The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Katie Cunningham
The article discusses the differences between types of milk and their impact on nutrition and digestion. It highlights how cow's milk contains both whey and casein proteins, with some people experiencing digestive discomfort from A1 beta-casein protein rather than A2. a2 Milk, which comes from cows that produce only the A2 type of beta-casein protein, is presented as an alternative for those who have trouble digesting regular milk but still want to consume dairy products. The piece emphasizes growing research suggesting better tolerance and digestive comfort with A2-only milk compared to conventional milk.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
As kitchen all-rounders go, it’s hard to beat the versatility of milk.
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it → go → milk
It’s the key to our coffee, plays a starring role in our bowl of cereal and is a secret weapon in everything from a weeknight pasta bake through to the kids’ birthday cake.
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It → ’ → cake
With a bottle in the fridge, you can start the day with a cozy bowl of porridge, top up your tea or whip up a dinner-saving white sauce with ease.
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you → start → ease
Different milks can vary in the nutrients and proteins they contain, which may influence both their nutritional profile and, for some people, their digestive experience.
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which → vary → people
Here’s what you need to know.
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you → ’ → what
Milk, proteins, amino acids and your gut
You might already know that cow’s milk is a natural source of protein, the macronutrient we need for muscle growth and maintenance as well as helping us feel full after meals.
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us → know → meals
But the nutritional benefits of cow’s milk aren’t limited to the grams of protein it provides.
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it → limit → protein
Protein is made up of chains of amino acids – the “building blocks” used to grow and repair muscle, skin, hair and organs.
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Protein → make → muscle
But dairy milk offers a complete source of the essential nine amino acids that our body can’t produce on its own and must get from food, which is why dairy milk is considered a complete source of protein.
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milk → offer → protein
You may not know that there are also important differences between cow’s milks.
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You → know → milks
Cow’s milk actually contains two different kinds of milk protein: whey and casein.
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milk → contain → protein
Whey digests quickly, which is why it’s so popular as a post-workout protein supplement.
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it → digest → supplement
Casein digests slowly, supporting crucial functions like overnight muscle recovery.
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Casein → digest → recovery
Both whey and casein serve important purposes in our body.
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whey → serve → body
However, one subtype of beta-casein proteins, the A1-type protein may cause digestive discomfort in some people.
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subtype → cause → people
Historically, all milk contained only A2 beta-casein protein.
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milk → contain → protein
But a natural mutation caused the A1 protein to emerge and spread through dairy herds over time.
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protein → cause → time
Now, most dairy cows in Australia produce milk that contains both A1 and A2 type beta-casein proteins.
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that → produce → proteins
That’s most dairy cows but not all.
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That → ’ → ?
a2 Milk® comes from cows specially selected to produce milk that naturally contains only the A2-type protein, and no A1 protein.
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that → come → protein
a2 Milk may be a suitable option for those people who experience digestive discomfort when drinking regular milk but still want to reap the taste and nutritional benefits of dairy milk.
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who → experience → milk
Dietitian Kerri Segal says research suggests that A2 protein-only milk may be better tolerated by some people than ordinary milk.
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milk → say → milk
Growing evidence is showing that milk containing only A2 beta-casein protein may be linked to better digestive comfort in some populations compared with ordinary milk.
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milk → show → milk
For those people who experience digestive discomfort from ordinary milk, that might be more noticeable in the morning.
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that → experience → morning
That’s because when we wake up, our bodies have just undergone a long fast – a cleansing process that the first meal of the day abruptly stops, activating our digestion.
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meal → ’ → digestion
This can initiate what’s called a gastrocolic reflex, which causes the digestive tract to become more active and food to move through your system much faster than normal.
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food → initiate → system
For those individuals, understanding the differences between milk proteins may help them make informed choices about the milk that best suits their needs.
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that → understand → needs
Make your mornings count
If you’re looking to make a change to your morning nutrition, small swaps can be a great place to start.
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swaps → make → nutrition
Having milk as part of your breakfast ritual, whether it’s your coffee or a bowl of cereal, muesli or porridge is a simple and achievable way to support a nutritious breakfast.
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it → have → breakfast
And thanks to a2 Milk, more Australians can enjoy all the nutritional benefits of dairy milk, without the A1 protein that may cause discomfort for some people.
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that → enjoy → people
With a2 Milk in your fridge, your morning coffee won’t just satisfy the soul, it can also contribute protein, calcium and other key nutrients to your morning routine.
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it → satisfy → routine
The Aporia
