Milk isn’t really known for its product variation – with the exception to maybe milk, banana, strawberry or regular. However, there are some very specific health advantages that can come from using different kinds of milk, some of which you probably haven’t considered before.
What Is A2 Milk?
In this review, we are going to be looking at one such product which takes a new spin on milk for the health conscious individual. A2 Milk has been around for some time but is still a relatively unknown brand on the market.
What Does A2 Milk Offer that Ordinary Milk Does Not?
Most people understand that milk is a great source of protein, but there are some potentially bad proteins and some good ones too. If the protein is good or bad for you depends on your unique health requirements. A2 Milk distinguishes the difference between proteins called A1 and A2.
To put it simply, A2 Milk provides only the ‘Good’ proteins of A2 while ordinary milk contains a mixture of both A1 and A2 proteins. This is significant because some people are unaware that it may be the proteins in ordinary milk that causes them discomfort. A2 Milk bridges this gap in the market place while at the same time not taking anything away from the enjoyable formula of milk.
Tell me more about the A2 Milk Company
A2 Milk is a New Zealand company with its headquarters located in Cambridge, deep in the snowy mountains of the south island. The A2 Milk discovery was made by the researcher Dr. Corran Mclachlan after undertaking a research study on the different reactions people had to drinking milk.
According to the first studies taken by A2 Milk, people who consumed milk that contained only A2 proteins did not experience the usual comfort they were used to from drinking A1-based milk. Dr. Corran then went to work, identifying cows that were free from the troublesome A1 proteins and making the milk available for purchase worldwide.
As A2 Milk is championing the cause of this new discovery, they set about a mission to educate people about the differences between cows that had A1 and A2 proteins, challenging the status quo on our beliefs about lactose intolerance.
Can A2 Milk Cure Lactose Intolerance?
According to a scientific journal published in 2010, there is evidence to suggest that A2 Milk is safe and pleasant to drink even for people who have lactose intolerance and are unable to drink other forms of milk.
The journal summarized that people who were lactose-intolerant were actually unable to digest the A1 proteins found in regular milk. Upon ingestion of A2 milk no such symptoms were shown, and thus lactose intolerance was mistaken for a type of protein intolerance.
In short, the journal found that:
- All participants were able to drink A2 Milk
- Proteins found in regular milk trigger lactose intolerance
- No symptoms of lactose intolerance were experienced by those who drank A2 milk, which is free from A1 protein
- It is possible that lactose intolerance could be a misdiagnosis, and is instead a physical reaction to A1 protein inflaming the gut during digestion.
If these findings hold correct for everyone, then A2 milk could be the solution for millions of people who suffer from incorrectly diagnosed lactose-intolerance.
It’s important to note that A2 Milk looks, smells and tastes the same as regular milk. The only difference is the lack of protein in A2 that can be found in copious amounts in regular milk, which seems to be the culprit of discomfort for many people that suffer from apparent lactose-intolerance.
What’s So Different about A2 Milk?
According to the A2 Milk website, there is “Nothing added, and nothing taken away.” to their milk formula. You won’t find any harmful additives or chemicals, fats or sugars that can’t be found in milk you would buy off the shelf.
The only difference it seems is where the milk comes from. Lactose intolerance is a relatively new symptom that has only started affecting people over the past thirty years or so. It used to be that cows only contained the A2 protein, which meant that everyone could safely drink milk without any complications.
Research done by the founders of A2 Milk showed that genetic mutation was responsible for the contamination of A2 proteins and A1, thereby causing health risks to millions of people. There is no clear cause of why the mutation occurred, only that over time more people started showing symptoms of what is now called lactose intolerance.
A2 Milk circumvents the problem of A1 and A2 proteins by breeding and milking cows that exclusively have the A2 protein in the milk. The cows are not subject to genetic modification, and they are not fed or bred any differently than regular cows containing the A1 proteins.
The Bottom Line – is A2 Milk Worth it?
A2 milk is a fantastic way for people who are intolerant to A1 protein to safely and comfortably enjoy milk. The products are backed by a recent scientific study..
There are not many complications or side effects that come to mind when thinking of recommending A2 milk to someone to try. As far as research goes, there seems to be little to no health concerns when it comes to drinking A2 milk exclusively.
It appears that A2 milk is a safe alternative to regular branded milk, especially for people who are lactose intolerant. It is interesting to see that the majority of people who claim to be lactose intolerant could really just be reacting to a kind of protein which is produced by some breeds of cow.
Based on the research and testimonials from those who have tried A2 milk, it seems to be a safe and natural alternative, as well as a relief to those people who are lactose intolerant to enjoy milk perhaps for the first time in their lives.
