MamasHealth.com Home Nutrition Pages Antioxidants Bottled Water Caffeine Calcium Calories Carbohydrates Dangers of raw milk Eat healthy Eat healthy tips Eating light Eat light while out Egg facts Enriched vs fortified Essential fats Fiber Fiber sources Healthy foods Healthy holiday meals Healthy low carb diets Healthful recipes Iron Low carb diets Nutrient absorption Nutrient deficiency Nutrition & hemodialysis Nutrition for athletes Nutrition labels Nutritious shopping Probiotic foods Protein School lunch Soy coffee Supplements Supplements effective? Supplement tips Vegetarian diets Vitamins Water Links Healthful recipes Healthful meals Food distribution Zrii: The great rejuvenator Healthful fruits Must-buy organic fruits Children and hunger Email Mama	The Health Dangers of Raw Milk Milk and milk products provide a wealth of nutrition benefits. But raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to you and your family. Raw milk is milk from cows, sheep, or goats that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. This raw, unpasteurized milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which are responsible for causing numerous foodborne illnesses. These harmful bacteria can seriously affect the health of anyone who drinks raw milk, or eats foods made from raw milk. However, the bacteria in raw milk can be especially dangerous to pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Raw milk and serious illness Symptoms of foodborne illness include: Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain Flu like symptoms such as fever, headache, and body ache While most healthy people will recover from an illness caused by harmful bacteria in raw milk - or in foods made with raw milk - within a short period of time, some can develop symptoms that are chronic, severe, or even life-threatening. If you or someone you know becomes ill after consuming raw milk or products made from raw milk - or, if you are pregnant and think you could have consumed contaminated raw milk or cheese - see a doctor or healthcare provider immediately. The dangers of Listeria and pregnancy Pregnant women run a serious risk of becoming ill from the bacteria Listeria which can cause miscarriage, fetal death or illness or death of a newborn. If you are pregnant, consuming raw milk - or foods made from raw milk, such as Mexican-style cheese like Queso Blanco or Queso Fresco - can harm your baby even if you don't feel sick. Raw Milk & Pasteurization: Debunking Milk Myths While pasteurization has helped provide safe, nutrient-rich milk and cheese for over 120 years, some people continue to believe that pasteurization harms milk and that raw milk is a safe healthier alternative. Here are some common myths and proven facts about milk and pasteurization: Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions. Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins. Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself. Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value. Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time, particularly after it has been opened. Pasteurization DOES kill harmful bacteria. Pasteurization DOES save lives.	Tell me a secret and I'll tell you mine
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