Raw milk community, here is an exciting new research project to support for those with deep pockets and a love of real food. The Weston A. Price Foundation in America has just announced this week their sponsorship of a study at Johns Hopkins University on raw cheese and its effect on osteoporosis.
According to this article president Sally Fallon Morell says: The research will be conducted by longtime WAPF supporter Stephen Belkoff, PhD MPH, a biomechanical engineer who has been investigating osteoporotic fractures for over 25 years. He became intrigued by the potential health benefits of probiotics and the microbiome when his seasonal allergies abated after he started drinking raw milk. He will be aided by Dr. Kendall Moseley, MD, a practicing endocrinologist whose research has focused on the interplay between type 2 diabetes, aging and osteoporosis.
Milk builds strong bones, but raw dairy may also prevent bone loss (osteoporosis). Researchers at Johns Hopkins discovered that the bacteria in raw dairy (probiotics) cause the immune system to produce potent natural anti-inflammatories. Chronic inflammation causes diseases including osteoporosis.
They want to test whether eating aged raw milk cheese reduces inflammation and blood markers of bone breakdown, suggesting that cheese may be a non-pharmacologic, natural treatment for osteoporosis.
Video: Milk builds strong bones, but raw dairy may also prevent bone loss (osteoporosis). Researchers at Johns Hopkins discovered that the bacteria in raw dairy (probiotics) cause the immune system to produce potent natural anti-inflammatories. Chronic inflammation causes diseases including osteoporosis. Created by Organic Pastures Dairy.
Johns Hopkins University Raw Cheese Study Synopsis:
The effect of 60-day aged cheddar cheese containing the probiotic Lactococcus lactis on parameters of bone remodelling.
We have known for a long time that milk builds strong bones, but raw milk may do more than just provide a ready source of calcium — it may actively prevent bone loss and osteoporosis. Raw dairy may interact with the immune system to prevent or reduce the effects of diseases associated with chronic inflammation. Osteoporosis is one of these diseases, resulting from imbalanced bone remodeling.
In chronic inflammatory states, the cells that break down bone outpace those that build bone, causing net bone loss. We have discovered in our lab that the bacteria in raw dairy (probiotics) cause the immune system to produce potent natural anti-inflammatories which may slow the bone resorption process. Such effects have been reported in laboratory animals. We want to test the concept in humans.
The study will measure pro and anti-inflammatory cell messengers and markers of bone remodeling found in the blood of post-menopausal women at risk for osteoporosis. Women will ingest a slice of 60-day aged raw milk cheese each day for 30 days or be a part of the control group in which they will abstain from consuming dairy for 30 days. Subjects will get vitamin D and calcium supplements so that both groups meet the recommended daily requirements.
We expect that aged cheese will lead to a reduction in systemic markers of inflammation that will parallel reductions in blood markers of bone breakdown. Demonstration that raw milk cheese has positive effects on bone health will lead to future studies involving non-pharmacologic and natural treatments for osteoporosis.
To learn more about this raw cheese, click here.
