Tag: Bovine hormones

Despite widespread consumer concern regarding the safety of milk from hormone-treated cows, health authorities like the FDA and American Cancer Society maintain that bovine somatotropin (bST) is not biologically active in humans. The question, 'do cow hormones affect humans,' involves differentiating between naturally occurring hormones and synthetic ones like rBST and understanding how the human body processes them.

All milk, whether conventional, organic, or unhomogenised, naturally contains small amounts of various hormones. Specifically, the mechanical process of homogenisation has no impact on the milk's inherent hormone profile.

In fact, all mammal-produced milk, including human milk, naturally contains hormones. This is a physiological necessity for nourishing young offspring. So, does cow's milk contain natural hormones? Yes, it absolutely does, but the more important question is whether these hormones have a significant effect on human health.

According to a review published in BMC Cancer, total dairy product consumption has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk in some populations, but the specific type of dairy and the consumer's hormonal status matter significantly. The question of whether milk source affects estrogen levels is nuanced, involving both animal physiology and the complexities of plant compounds.

Despite common claims, studies show that while raw milk does contain trace amounts of various bovine hormones, including testosterone, the levels are not biologically significant for humans. The real health concern lies in the documented bacterial risks associated with unpasteurized milk, which far outweigh any unsubstantiated hormonal benefits.