A2 Milk- health or hype?

Human beings have been enjoying the goodness of animal milk since the time immemorial. Whether it is cow, goat, sheep, camels etc. We are also having other plant based alternatives of milk like almond, soy, flax and hemp milk. In recent years, the milk market heard about  A2 milk which scientists and consumers found interesting.

In this article we will figure out whether A2 milk is about health or just hype.

Well, there are 2 major proteins which are found in milk: Casein and Whey. Casein is that substance which is responsible for 80% of the milk protein and we also have various types of casein, one of which is called Beta casein. Beta casein carries 30% of the cow milk protein. Earlier, there was only A2 protein but later because of mutation A1 protein is also found in the milk. Today, most of the milk you see around is A1 only.

What we get today is the mixture of A1 and A2 milk. A1 can cause stomach discomfort.

When A1 protein enters into the small intestine, it produces a peptide called beta-casomorphin-7 (BCM-7). The intestines then absorb BCM-7, and it then passes into the blood. Researchers found a link between BCM-7 to stomach discomfort and symptoms similar to those people with lactose intolerance.

A2 protein is more comparable to human breast milk, milk from goats, sheep, and buffalo.

A study by Trusted Sources on Chinese adults self-reported milk intolerance compared the effects of drinking regular milk that contained A1 and A2 proteins with A2-only milk on intestinal function, stomach discomfort, and inflammation.The participants consumed 8 oz of milk twice a day for 2 weeks. They reported worse stomach pain after they consumed the regular milk but no change in symptoms after they drank the A2 milk.

A1 milk consumption caused the symptoms of stomach discomfort, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea after dairy products, which are typically attributed to lactose intolerance. However, some researchers believe that it is BCM-7, not lactose, that affects digestion and produces symptoms similar to lactose intolerance, in some people.

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