A 2023 review by Torres‑Gonzalez & Bradley at Mass General Brigham found that milk isn’t just saturated fat—its unique structure (like milk polar lipids and odd‑chain fatty acids) speeds up cholesterol digestion, lowers inflammation, supports healthy gut bacteria, and shields against metabolic stress.

A 2020 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that drinking unpasteurised milk increases levels of Lactobacillus in the gut—beneficial bacteria that support digestion and immune health. Two studies in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2011 & 2015) linked raw milk to a significantly reduced risk of asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections in children.