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You’ve probably never thought about why the milk you buy never separates into the creamy layer you find on fresh farm milk? Milk naturally settles where the cream floats onto the top of the milk bottle. In the old days, this was the best bit of the milk as it would make your bowl of cereal extra creamy.

So, what magical process stops milk fat from separating out? It’s a process called homogenization. The milk passes under pressure through the machine. It breaks down the fat globules, so they are much smaller and therefore stay evenly distributed within the milk. Pretty cool right?

We often get asked why people can drink our milk that is not homogenised, and other milk give them issues? What the impact to your health?

Here comes the science bit ….” Cow’s milk contains an enzyme of large molecular size called xanthine oxidase (XO). XO is normally attached to the fat globules in milk. However, when these fat globules are in their natural large-sized state prior to homogenization, they are not easily absorbed by the gut wall. After homogenization, the milk fat is easily absorbed, and the attached XO gains much greater access to the bloodstream.

Some researchers [such as Dr. Kurt Oster and Dr. Donald Ross] have asserted that XO, after getting into the bloodstream, directly promotes hardening of the arteries by replacing a substance called plasmalogen that is normally found there. The research supporting this connection between XO and hardening of the arteries is not clear-cut, but whether there is a definite cause-and-effect relationship between the two should not be a critical factor in deciding whether you should drink milk. This possible XO link to heart disease is but one more potential connection of milk to disease and premature death.” 2001 Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD.

Through homogenization, fat molecules in milk become smaller and become ‘capsules’ for substances that bypass digestion. Proteins that would normally be digested in the stomach or gut are not broken down, and are absorbed into the bloodstream…Nov. 28, 2007 - Robert Cohen

You might be wondering why we don’t homogenize our milk. We think it is important to keep true, wholesome foods in their original form and not tamper with them too much. Organic milk from the farm comes straight from cows that are given a happy, natural life on pastureland where they can graze freely all year round. Our milk tastes different because we minimally process fresh milk daily and get it delivered to you the same day. The cream on top also creates the perfect morning coffee if you are a coffee snob... So why not try knowing where your milk comes from and getting our milk delivered fresh to your door twice weekly in returnable glass bottles.

Have you ever thought about what's in the yoghurt that YOU eat? We all know how beneficial it is to have good bacteria for our digestive systems and immune health, but not every brand of yogurt has these same benefits. Greek yogurt contains more protein than regular brands which can help with muscle recovery after exercise or even just an intense workout at the gym! Not only does this make your stomach feel less bloating from gas-related discomfort when eating them instead (gastrointestinal conditions), they also provide essential nutrients such as calcium needed by bones tissue cells so there'll be no osteoporosis symptoms later down the road.

Greek yogurt is a thickened style of yoghurt. It traditionally becomes thick by the pure yoghurt being strained so the whey (water) part of the milk is thrown away. Because this creates a lower yield some dairies began adding starches or thickeners to the yoghurt. These are normally hidden with E numbers so the consumer does not see the word “Starch” on their yoghurt. (a sneaky way food producers hide ingredients into foods). So why do should you care? Well - all that starch means the yoghurt is nice and thick, but you are essentially getting way more starch/carbohydrates than clean traditionally made yoghurts. Yes, it makes the yoghurt cheaper on your wallet, but is doesn’t fill you up like a traditionally Greek strained style of yoghurt. You therefore find you eat double the amount than you would the traditionally strained Greek style.

Yoghurt fat content will vary between the fat content of the milk. At browns we choose to use skimmed milk as we find the thicker strained yoghurt lends itself to a cleaner taste that way.

Protein levels vary depending on the style of yoghurt. Greek will be double the protein of normal yoghurt which is around 5g. Check your yoghurt as some will not based on how they are processed, and the other fillers used in the making of the yoghurt.  This high dose of protein means it will keep you fuller longer and satiated so it can help in keeping the weight off.

If you’ve been wondering why Greek yogurt is pricier than regular, now you know. It takes a lot more work to make true Greek yogurt and the ingredients are pretty much all natural (no additives or preservatives). But if this matters to you –and it should- then we invite you to visit us at the farm to see how we make it or join us for one of our live classes where we teach you to make your own yoghurt at home.