already grown and they had regular milk all their lives. They are healthy, have normal children, no problems.

You will definately want to do your research as to what you decide to introduce.... if you are still breastfeeding, I would continue to do so, especially through the upcoming winter/flu season - particularly with the swine flu issues...in fact age 1 is a very 'old fashioned' number as to when to switch from the breast (human milk) to cows milk as the WHO- World Health Organization - recommends sticking with human milk until age 2.

Otherwise - don't worry or be in a rush to introduce cows milk at all....after your research if you feel comfy with giving glasses of milk, then do so, but honestly it is not necessary, so there is no rush. The main reason most people want to feed cows milk is to get their daily calcium, but you can provide that is many, many other ways, so I'm just saying that you don't need to worry about switching or feeding it right away, or at all for that matter :-)

Almond milk and/or rice milk are awesome healthy alternatives....I would stay away from soy products. There is plenty of research results available on soy as well that would be worth reading if you start considering it.

Anyway - organic means more than having hormones added or not, it pertains to the number of chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics etc that can be present, used, or fed to animals or to grow food items. Sure, we are alive and our parents may have fed us whatever, but that is a poor stance to take based on changing times, new technology and the development of new chemicals, etc....times are different than they were for our parents or us. Look how many diseases and problems there are today? They didn't just come from nowhere, they are the result of our exposure and our consumptions....definately do your research.

I don't think I personally can put a price on my kids exposure to chemicals and pesticides....sure, regular products may be cheaper, but you pay for what you get and we cut spending in other areas of our lives to cover the difference.... I definately think the benefits of eating organic and the safety outweigh the risks of not....

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1616233/organic_...

Also check out the Environmental Working Group website for pesticide content in various fruits/veggies....it will let you know which are best to buy organic and which are probably ok to buy conventional

http://www.foodnews.org/

Best wishes!

Regular milk is fine for everyone to drink. There are not enough hormones in it to do any harm. Also if you purchase milk that is processed here in Florida from the local dairy farms there are no hormones in it at all. You need to do your research because the organic milk has additives that regular milk does not. You think you are making a good choice by going organic when really it doesn't make a big difference and in some cases organic items are worse than regualar items. For example organic ham. That just means the pigs have been allowed to run free on the farm. They are fed garbage from resturants, table scraps, etc... They are not kept clean as they roam free to wallow in the mud, etc...We raised our meat on the farm. The pigs were fed all scraps from the kitchen. It's just a personal preference on how much you are willing to pay for groceries. Just because it says organic doesn't mean it's 100% organic. As long as the animal isn't in a small cage it can be called organic.

Unless you are going organic all the way with your meat and veggies as well, changing her milk probably wont have that much of and effect.