What is A2 Milk and Why Does it Matter?

Estimated time to read 8 minutes

There were a lot of decisions to make when developing a toddler formula we could wholeheartedly call optimal.

“I decided to create a formula because I had a difficult breastfeeding journey and had trouble finding one I really liked. Being the total nerd I am, I buried myself in research to determine what ingredients would make one nutritionally balanced and optimal for growing little ones,” says Serenity Carr, Co-Founder, and CEO of Serenity Kids, “One big decision was what type of milk to use as a base for the formula.”

After extensive research around the needs of young children, like nutrition and digestion, led us to A2 milk. Not familiar? Here’s the full scoop. We’re going to get super “sciencey” here, so stick with us...

What is A2 Milk?

You might be thinking, isn’t cow’s milk just cow’s milk? Maybe you seek out options like organic or grass-fed, but when it comes to the protein, you might have thought it was all the same.

Actually, that’s not the case. While one type of milk dominates grocery shelves in our modern-day, the reality is that there are two types of cow’s milk protein and they are actually quite different in how our bodies digest them. Let’s get into the differences (and a little history lesson).

The History
Traditionally, all cow’s milk contained the same primary protein as human milk: A2/A2 beta-casein. However, over time, there was a genetic mutation in cows in European dairy herds and an A1 beta-casein variation resulted in cows with two types of proteins – A1 and A2.

The A1 and A2 refer to different forms of beta-casein, a part of the curds (i.e., milk solids) that make up about 30% of the protein content in milk.

For a cow to produce true A2 milk, the cow must have two copies of the A2 gene in its DNA. Each animal receives one copy of the beta-casein gene from its sire (father) and one copy from its dam (mother). This is why you’ll sometimes see A2 milk referred to as A2/A2, which serves to indicate that the cow has been genetically tested to confirm it has two copies of the A2 gene.

The differences
Unfortunately, the “newer” A1 beta-casein can be difficult for humans to digest and is linked to a number of health issues. A little science explains why.

Proteins, including milk proteins, are made of chains of amino acids. The difference between The A1 and A2 variants of beta-casein differ at amino acid position 67. In A1 beta-casein protein, histidine (CAT) is in position 67. In A2 beta casein, proline (CCT) is in position 67. This difference is the only change that results from the genetic variation (also known as a single nucleotide polymorphism or SNP) in A1 vs. A2 cows.

While it is a single difference, it leads to a key change in the secondary structure of how the protein is expressed. Digestion of the A1 variant of beta-casein in raw or processed milk leads to the generation of a bioactive peptide, beta casomorphin 7 (BCM7).

Best Sellers

They're not just parent favorites—they're little ones favorites too.

Little World Traveler Pack
18 Ct.
$84.95

The concern with BCM7
Research suggests that BCM7 is associated as a risk factor for human health hazards. It is linked to Type 1 diabetes and is also known to oxidize low density lipoproteins (also known as LDL cholesterol). Oxidation of LDL is believed to be a primary contributor to the dangerous formation of arterial plaque, a precursor to heart disease.

BCM7 can also affect numerous opioid receptors in the nervous, endocrine and immune system, which can influence a number of conditions, including atopic dermatitis in children. In addition, BCM7 interacts with opioid and serotonin receptors, the known modulators of synaptogenesis (the process during which synapse formation between neurons occurs in early brain development that plays a vital role in learning, memory formation, and adaptation). Therefore, some research suggests that chronic exposure to elevated levels of bovine BCM7 as in A1 cow’s milk may impair early child development.

Why We Chose A2 Milk

Based on our understanding of the differences between A1 and A2 milk, and the potential risks associated with A1 milk as described above, A2 milk clearly came out ahead. But what else about A2 milk made it our top choice to use when formulating the optimal toddler formula?

1. Similarity to Breastmilk
A2 beta-casein is the same protein that exists naturally in human breast milk. This means that A2 milk is more structurally comparable to the beta-casein protein in human breast milk, and therefore often an easier transition to cow’s milk for babies who were breastfed.

In other words, A2 beta-casein protein is the most natural type of milk protein to the human body. It is the kind of milk our bodies are wired to digest. This doesn’t mean that everybody will be able to digest it, but a broader portion of the population will be able to tolerate A2 milk than A1 milk.

2. Digestion
Several studies, as well as observational data, suggest that the protein in A2 milk is easier to digest than in A1 milk. This difference in structure between A1 and A2 milk can help minimize food reactivity symptoms like bloating, gas, indigestion, and skin irritation. This is of particular relevance for toddlers, who tend to have digestion that is less mature and may tolerate A1 protein less readily.

3. Taste
A2 whole milk tastes like the slightly sweet and creamy milk that most people are used to.

4. Other Vitamin Content
As compared to goat’s milk, cow’s milk (and in particular, grass-fed regenerative organic A2 milk) contains other important nutrients for toddler growth and development, including vitamin B12 and folate. Calcium content is comparable.

Why We Chose A2 Milk from Alexandre Family Farm

We source our pure A2/A2 milk from Alexandre Family Farm. Here’s why:

1. Regenerative Farming
Alexandre Family Farm was the First Certified Regenerative organic dairy farm in the US. They are certified by both the Savory Institute and the Regenerative Organic Alliance.

2. Commitment to Animal Health
Alexandre Family Farm proudly carries the Eco-Dairy seal. This seal memorializes their commitments to animal feeding and health practices, animal genetics, holistic regenerative farming, and sustainability practices.

3. Better Fats
The regenerative organic milk from Alexandre Farm is higher in healthy fats than other A2 milk on the market. This is because Alexandre Farm is the only regenerative organic farm producing A2 milk in the United States, and the difference in how cows are raised directly translates into the nutrient quality of their milk.

Conclusion

Our extensive research around the benefits of various dairy products and how they meet the needs and tastes of discerning toddlers and their health-conscious parents led us to confidently choose A2/A2 milk from Alexandre Family Farm. We find it fits perfectly at the intersection of taste, nutrition, and sustainability and we can’t wait for you to try it!

This article was written in collaboration with Hillary Bennetts

Hillary Bennetts is a nutritionist and business consultant focusing on health for mamas and babies through the prenatal, postpartum, and infant/toddler stages. In addition to nutrition consulting, she provides business consulting and content creation for companies in the health and wellness industry. Hillary spent almost a decade in corporate consulting before shifting gears to combine her lifelong passion for health and wellness with her business background and nutrition education.

Hillary holds a Bachelors in Economics from Washington and Jefferson College, an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, and is certified as a Holistic Nutritionist through Bauman College. She lives in Colorado with her husband and toddler son, with another baby boy on the way in September 2021.