Goat milk: composition, beneficial properties and contraindications

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

All creations of nature are unique - you just need to be able to see it. As for goat's milk, its exceptional effect on the human body was noticed by the ancients. No wonder that according to ancient Greek tradition, the baby Zeus was fed with this drink.

From ancient times to the present day

Why Zeus, Pythagoras himself ate honey, tea, fruits, vegetables and … goat's milk, which he considered a drink that prolongs youth. According to various sources, the great mathematician and philosopher lived from 80 to 90 years, which at that time could be equated with immortality.

Still more than 70% of all milk on earth is produced by goats. Although this product can hardly be called commercial. Cow's milk cannot be surpassed in popularity, but the ratio of useful properties and contraindications to goat's milk makes this drink the world leader.

Both useful and practical

Goats are much smaller creatures than cows, so they are more convenient to keep, they are compact and unpretentious in food.

This is what originally servedan impetus to the growth of the number of goats in Transcaucasia, in the North Caucasus, Greece and Italy, the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia. Only later, comparing goat's milk with cow's, people began to note its medicinal properties and exceptional usefulness.

Goats, whatever one may say, are still smarter than cows. They eat not only grasses, but also leaves of shrubs, bark and tree branches. And, what is remarkable, they eat only goodies that are he althy for them. This explains the high saturation and usefulness of their milk. Although, in fairness, it should be noted that cow milk contains 5 times more vitamin B12, and the content of folic acid is 10 times higher.

Mom First

Now many expectant mothers are also strongly recommended to use it if there are no contraindications. Goat's milk is similar in composition to mother's milk, as it contains beta-casein. And the presence of sialic acid helps to strengthen the immune system of both the pregnant woman and the newborn baby.

Milk is irreplaceably useful for those expectant mothers who have severe toxicosis or heartburn. Goat milk reduces acidity, which helps to eliminate these two unpleasant factors during pregnancy, or at least reduce the number of uncomfortable hours.

Fat utility

The fat content of goat milk is from 4 to 9% (it depends on the breed). But since the fat balls are 6-8 times smaller than cow's, the drink is more homogeneous in consistency, and digestibility is an order of magnitude higher. And saturation with microelements and other useful substances, coupled withfinely dispersed fat content of goat milk, well make the drink not only he althy, but also nutritious.

Composition

The composition is truly unique in terms of saturation with microelements:

• K - potassium normalizes the work of muscle cells, is responsible for the activity of the body's nerve cells.
• P - phosphorus regulates metabolic processes through the transfer of energy. It also consists of the basis of skeletal tissues.
• Mg - magnesium promotes the absorption of calcium, regulates the process of protein synthesis, metabolic processes between cells.
• Ca - calcium is involved in the process of normalization of osmotic pressure and the process of blood clotting.
• I - iodine regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland, regulates energy metabolism.
• Na – known as the "element of youth", sodium is involved in the normalization of the acid-base and water balance of the body.
• Mo - molybdenum supports the functionality of the joints, promotes the removal of uric acid, is involved in the synthesis of amino acids and hemoglobin.
• Cu - copper affects the skin and hair, affects the formation of collagen, elastin, red blood cells. Participates in the work of the respiratory and nervous systems.
• F - fluorine is responsible for the formation of protective tooth enamel, protects them from caries, stimulates the immune system. Removes radionuclides from the body.
• Mn - manganese is exceptionally useful for connective tissues. Affects the functioning of the gonads, growth, hematopoiesis, brain function.

It contains vitamins A, B, C, D, E, H, PP.

Besides this:

• lecithin;
• choline;
• albumin;
• globulin;
• biotin.

All this together makes goat's milk literally the elixir of life and an absolutely indispensable drink in the diet of people of all ages and in any state of he alth.

Goat's milk has proven itself both as a prophylactic and as an auxiliary supplement to the main therapy. Although, if it comes to allergy sufferers, then you can simply solder the sufferer with goat's milk. Without any pills, after some time he will become a full-fledged sniffer, eater and generally a consumer of everything in the world, as the disease will be over.

Contraindications

But there are people for whom goat's milk is good and bad at the same time. And the harm in some cases may be greater.

With extreme caution and only after consulting with experts, you can drink it to those who have:

• diseases of the pancreas;
• prone to obesity;
• various endocrine disorders.

But this is more of a recommendation to be careful in using the product.

Differences

If you have never tried homemade goat milk before, then before buying it in the store, it is still worth going to the market and trying it. The tart and milder taste, once tasted, will be more difficult to confuse with cow.

There are other distinctive points. With natural bactericidal properties, goat's milk can be stored withoutloss of quality and usefulness within 48 hours, and chilled up to 10 days.

From rickets and other childhood ailments

Given the specificity of goat's milk, children are recommended to give it from the age of 3. But for babies, this product may be simply irreplaceable. Some babies are lactose intolerant and cow's milk in the diet will be unacceptable. And this special milk is the best alternative to artificial feeding or auxiliary enzymes created in pharmaceutical laboratories. Goat milk is also excellent for any other allergic reactions of the child's body or diarrhea.

Rich in calcium, milk will help strengthen the bones, teeth and joints of a growing body. A unique set of vitamins and trace elements helps strengthen the developing immune system and protects against the development of infectious diseases.

Also, the drink will be a great opportunity to support the body, give it strength and energy after acute poisoning, if given after 2-3 hours.

However, goat's milk can benefit and harm the body of infants. The drink contains a small amount of iron, which can cause anemia.

If you really want to saturate the child's body with natural vitamins, then you first need to check with the pediatrician at what age goat's milk can be given to a particular baby.

Can the elderly drink this milk?

As mentioned above, since ancient times this milk has been considered a drink of youth and there are realconfirmation - in some sources it is called the "elixir of longevity." Due to the unique vitamin composition, it stops the aging of body cells and reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease. And calcium, which is in abundance in it, helps to avoid osteoporosis, which is important in old age.

The positive effect of goat milk on the functioning of the thyroid gland and the cardiovascular system has been noted. With regular use, efficiency increases and memory improves.

Also, the anti-aging properties of goat's milk are used by cosmetologists to give freshness to the skin of the face. Masks from this amazing drink make hair strong and shiny.

Pros

After analyzing the beneficial properties and contraindications of goat milk, we can safely recommend it for regular use. With only rare exceptions, this unique drink will help solve he alth issues without the use of pills, in which contraindications often offset the positive effect.

Beta-carotene (provitamin A), contained in this life-giving moisture, is indispensable for preventive measures against cancer.

Regular consumption of this milk drink, rich in fluorine, chlorine and silicon, supports the body in preventing diabetes more than milk from other animals.

Goats never get tuberculosis, brucellosis and other cow diseases, which means they have antibodies to these ailments. Therefore, goat's milk is recommended to drink withtuberculosis, allergic reactions of the body, asthma.

Since, unlike cow's milk, goat's milk is not acidic, but alkaline, it is good to take it for stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal diseases associated with high acidity.

Goat's milk contains 50% more polyunsaturated acids than cow's milk, which helps to increase the body's resistance to infectious bacteria, which means that it is an excellent addition to postoperative therapy.

Also, these acids contribute to the normalization of cholesterol metabolism, that is, they, like seaweed, fish oil or olive oil, have a pronounced anti-sclerotic effect.

And some cons

Of the minuses, it is worth noting that you need to buy only from trusted goat breeders. Otherwise, the milk must be brought to a boil, as it may contain brucellosis (bacteria).

If the purchased milk has a repulsive pungent smell and taste, then it must be subjected to heat treatment and, in general, it is better to put it on offal. It will be both he althier and safer.

In general, it is better to buy either in the markets where there is their own veterinary control, or in the village, from friends or acquaintances of someone's friends, especially if you can see the goat itself, which is being milked and evaluate its he alth and hygiene content.

Goat milk products

Derivatives are also unique from this drink - yogurt, cheeses, yoghurts, butter, cottage cheese. All of them can be prepared at home withdesire. But it is better to buy cheeses and butter ready-made and from well-known producers in the region, since the manufacturing process is laborious and lengthy. Moreover, the separation process is more complicated than with cow's milk, since the cream yields 1:10.

And yet, goat's milk is much lighter than cow's milk, and products from it also turn out to be unrealistically white. And in order not to strain buyers with this, some manufacturers add a little carrot juice to the oil. Both useful and familiar color.

1. Goat milk yogurt, for example, can be made 2-3 times a week and served as a dessert with jam or honey. And the recipe is very simple.

Ingredients:

• 0.5 liters of goat milk.
• 1 gram dry yogurt starter or live yogurt.

Recipe:

• Milk, stirring, boil for 1 minute.
• Let cool for 40 minutes in a sterilized jar.
• Add starter or natural yogurt.
• Pour the mixture into a thermos warmed with boiling water.
• Insulate the thermos with a blanket or put it in a warm place for a day.
• After the time has elapsed, pour the finished yogurt into molds and leave to cool for a couple of hours.

2. Surprisingly tender curd is obtained from goat's milk. Of the ingredients - only 1 liter of goat's milk.

• Pour into a container and put in a warm place to sour.
• Pour the sour mass into a saucepan and heat without boiling.
• The mass, divided into curd and whey, put on gauze and let drain.
• After 8 hours, cottage cheesetransfer to a container and place in the cold.
• Let it dry and after a few hours the product is ready to use.

3. Yogurt from goat's milk is prepared for a long time, but very simply.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of milk.
• 0, 5 cups sour cream.

Recipe:

• Bring milk to a boil and cool to 30°Ϲ.
• Add sour cream and mix thoroughly.
• For 6-10 hours, place the container with the warm mixture in a water bath and maintain the temperature around 30°Ϲ.
• After the expiration date, cool the curdled milk to 8-10°Ϲ.

Bon appetit and stay he althy!