At nearly double the price of conventional milk in some stores, it is not easy to make the switch to organic milk. But whether you’re buying milk for yourself or your children, organic milk is one organic product definitely worth the extra cash.

The use of the synthetic hormone, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), is the subject of tremendous controversy in the U.S. The FDA believes the milk from cows treated with rBGH is nutritionally identical to the milk from untreated cows, but many health professionals disagree. The European Union, Canada, and several other countries prohibit the use rBGH because of two major concerns.

The first concern is cows treated with rBGH produce milk with increased levels of the hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). IGF-1 is a natural hormone in cows and humans that increases growth by accelerating cell division. High IGF-1 levels in humans have a strong link with increased risk for certain cancers, particularly breast, colon, and prostate cancers. A groundbreaking study conducted at Harvard in 1998 found that women with elevated levels of IGF-1 in their blood were seven times more likely to develop breast cancer. A 1999 European Commission Report estimated milk from cows treated with rBGH contained 25-70% more IGF-1 than milk from untreated cows, but many believe this estimate to be conservative. The FDA maintains IGF-1 in milk is digested before it can be absorbed, but several studies have found the IGF-1 level in people’s blood increases approximately 10% when they drink three eight-ounce glasses of milk daily. Many doctors recommend adults consume moderate amounts of milk because of this concern. Avoiding rBGH-produced milk means being able to enjoy more of the nutritional benefits of milk while reducing the risks associated with high levels of IGF-1.

The second concern about the use of rBGH is the health of the cows. Mastitis, an infection of a cow’s udder, occurs 79% more often in cows treated with rBGH. This causes a 19% increase in somatic cell count, which is pus and bacteria, in the milk from these cows. Mastitis is also treated with antibiotics. The more a cow needs this treatment, the more antibiotic residue and antibiotic-resistant bacteria end up in its milk.

This is where organic milk begins to separate itself from rBGH-free milk. Cows used to produce organic milk are treated with antibiotics, but when they are, their milk cannot be used for 12 months. The milk from non-organic cows can be used once its antibiotic levels are considered acceptable, meaning there is still some. A three-year-long Norwegian study found that non-organic cows were two times more likely to develop mastitis than organic cows. Since rBGH is banned in Norway, none of the cows in the study were given rBGH, and the organic cows were still much healthier.

For a cow’s milk to be certified as organic, it must be able to graze in a pasture. This movement and ability to feed on grass give organic milk its superior nutritional content. It has more than twice as much lutein and zeaxanthine, which are strong antioxidants associated with eye health, as non-organic milk. Organic milk has 500% more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which helps build muscle, increases metabolic functions, and may help in cancer treatment. It also contains more Vitamin E, beta carotene, and more omega-3s.

Another requirement for milk to be labeled organic is it must come from cows fed certified organic feed for the last year and raised on land where no chemical fertilizers or pesticides have been used for at least 36 months. In 2004 the Pesticide Data Program tested samples of both conventional and organic milk. All of the organic samples tested negative for pesticides while 24% of conventional samples tested positive.

Organic milk may be burdened with a high price, but no synthetic hormones, no antibiotics, no pesticides, and more nutritional value are worth every penny.