Once upon a time, milk had three options: whole, low fat, skim. Maybe chocolate, if you’re lucky.
Now there are as many types of milk as the grains for breakfast are bad, such as nut milk, flux milk, oat milk, goat milk. A little-known variety you might encounter at grocery stores is A2 milk.
What is A2 Milk?
A2 milk is milk that mainly contains A2 beta casein. This is said to be easier for the body to digest and absorb. This differs from most milk available in the US, which contains a mixture of A2 and A1 beta casein.
First popularized by New Zealand-based The A2 Milk Company, A2 Milk was first sold in 2003 and has now grown into a $2 billion industry.
According to the company, A2 milk can be found at over 29,000 retailers across the United States, including big box stores such as Costco and Walmart. Like regular milk, A2 is all fat-reduced and has skim varieties.
A1 milk vs A2 milk
The manufacturers of A2 milk claim that A1 beta casein is difficult to digest and can interfere with maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. (The research is scarce with both claims. Immediately about it.)
Casein is the largest group of proteins in milk, accounting for about 82% of its total protein content. The remaining 18% is more commonly known whey protein. There are 13 types of casein. A1 and A2 are the most common.
How is A2 milk made and what is the difference?
A2 milk is produced by cows that contain A2 beta casein and carry genetic mutations that produce milk that lacks A1 beta casein. Cattle that produce milk containing A2 beta casein is found primarily in Asia, Africa and parts of southern Europe. Milk from cows in the Western world usually contains A1 beta case-in.
Benefits of A2 Milk
So, does A2 milk have more advantages over regular milk? “We are a great way to help you get started,” said Dr. Dana Hannes, Ph.D., a senior nutritionist at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
These are some of the claims made about A2 milk.
1. Digestion is easy
A study funded by the A2 Milk Company found that A1 Beta Case In can take longer to digest, leading to indigestion, bloating, and gas. In a 2019 study review, that may be true, but human research is limited and requires more.
However, a study conducted by Purdue University showed that participants with lactose intolerance had fewer GI symptoms after consuming A2 milk compared to traditional milk.
2. Promotes healthier blood sugar
According to the California Dairy Research Foundation, since the 1980s, some researchers have made unfounded claims that milk containing A1 beta casein can contribute to unhealthy blood sugar levels and even an infringement of cardiovascular function.
Suspicious perpetrator: BCM-7 is the amino acid chain produced when A1 beta seisin is digested. The theory is that BCM-7 can cause illness in people with immune deficiency. However, there is no scientific evidence for those who back this up.
Possible risks of A2 milk
The risks associated with A2 milk are very unlike most milk-related risks.
Lactose intolerance
A2 milk contains the same amount of lactose as regular milk. People diagnosed with lactose intolerance can suffer from the same digestive upset when drinking either type of milk.
allergy
Since A2 milk is still milk, it can elicit allergic reactions in people who are allergic to milk.
