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All About Goat's Milk

Updated on July 3, 2011
Milk Goats photo: Damon Green @flickr
Milk Goats photo: Damon Green @flickr

A Little Goat Milk History

In the United States, more interest is starting to build about goat's milk among consumers. Around the world, goat's milk is drank more than any other type of milk.

Goats were one of the first animals to be domesticated. Goat's milk and goat cheese have been popular since ancient times.

In case you're wondering, the taste of goat's milk and cow's milk is comparable. As a matter of fact, I prefer goat's milk to 'regular', pasteurized cow's milk from stores. To me, goat's milk tastes sweeter. It's almost like melted ice cream! It tastes similar to organic cow's milk, but richer. So what are the health-related benefits for human nutrition in drinking goat's milk?

Goat Milk Poll

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Cartons of goat milk photo: mutantlog @flickr
Cartons of goat milk photo: mutantlog @flickr

Research Facts About Goat Milk

Strong justifications for drinking goat milk often comes about because of specific health related situations. This is particularly true regarding babies suffering from numerous health conditions, such as cow milk hypersensitivity. Studies during the 80s  demonstrated that cow milk became a main reason for colic, at times deadly. It affected 12-30% of babies younger than three months old being fed formula from cow's milk. Colic in breast fed newborns was also associated with the mom's intake of cow milk.

The answer to the problem seemed simple. A common remedy amongst pediatricians is to switch to vegetable-based formula made from soybeans. Even so, up to half  of newborns having an intolerance to cow's milk also respond negatively to soy. However, roughly 40% of individuals sensitive to cow's milk can digest goat milk proteins easier.

Is Goat Milk Easier to Digest?

Goat milk proteins possess numerous substantial differences in their particular amino acid makeup than milk from other mammals. The main proteins in cow milk are casein. Lots of people having allergic reactions to cow milk proteins may be able to ingest goat milk, since it has a different type of protein.

Goat's milk provides a little less lactose compared to cow's milk. The particular milk fat globules in goat's milk are smaller, allowing goat milk to be easy to digest. As mentioned before, infants can do quite well with goat's milk formulas. The makeup of goat's milk is more similar to human milk than cow's milk. Babies on goat's milk need additional supplements, especially folic acid, but babies can indeed thrive drinking goat's milk formulas.

Because goat milk offers excellent ease of digestion, it makes it a great food for individuals having stomach problems or ulcers as well. Goat's milk seems to have anti-inflammatory compounds, which would also be of great benefit to many health problems, but is another important reason it is a good diet choice for those with digestive or stomach issues.

Goat Milk Nutrition Facts

Goat milk and its foods, such as butter, tend to be white due to the fact all of the yellow colored beta carotene has already been converted to colorless natural vitamin A. Some people can't convert vitamin A in their bodies from beta carotene. So goat's milk is a natural solution for them to be able to ingest and absorb vitamin A.

A cup of goat's milk contains about 170 calories. It has 9 grams of protein. A cupful gives a person 1/3 of  the RDA for calcium. It is also an excellent source for phosphorus and tryptophan. Goat milk has a low GL (glycemic load) rating. This is excellent for diabetics and anyone wanting to lose weight.

In comparison to cow milk, goat's milk contains corresponding amounts of fats, protein, vitamins C plus D, and iron. Goat milk provides more potassium, selenium, and natural vitamin A than cow milk. It has four times more copper and three times more niacin!

Goat Milk vs. Cow Milk - A Few Differences

The biggest difference with goat's milk vs. cow's milk may be the comparable ratios of the many milk proteins as well as in their particular hereditary variances. Goat milk can differ genetically by having none, (called null), or a lot of milk proteins, (high types). Null varieties of goat milk possess curds that are less firm, are more alkaline, as well as have lower amounts of protein and minerals. As a result, this helps clarify considerable distinctions to digesting cow's milk vs. goat's milk by babies, as well as men and women. Because of the smaller fat globules in goat milk, easier digestion has usually been explained with the natural homogenization properties of fat in goat milk.

In fact, the actual make up of goat milk fat could be a lot more significant than the presence of smaller fat globules. Goat milk lipids vary greatly from cow's milk fat. The different aspects of goat milk fat, essential fatty acids and their differing carbon chain lengths and saturation, could have major dietary and health-related importance.

Goats waiting to be milked photo: schoeband @flickr
Goats waiting to be milked photo: schoeband @flickr

Goat Milk Health Benefits - EFAs

Goat milk fat typically possesses 35% of medium chain fatty acids, in comparison to cow milk fat at 17%. Three of these EFAs are actually named after goats: capric, caprylic, and caproic acids. These types of medium chain fatty acids are becoming of significant interest in the healthcare vocation.

It seems that EFAs may have special benefits for many people suffering from metabolic and other health conditions. Goat milk essential fatty acids possess a specific metabolic capability to restrict cholesterol deposits within the human body. Caprylic, capric and various other medium chain fatty acids are already useful for treating digestive tract problems, heart conditions, malabsorption syndrome, malnourishment in premature babies, gallstone complications, and cystic fibrosis. It appears evident that within this lipid research area, there is incredible likelihood of discovering a singular significance and purpose regarding goat's milk, especially goat milk fats and also possibly goat milk butter.

Goat milk cheese photo: stevendepelo @flickr
Goat milk cheese photo: stevendepelo @flickr

In Search of Goat Milk Cheese in the UK

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