Cutting down on allergies is one of many reasons that your family should be drinking raw milk. Here are a few more:

• It has more nutrients: Raw milk is an outstanding source of nutrients including healthy beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus, vitamins and enzymes.

• People feel the health benefits: Raw milk is not associated with any of the health problems surrounding pasteurized milk such as rheumatoid arthritis, skin rashes, diarrhea and cramps. Even people who have been allergic to pasteurized milk for many years can typically tolerate and even thrive on raw milk.

• It tastes better: As with any food, fresher is always better and this applies to milk as well. Fresh raw milk is creamier and better tasting than pasteurized milk that has a shelf life of several weeks.

The study referred to in the article above examined some 4,700 children in Shropshire, and found those who lived on farms suffered from dramatically fewer allergic symptoms than all the rest. After reviewing many obvious benefits -- breastfeeding and their proximity to nature -- raw milk turned out to be the best advantage out of them all.

Unfortunately, the rest of the article highlighted all the dangers of raw milk, primarily the chances of raw milk being infected with food poisoning bugs E. coli and campylobacter, which is probably why the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health is pushing for a ban on unpasteurized milk in the UK.

Nevertheless, the demand for raw milk (available only from farms or farmers' markets) is growing, accounting for 1 percent of total milk sales in Wales and England.

Pasteurization's great claim to popularity is the widespread belief that it contains fewer germs. For example, pasteurization's supporters allege that tuberculosis in children is caused by the harmful germs found in raw milk.

Dirty milk, of course, is like any other form of impure food -- a definite menace. But Certified Grade A Milk, produced under government supervision and guaranteed absolutely clean, is available practically all over the country and is the dairy farmer's answer to the pasteurization zealots.

Recent figures published regarding the spread of tuberculosis by milk show, among other facts, that over a period of five years, during which time 70 children belonging to a special organization received a pint of raw milk daily, only one case of the disease occurred. During a similar period when pasteurized milk had been given, 14 cases were reported.

If you're unable to find a local source for raw milk, one of the finest sources of calcium available for humans, visit the Real Milk site to find a provider close to you. You can also review this link for raw milk availability and restrictions by state. As Sally Fallon notes, grass-fed cows, rather than those stuck in pens eating corn, are your healthiest, pathogen-free sources for raw milk.