Goat milk is the most used dairy in the world. Its consumption level is so high that it has almost 65-72% of the global dairy consumers. This is partially due to the ease of keeping goats as opposed to cows in developing countries.
What distinguishes goat milk from other forms of milk is its thickness and creaminess. It has numerous health benefits too. For example, it is easier to digest, has less risk of causing milk allergies, and promotes better heart health. Goat milk has lower lactose and acidic content than cow’s milk. While it takes your body two hours to digest cow’s milk, it only takes your body 30 minutes to absorb the nutrients in goat milk.
Nutritional Value
A cup of goat milk has:
Calories- 170
Protein- 9 grams
Fat- 10 grams
Carbohydrates- 11 grams
Sugars- 11 grams
Cholesterol- 25 milligrams
Counting Benefits of Goat Milk
Here are the 10 health benefits of goat milk
Good for Skin
According to research, milk is an active ingredient for improving skin conditions. The main source of active molecules of milk consists of casein and whey proteins, which demonstrate a range of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. For example, it helps reduce acne and blackheads. In addition, it helps moisturize, smoothen, and whiten your skin.
The benefits of goat milk for your skin go beyond the general skin benefits of milk. Goat milk and human skin have the same skin pH. It means that when you use goat milk to cleanse your skin, it does not disturb the skin’s natural microbiome or acid mantle. So, if you have sensitive skin issues like psoriasis or eczema, goat milk will help immensely.
Goat milk has lactic acid and fatty acids, which repair the skin barrier. As per research, the low alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) concentration in goat milk helps hydrate, gently exfoliate and treat sun-damaged skin. In addition, it contributes to noticeably softer skin. They also have probiotics to encourage the growth of normal skin flora.
Promotes a Healthy Weight Gain
A healthy weight lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Furthermore, it also prevents the chance of contracting cancer. Compared to other milk types, goat milk has more calories per serving. However, it has a similar nutritional profile to cow’s milk. Therefore, the extra calories lead to healthy weight gain.
According to a study, goat milk can be used as an alternative to cow’s milk for rehabilitating undernourished children. In case, you are underweight and aiming to gain weight healthily, you should consume goat milk.
Goat Milk is Easier to Digest
The fat globules in goat milk are 20% smaller than in cow’s milk. Hence, these are easier to digest. It is also lower in lactose, making it an excellent alternative to cow milk for people suffering from lactose intolerance.
The milk supports smooth metabolism processes and easy digestion.
Increases Platelet Count
Dengue fever’s significant complications are selenium deficiency and a drop in blood platelet count. However, research suggests goat milk helps treat dengue patients by increasing blood platelets. That is because selenium is its main component. In addition, it also helps with the digestive and metabolic utilization of various minerals present in the body.
Goat Milk Helps Prevent Milk Allergies in Kids
Goat milk has a good amount of A2 casein. 100ml of goat milk contains about 3.6 grams of A2 casein. A2 casein has high protein levels, just like human breast milk. Therefore, it prevents inflammatory diseases of colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Usually, babies are given goat milk as the first source of protein after breastfeeding. That makes them less prone to milk allergies than cow’s milk.
Helps Prevent Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis is a condition where the arteries carrying oxygen and nutrients to and fro the heart and body become thick and stiff. As a result, it restricts blood flow to your organs and tissues.
According to a study, goat milk has a limited amount of xanthine oxidase, an enzyme required to produce uric acid. Xanthine oxidase may cause heart issues in reaching the bloodstream. Hence, less quantity of this enzyme is essential to avoid Arteriosclerosis risk.
Prevents Insulin Resistance
An adequate amount of insulin helps balance your blood glucose levels. It also restores the leftover glucose in your liver when your bloodstream has excess glucose. According to research goat milk prevents insulin resistance primary cause of the increase in blood sugar levels in the body which can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes. It is more problematic because it typically has no symptoms.
Helps Reduce Cholesterol Levels
People with problems like high blood cholesterol should have goat milk. It may help reduce cholesterol levels in the arteries and gall bladder.
As published in a study goat milk may cause an increase in the biliary secretion of cholesterol. The consumption of this type of milk leads to a decrease in plasma cholesterol concentration. Moreover, goat milk consumption decreases plasma triglyceride concentration. As a result, it positively affects lipid metabolism, similar to that of olive oil (standard diet). Lipid metabolism synthesises and degrades lipids in cells. It is also involved in the construction of cell membranes.
Prevents Anaemia
Goat milk is rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Our bodies easily digest and absorb these minerals. As a result, goat milk helps treat nutritional deficiencies such as bone demineralisation. It also fixes iron and magnesium deficiency. It further enhances the ability of the body to use iron. Goat milk boosts the formation of RBCs too. Therefore, patients suffering from anemia, malabsorption issues, or osteoporosis should consume goat milk.
Naturally Homogenised
Cow milk starts separating if left to settle. But this does not happen in the case of goat milk. It is because of the process of homogenisation. Homogenisation is the process of breaking up fat globules in milk by force. It is to achieve emulsification, the combination of fat and water. It is not necessary during goat milk processing. Hence, it is the healthiest option readily available to us.