Page 94 - Fall2020

A Campaign for Real Milk

WHY HUMANS DRINK (RAW) MILK
By Mark McAfee and Sarah Smith

Until about ten thousand years ago, human from animals may have been one of the primary
beings spent much of their time hunting, gather- reasons for the domestication of animals in the
ing or fishing. Obtaining food was the dominant first place.
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preoccupation of their lives. As human popula- In the Fertile Crescent region of western
tions increased and naturally occurring food Asia, humans managed and milked goats,
sources dwindled, people began to domesticate cattle and sheep around ten thousand years
plants and animals to ensure a steady supply ago. The evidence for the early use of animal
of food. Those populations that were success- milk is found in ancient clay pottery vessels,
1
ful in learning how to produce food reliably dental remains of Neolithic humans and bone
thrived, leading to the advent of civilization as analysis of animal remains in these areas.
2-4
we know it. These agriculture-based civilizations were so
Early humans nursed their young, just as all successful that they spread across the Mediter-
mammals do. Nursing provided optimal nutri- ranean region, Europe, Asia and the Middle East
tion for babies to survive and thrive. Breastmilk over the next few thousand years. Humanity
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is a form of raw milk, serving as a complete food continued to domesticate additional species of
source that is perfectly designed to sustain life. animals; throughout history, many species have
As humans began to see the tremendous been utilized for their milk, including camels,
advantages of domesticating plants and animals, cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, horses, water buf-
it was a natural step for them to realize that the falo, reindeer and other mammals.
milk from their animals could also be a food
source. Scientists have ample evidence that WHY MILK FROM OTHER MAMMALS?
humans began drinking raw milk from animals Imagine the reality for humans living prior
at least ten thousand years ago. Furthermore, to the advent of civilization. You can picture
there is much evidence that obtaining milk them living in crude shelters, wearing animal

The origin
and dispersal
of domestic
livestock
species in
the Fertile
Crescent. 5

92 Wise Traditions FALL 2020