Bring in 2012 With a Tall Glass of Organic Milk!

MILK Does a Body Good. Dr. Laurie here reminding you about the well-established benefits of drinking milk, including the key nutrients found in each glass that are vital for health such as protein, calcium, magnesium, folate, B1, B2, B6, B12, and vitamins A, D, and E.

Manhattan Milk delivers local, fresh and organic dairy products straight to your door, and they never use milk from animals treated with hormones (like rBST) or antibiotics. The cows supplying your Manhattan Milk are exclusively grass-fed to ensure the highest quality omega-three fats instead of grain-fed cattle, who are fed corn and other nutrient-devoid ingredients. You are what you eat — so before you chow down, it’s best to know exactly what you are taking in!

Knowing where your food comes from is becoming much more of a trend these days, as nutritionally savvy customers are seeking out products they can trust, from companies that are reliable and farm-friendly. Manhattan Milk provides exclusive produce of utmost quality, including apples, pears, kale, tomatoes, summer squash and so much more. Farm-fresh straight to your table – what could be more delicious AND convenient!?

Check out the newly designed Manhattan Milk website for easy access to top quality foods to fill your fridge and pantry with this New Year. You will find exciting new healthy products that will make you look great too!

Happy healthy eating,

Dr. Laurie Brodsky

Four Exercises to Start your Day off RIGHT!

Click HERE to Get started and work up a sweat with your Manhattan Milk Man Frank.

Milk Better Than Water to Rehydrate Kids

How active are YOUR kids? Earlier this summer, a new study came out describing how active children need to be watered with milk as a more effective way of countering dehydration than a sports drink or water itself. This is particularly good to know during hot summer weather, but equally as important moving into the fall when the kids are back at school. This is not to say that pure, clean filtered water shouldn’t be your first choice for overall hydration, but it’s a relief to know that there are studies out there that back up moms who give milk to their kids and also for those kids who love drinking milk!

Researchers found that milk replaces sodium lost in sweat and helps the body retain fluid better. Also, milk provides protein needed by children for muscle development and growth which is not found in the water or sports drinks.

The study of eight to ten year olds involved exercising in a climate chamber, then receiving a drink and getting measured for hydration. It was found that active children and adults usually don’t drink enough to stay hydrated during exercise (most of us are walking around dehydrated!), so they often have a “hydration disadvantage” when they begin their next period of exercise.

It has been shown that 1% dehydration can have up to a 15% decrease in performance, with an increased heart rate, core temperature and less ability to keep going. More significant dehydration comes with an increased risk of heat-related illness such as heat stroke. It is imperative that you keep your kids hydrated with the right fluids to boost their performance and endurance in all they do.

When you know that children are susceptible to dehydration during exercise and active playtime, and that it’s critical they get enough fluids (especially before going into a second round of a game), you have to make the right choice. Milk was found to be better than either a sports drink or water at rehydrating the young ones because it is a source of high quality protein, carbohydrates, calcium and electrolytes. An all in one source of goodness! But don’t be fooled – not all milk is considered equal. The quality of your dairy products is of utmost importance when it comes to the health of you and your family. It is best to stick with organic, local milk from grass-fed happy cows (happy because they get to roam the grasslands without fear of being injected with hormones!). Manhattan Milk delivers the freshest, local produce and dairy products including milk and cheese straight to your door; it couldn’t get any easier to keep your kids hydrated and growing steadily with all the right nutrients and best nourishment the body can get.

Dairy Consumption and Your Heart

New study released this May, 2011 describes how consuming dairy products did NOT raise those in the study’s risk of heart attack. Researchers suspect that beneficial ingredients in dairy products like milk, cheese and butter offset the risk. This is not to say that just about any dairy will do; just the opposite in fact. Choosing your dairy products wisely is one of the best ways to live a preventative, healthy lifestyle – keeping a few key words in mind when you are out shopping: dairy from grass-fed cows that is antibiotic-free, hormone-free, rBST-free, local, organic, and when possible, unpasteurized.

Some of the beneficial nutrients found in clean, local dairy products include calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, and conjugated linoleic acid. It is important to note that having a well balanced diet is critical, as you know, to ensure that you are getting enough of the protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates that your body craves to function efficiently. Too much of anything will throw the delicate balance of your body out of whack and may lead to illness down the line.

So be picky with your dairy and when you don’t have time, get delivery! Manhattan Milk delivers the freshest dairy directly from the farm to the table.

Eating Healthier Means Living Longer

Manhattan Milk

Did you know that the leading causes of death have shifted from infectious diseases to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer? The good news is that these conditions can be positively affected by diet and lifestyle, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. In this study, researchers analyzed various eating patterns of over 2,500 adults between the ages of 70 and 79 for over a ten-year period. What they found was astonishing: diets favoring certain foods were associated with reduced mortality. Those of you who strive to eat well and live a clean, healthful lifestyle are probably not surprised by these results, but it is impressive to note how food can be your medicine by helping you live longer!

By determining the consumption frequency of 108 different food items and tracking dietary patterns, researchers were able to group the participants into six different clusters according to predominant food choices below. Please note which categories had the highest numbers and under which category you fall!

Healthy Foods

• “Healthy foods” (374 participants)
• “High-fat dairy products” (332)
• “Meat, fried foods, and alcohol” (693)
• “Breakfast cereal” (386)
• “Refined grains” (458)
• “Sweets and desserts” (339)

The ‘Healthy foods’ cluster was characterized by relatively higher intake of low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and lower consumption of meat, fried foods, sweets, high-calorie drinks, and added fat. Let me emphasize that in order to qualify into the ‘Healthy foods’ category, we must first narrow down the entire dairy category and limit it to that from grass-fed cows not treated with antibiotics, rBST or other hormones (such as those products found with Manhattan Milk). The ‘High fat dairy products’ cluster had a higher intake of foods such as ice cream, cheese, and 2% and whole milk and yogurt, and lower intake of poultry, low-fat dairy products, rice, and pasta.

After controlling for gender, age, race, clinical site, education, physical activity, smoking, and total caloric intake, the ‘High-fat dairy products’ cluster had a 40% higher risk of mortality than the ‘Healthy foods’ cluster, while the ‘Sweets and desserts’ cluster had a 37% higher risk of mortality.

Bottom line: which group do you want to fit into?

Healthy Aging

Results of this study suggest that older adults who follow a dietary pattern consistent with current guidelines to consume relatively high amounts of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, low-fat (organic, hormone-free) dairy products, poultry and fish, may have a lower risk of mortality. Adherence to this style of eating appears to be a feasible and realistic recommendation for potentially improved survival and quality of life in the growing older adult population. For ease of fresh, local organic produce and dairy products delivered right to your door, Manhattan Milk does all the work! Now sit back and enjoy life!

Want to Lose More Weight? Calcium and Vitamin D are KEY

New study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals that higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D levels are related to greater diet-induced weight loss. Sounds great – but getting your dairy from the right source is vital to your success. Too many of the milk products found in today’s market are from poorly fed, mistreated cows treated who are injected with hormones such as rBST to increase milk production. Savvy consumers are now more and more turning to home delivery services such as ManhattanMilk, which provide only the highest quality local, fresh and organic sources of milk and dairy products to ensure the health, vitality and safety of their families.

Regardless of diet, researchers found that participants of this study with the highest dairy calcium intake (equal to 12 oz. of milk or other dairy products, or 580 mg of dairy calcium) lost about 12 pounds by the end of the two year period. When compared to those with the lowest dairy calcium intake (averaging about 150 mg dairy calcium, or about half of a glass), these participants only lost seven pounds on average. Clearly adding in a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise, a whole-food based diet, plenty of deep sleep and tons of fresh water can only enhance such a program, but there has to be more to this, right?

Beyond calcium, researchers also found that blood levels of vitamin D independently affected weight loss success and that Vitamin D levels increased among those who lost more weight. Why is this? Vitamin D increases calcium absorption in the bloodstream, as well as a myriad of health enhancing benefits including safely supporting your immune system and cardiovascular system and cancer protection.

Bottom line? Daily safe sun exposure for 15-20 minutes can enhance your routine, as well as the consumption of fortified organic milk, free range and cage-free eggs, wild, fatty fish and optimal Vitamin D3 supplementation – all being vital to a new healthier body composition.

A Dozen Foods for New Moms

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your new baby is to nourish your body with a healthy, balanced diet.

Many women are in a hurry to lose those pregnancy pounds. Did you know that eating foods that boost your energy at regular intervals will provide you with the stamina you need to be the best mom you can be? This is because eating nutrient-rich foods throughout the day can maximize the precious energy your body is trying to preserve as a new mom.

If you are nursing your baby, it is important for you and your baby that the quality of your breast milk stays consistent no matter what you choose to eat. When you are not getting the additionally required nutrients from your diet or supplements, your body will provide them from your own stores. For your well-being, it is best to make sure you are obtaining the nutrients you and your baby need by incorporating a variety of healthy breastfeeding-friendly foods into your nursing mom food plan.

Try your best to incorporate the following 12 foods for new moms as a regular part of your diet; your body — and your baby — will thank you!

1. Salmon

Salmon is pretty close to the perfect food when it comes to a nutritional powerhouse for new moms (please make sure it is safe wild Atlantic salmon). One of the best breastfeeding foods out there, salmon, like other fatty fish, is loaded with a type of fat called DHA. DHA is crucial to the development of your baby’s nervous system. All breast milk contains DHA, but levels of this essential nutrient are higher in the milk of women who get more DHA from their diets. The DHA in salmon may also help your mood as it may play a role in preventing postpartum depression.

One caution: FDA guidelines recommend that breastfeeding women limit consumption of fish (due to heavy metal contamination) to 12 ounces per week because of potential exposure to mercury. Salmon is considered to have a low mercury content when compared to other types of fish, such as shark, tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish.

2. Low-Fat Dairy Products

Whether you prefer yogurt, milk, or cheese, organic, rBST-free, antibiotic and hormone-free dairy products are an important part of healthy breastfeeding. In addition to providing protein, B vitamins, and vitamin D, dairy products are one of the best sources of calcium. If you are breastfeeding, your milk is loaded with calcium to help your baby’s bones develop, so it is critical for you to eat enough calcium to meet your own needs as well as theirs! Other great forms of milk include almond milk and rice milk.

3. Lean Beef and Turkey

When you’re looking for foods to boost your energy as a new mom, seek out iron-rich foods like lean beef and turkey (ensure it is from antibiotic and hormone-free animals). A deficiency of iron can drain your energy levels, making it hard for you to keep up with the demands of a newborn baby. Also, when you’re nursing, you need to eat extra protein and vitamin B-12. Lean beef and turkey are excellent sources for both of these nutrients.

4. Legumes

Beans, especially dark-colored ones like black beans and kidney beans, are a great breastfeeding food, especially for vegetarians. Not only are they rich in iron, they’re a budget-friendly source of high quality, non-animal protein, help stabilize your blood sugars, and are an excellent source of fiber to help keep your digestion regular.

5. Blueberries

Breastfeeding moms should be sure to get two or more servings of fruit (fresh or frozen) each day. Antioxidant-rich blueberries are an excellent choice to help you meet your needs. These satisfying and yummy berries are filled with good-for-you vitamins and minerals which will give you a healthy dose of complex carbohydrates to keep your energy levels high, protect your eyes and provide antioxidant protection! Delicious blended into smoothies, raw, frozen or sprinkled onto a salad.

6. Brown Rice

If you’re attempting to lose the baby weight, you might be tempted to drastically cut back on your carbohydrate consumption. But losing weight too quickly may cause you to produce less milk for the baby and leave you feeling lethargic and sluggish. It is wiser to incorporate healthy, whole-grain carbs like brown rice and quinoa in your diet to keep your energy levels up (an added protein boost would be to sprinkle in some edamame beans).

7. Oranges

Portable and nutritious, oranges are a great food to boost energy for new moms. Nursing moms need even more vitamin C than pregnant women, which makes oranges and other citrus fruits an excellent breastfeeding food. Can’t find time to sit down to a snack? Sip on some freshly squeezed orange juice (dilute with water if from concentrate to decrease the amount of sugar) as you go about your day — you’ll get the vitamin C benefit and can even opt for calcium-fortified varieties to get even more benefit from your beverage, or similarly, supplement safely with vitamin C as a less sugary option.

8. Eggs

Egg yolk is one of the few natural sources of vitamin D (aside from fatty fish) — an essential nutrient to keep your bones strong and help your baby’s bones grow (opt for cage-free, antibiotic-free and organic eggs when possible). Beyond that, eggs are a versatile way to meet your daily protein needs. Try scrambling up a couple of eggs for breakfast, tossing a hard-boiled egg or two on your lunchtime salad, or having an omelet and salad for dinner. As part of your diet, you might even opt for DHA-fortified eggs to increase the level of this essential fatty acid in your milk.

9. Whole-Wheat Bread

Folic acid is crucial to your baby’s development in the early stages of pregnancy, but its importance doesn’t end there. Folic acid is an important nutrient in your breast milk that your baby needs for good health. And it’s crucial you eat enough for your own well-being, too. Enriched whole-grain breads and pastas are fortified with this vital nutrient, and they also give you a healthy dose of fiber and iron. Safe supplementation with folate is another great option to keep your body optimally protected and can typically be found in a complex B Vitamin.

10. Leafy Greens

The list of benefits you get from eating leafy green vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and broccoli goes on and on. They’re filled with vitamin A, which your baby needs to get from your breast milk. They’re a non-dairy source of dietary calcium. They’ve got vitamin C and iron. On top of that, green veggies are filled with heart-healthy antioxidants, they’re low calorie, and they’re tasty to boot.

12. Whole-Grain Cereal

After yet another sleepless night, one of the best foods to boost energy for new moms in the morning is a healthy breakfast of whole-grain cereal such as gluten-free oats, quinoa, millet. Many cold cereals are available that are fortified with essential vitamins and nutrients to help you meet your daily needs but these are typically packed with added sugars and additives (opt for a great daily vitamin instead!). Try whipping up a healthy hot breakfast by stirring blueberries and milk into a delicious serving of oatmeal or quinoa and toss in your favorite nuts for added protein and sprinkle in some yummy cinnamon.

12. Water

Dehydration is one of the biggest energy drains there is. New moms who are breastfeeding are especially at risk. To keep your energy levels and milk production up, make sure you stay well hydrated. You can vary your options and meet some of your fluid requirements by drinking water regularly throughout the day and aim for half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. Careful with coffee and regular tea since caffeine enters your breast milk and can cause your baby to become irritable and sleep poorly. Opt for herbal teas instead.

Milk — Clean, Fresh, Organic

What’s the deal with rbST? rbST stands for recombinant bovine somatotropin, and it is found in many of the dairy products that we regularly consume without us even knowing it (Monsanto has been selling it since 1993). Cows produce bovine growth hormone naturally, but some producers administer an additional recombinant version of BGH to increase milk production.

Why is this dangerous for me? Bovine growth hormone stimulates liver production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which can stimulate cancer growth in humans. Studies link the higher levels of IGF-1 found in human blood with increased rates of breast, prostate and colon cancer.

What can I do to avoid it? Milk from cows given rbST is still, for some reason, permitted to be sold in the United States, so be aware! Milk that advertises that it comes from cows not treated with rbST is required to state this finding on its label. All of the milk and dairy products sold through Manhattan Milk are certified rbST-free, so you can feel safe and confident with each and every taste…

What is Milk?

By Dr. Laurie Teitelman, N.D.

MILK is a complex food. All milk is made of the three macronutrients: protein, fat and carbohydrate; and humans are equipped to digest all three. A good source of complete protein, milk contains all the essential amino acids in the right amounts. Milk, as a whole food, contains enough carbohydrates for energy and has a good balance of fats, both saturated and unsaturated. The fats in milk enable the body to digest protein and assimilate calcium. The saturated fats in milk are rapidly burned for energy, unlike polyunsaturated fats, which the body tend to get stored.

MILK is not created equal. Some milk is better than others, and we have to take three factors into account: the cow (its living conditions, what is it fed, how it is treated, etc.), the environment (toxic, polluted, etc.) and human health (what is your current state of health, allergies, risk factors for disease, etc.).

Some forms of milk, such as yogurt, are easily digestible, as they are cultured or fermented. Even people who think they are lactose intolerant can usually enjoy these since they contain little (if any) lactose. Beneficial bacteria have already consumed the lactose and turned it into the lactic acid that imparts the distinctive tangy taste to yogurt. Thanks to these tiny bacteria, almost everyone can digest cultured, organic milk. With cheeses, keep in mind that the longer a cheese has aged, the less lactose it contains.

Grass-Fed Cows

When farmers graze dairy cows outside on their natural diet of grass, the cows are happy and healthy. Farmers who switch away from confinement dairies, grain-based diets and let their cows roam outside eating grass watch their vet bills shrink. One reason is that eating grain gives cows the bovine version of acid indigestion, which can lead to stomach ulcers. Ouch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nutrient Content

Milk is rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains potassium and vitamins C and B, especially B12, which is found only in animal foods. Organic, raw  milk is a major source of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D in the American diet. The calcium and phosphorus in milk are particularly important for handsome facial structure and strong teeth. Dairy foods are also known to reduce oral acidity (which causes decay), stimulate saliva and inhibit plaques and cavities – but this is only when it’s the good, clean stuff; not the conventional milk found on the shelves.

Good things in milk

• Complete protein to build and repair tissues and bones
• Vitamin A for healthy skin, eyes, bones and teeth
• Vitamin D to aid calcium and phosphorus absorption and for bones and teeth
• Thiamine to help turn carbohydrates into energy and aid appetite and growth
• Riboflavin for healthy skin, eyes and nerves
• Niacin for growth and development, healthy nerves and digestion
• Vitamin B6 to build body tissues, produce antibodies and prevent heart disease
• Vitamin B12 for healthy red blood cells, nerves, and digestion, and to prevent heart disease
• Pantothenic acid to turn carbohydrates and fat into energy
• Folic acid to promote the formation of red blood cells and prevent birth defect and heart disease
• Calcium to make strong bones and teeth, and also aids heartbeat, muscle and nerve function
• Magnesium for strong bones and teeth
• Phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
• Zinc for tissue repair, growth and fertility

Keeping Cool in the Summer: Milk that is!

By Dr. Laurie Teitelman, N.D.

Like all perishable foods, milk must be handled and stored properly in order to safely maintain its quality, nutritional benefits and fresh taste.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing and enjoying your dairy products during the hot summer months.

Buying (Manhattan) Milk

When you order from Manhattan Milk, you can feel confident knowing that your produce and dairy products are of utmost quality since the Milk Men, Matt and Frank, deliver everything fresh and cold right to your door by the time you wake up! Their select food list was chosen for the purpose of providing customers with local produce from farms and farmers who take their food and ingredients seriously. For instance, Manhattan Milk only sells milk from local grass-fed cows that is not treated with rBST or other hormones or antibiotics that may hamper the quality of the milk in the first place. Freshly sealed glass bottles are delivered and picked up at your request.

Best Before Date

The best before date indicates how long the unopened product will retain its freshness and high quality. Select the freshest product available. Pasteurization, the process of rapidly heating raw milk, holding it for a short specified period of time, then rapidly cooling it, removes most of the bacteria from milk. Some of the remaining harmless bacteria can grow and multiply, although very slowly, at refrigerator temperatures, eventually causing the products to spoil.

For optimum quality and food safety, milk and dairy products should always be used by the best before date. Once opened, the best before date no longer applies and the storage life depends on how the milk has been stored and handled by the consumer. Milk that has been spoiled should be discarded.

Keep (Manhattan) Milk Cold

Once you have received your Manhattan Milk delivery, bring your groceries into the kitchen and place these foods in the refrigerator as soon as possible. A great tip is to store milk on refrigerator shelves rather than on the doors, which are not cold enough, rotating them to use older products first. Regularly check the temperature of your refrigerator; it should register 40°F (4°C) or lower. For each 18-degree increase in temperature, the spoilage rate of milk doubles. All opened milk products are perishable!

Handling (Manhattan) Milk

• Store milk in the original glass container to safeguard quality and freshness.
• Keep milk containers cold and away from strong-smelling foods.
• To avoid cross contaminating milk, do not return unused milk from a serving pitcher to the original container.
• If milk has been left at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, throw it out.

• Keep it cold!