Food is a minefield these days. Now I am learning about the two different milk proteins, A1 and A2 casein, that cows exhibit based on breed. It so happens that the Northern European cow breeds, Holsteins, Friesians, and Ayrshires, mostly produce the A1 protein, which, as Steven Gundry reports in his The Plant Paradox, supposedly wreaks havoc in the pancreas and is likely a major cause of Type 1 Diabetes. Most cows in the US, Australia, and New Zealand are of this type unfortunately. Therefore, neither their milk, nor their cheese, yogurt, butter, or any of their other dairy products (save sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream) are beneficial to us, according to Dr. Gundry.

Goat and sheep milk, and their dairy products (eat more chèvre or feta), are free of this protein, as are all Southern European cow breeds' milk products. If you or your children drink fresh milk, consider looking for A2 milk. When buying cow milk cheese and butter look for products from France, Italy, Spain, or Switzerland, countries which prefer other cow breeds, all of which have the A2 protein. I'll let you know about my six-week trial diet.