My deep sense of trust in my own judgment to make decisions based on an internal sense of what is right or true for me has guided me back to dairy. Raw, unadulterated dairy! Traditional foods grown using time-honored methods bring back the kind of robust health we used to cherish and trust.

Let's unravel the raw truth about raw milk. After an in-depth dive into the FDA and CDC's claims, I’m struggling with the supposed 'danger'. It seems a little like a tall tale. Four years ago I decided to disbelieve the rumors and began enjoying this utterly amazing elixir. I now make yoghurt with added probiotics and cheese from this poisonous source and it’s served me well.

So, what exactly is "raw milk"? Raw milk is the unadulterated goodness that flows straight from grass-fed cows, untouched by pasteurisation or homogenisation. This means it retains all its natural enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals (including magnesium). Everything necessary for growth and well-being is neatly packaged within. No fancy sterilisation or extra sugar is required.

Everything has risk. Our food choices and the reasons behind them fall squarely under our own responsibility. Consider the act of flying on an airplane. I truly believe that I'm accountable for my choice to take a flight. I can research the airline's reputation, do my due diligence, and then the decision rests in my hands.

By the way, despite my frequent experiences with flying and my attempt to make it feel routine, it remains an extraordinary occurrence to me. It's a process that demands an exceptional level of trust and cooperation to turn flying on a commercial airliner into an everyday occurrence.

I am placing my life in the hands of two pilots I've never met before. These pilots, in turn, rely entirely on the mechanics who maintain the aircraft. And then, there's the crucial role of air traffic controllers. To feel remotely comfortable about flying, I must make numerous assumptions about the competence of others, the incentives guiding their actions, and the reliability of the systems in place to ensure everything proceeds as planned. I’ve struggled with this as I come from a seat of ‘fear’. People who are scared often dive into their own research. You probably know that when you approach something with a predetermined hypothesis, it's quite likely you'll find evidence to support it. If you believe that raw milk or anything else is potentially harmful, it might indeed turn out that way for you - it's like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

There have been moments as I board a plane when I've pondered, "What am I doing? This seems crazy!" Occasionally, I hear my worst fears are confirmed. While such occurrences are rare, plane crashes can result from pilot errors, extreme weather, mechanical failures, acts of terrorism, or bird strikes. Thankfully, these incidents are infrequent.

Yet, it's important to acknowledge that within this system, there are instances of human greed and lapses in judgment that introduce risks that shouldn't exist. For instance, the discovery of counterfeit parts in some of United Airlines' engines is unsettling, and I understand how someone could become consumed by such concerns, deciding that the risk of flying isn't worth it. I believe this of commercial dairy - the risks to my health are just not worth it.

In truth, aviation has been remarkably safe, but it requires us to place our trust and faith in the humanity and institutions involved if we wish to live relatively normal lives and partake in modern adventures, including any form of travel. In turn, I absolutely trust and support the biodynamic dairy farm that I source my dairy from. After all, these individuals are committed to providing health and vitality through their products and proudly support what they offer.

I use the flying analogy to put things into perspective about the potential for bacteria in raw milk to cause issues. The chances of this occurring are extremely minimal. I lean into the research and sense-making of medical researcher Dr. Ted Beals, M.D., who suggests that you're 35,000 times more likely to fall ill from other foods than you are from raw milk.

Personally, I’ve noticed a difference in the hydration and evening colour tone in my skin since I began including raw dairy in my nutrition. It’s possibly related to the large amounts of healthy saturated fats, conjugated linoleic acid, and omega-3 fats. It's also logical to consider that the probiotics found in raw milk and the yoghurt that I make have the potential to combat or balance harmful gut bacteria, potentially leading to significant improvements in my skin health.

One serving of raw milk contains about 400 milligrams of calcium, 50 milligrams of magnesium, and 500 milligrams of potassium. These minerals are vitally important for cellular function, hydration, building bone density, blood circulation, detoxification, muscle health, and metabolism. Oh, and by far, the best-tasting whey protein comes from my raw milk yoghurt! It’s got to play a big part in my capacity to burn fat and build or retain lean muscle.

Mindset indeed has an influence, and I believe this to be true in my own experience, based on the evidence I've seen. If you live in the Lennox/Byron/Ballina region of Australia NSW and would like to try some, get in touch ♡