By Staff Writer - January, 30th 2014

Got milk? Science has increasingly shown that not everyone needs the white stuff – and those with an allergy are better off avoiding it altogether. But new research has found that for those who choose to drink it, whole, organic milk may be the best choice

Natural Health News — Organic milk contains a healthier balance of essential fatty acids and higher levels of protein than conventional milk, according to new research.

Researchers at Washington State University tested more than 400 milk samples from across the US and found that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in organic milk was healthier (2:3 averaged over a year, compared to 5:8 in conventional milk).

In addition, other health-promoting fatty acids, protein and nutrients (e.g. antioxidants) are also present in organic milk at higher concentrations. The research was published in the journal PLoS One.

Getting the balance right

While both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients, too much of the former and not enough of the later is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), some forms of cancer, and a range of other health problems.

The National Institutes of Health, for example, reports that:

“Most American diets provide more …

Both types of fatty acids are considered essential, but the modern diet has skewed the ratio between the two in favor of omega-6. According to the WSU researchers, the typical Western diet has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 10-to-1 to 15-to-1. An ideal “heart-healthy” diet is believed to have a ratio of 2.3-to-1 or less — a near-equal balance of the two types of fatty acids. While omega-6 fatty acids are important (meaning you shouldn’t cut them out altogether), high consumption is associated with such health risks as cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases, according to the study authors. “The higher the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3, the greater the associated health risk,” says WSU.

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