Tulips are an inspiring indicator that spring is here. Bursting cups of color emerge in a still-rather-gray-and-cold city, and we know that warm weather is riiiight around the corner. We become antsy for change when we see these symbols of spring, ready to slough off winter's tension and toxins.

Living just a few miles from the Skagit Tulip Festival, I ventured out to the countryside to capture one last glimpse of this season's tulips. What I found was nothing short of awesome. Mountain views and dense tulip fields at every turn left me wandering, happily and aimlessly, across the countryside. 

I must say, however, the discovery that excited me the most on this adventure was the sighting of a rare and elusive holistic gem: Raw Milk.

Raw milk is the most natural variety of cow's milk. It is unpasteurised, whole, and non-homogenized. Exceptionally creamy and delicious, raw milk is also the most nutritious milk you can find. Intuitively, the cattle that produce raw milk must live a nourishing life in order to produce such high quality milk. For this reason, the price tag is significantly higher (I paid $5 for a half gallon), but for the health benefits and the taste, it is certainly worth more. 

What makes raw milk more nutritious than the commercial 2% or skim you can find at your local grocery store? 

• Digestive Enzymes - Enzymes are present in food (or secreted by the pancreas) in order to break down food and absorb nutrients. The pasteurisation and homogenization process of conventional milk destroys all available digestive enzymes in milk, which is why people often have indigestion after drinking it. 
• Vitamin D - This vitamin is essential for calcium absorption and can prevent cancer! Vitamin D is largely removed from reduced-fat milk, and if the milk is fortifed, the type of vitamin D used is significantly more difficult for the body to assimilate. 
• Fat - Fat is healthy? Whaat?! Yep, it is. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, so it cannot do its job without some yummy, natural fat. Pasture-raised cattle's milk also has a higher ratio of anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, skim and low-fat varieties of milk will spike your blood sugar, leading to cravings and a lack of satiety. 
• Minerals - Minerals such as calcium only come from two places: the ocean or plants. What you see on the food label is an estimate, and calcium levels can vary widely depending on the cow's diet. Cows that eat naturally occurring plants (as opposed to genetically modified corn) eat a wide range of minerals, which inevitably ends up in your milk! 

Unfortunately, Raw Milk Laws prohibit the retail of raw milk in most states. Why? Well, the dairy industry makes billions of dollars each year by raising cows in harsh, unnatural conditions with unnatural feed. This leads to infected udders and bacteria contamination. If milk from these cattle was not pasteurised, it would pose a serious health threat to society. Moreover, what would happen to the sales of commercial milk if everyone could purchase delicious raw milk from their local farmers? 

If raw milk is not available in your state, seek out 2%, whole and organic varieties to reap some of the same benefits previously mentioned. And, if you feel passionately about making raw milk available for purchase in your state, join the Farm-to-Consumer's Petition, or send a message to your local legislator. 

In the meantime, I will leave you with beautiful, multicolored free-range eggs. More on these natural beauties soon!