Goats Milk Benefits
Although it is still relatively rare in the United States, where cow's milk is king, worldwide, the consumption of goat's milk is actually higher than that of cow's milk. As the interest in sustainability and finding healthier alternatives to common foods grows, even more people are looking into goat's milk and products made from it, such as cheese and butter, as an alternative to consuming cow's milk. While cow and goat milk are similar in their basic composition, goat's milk does provide some significant benefits over that of cows.
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A Greener Milk Altenative
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Goats take up less space, use less resources and require less medical treatment than their bovine cousins in the production of their milk. According to the website Goat World, "Most of the upsurge in goat popularity (in the U.S.) has been the result of a growing trend toward attaining some measure of self sufficiency on the part of many people, for both economic and aesthetic purposes." A suburban family could even keep a goat to meet their daily milk needs, decreasing the need for millions of hormone-treated, methane-producing cows.
A Potential Alternative for Lactose Intolerant People
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Lactose is a sugar that occurs naturally in milk. People with lactose intolerance can not metabolize this sugar. Sufferers may experience flatulence, bloating, cramping and diarrhea. While goat's milk and cow's milk contain similar levels of lactose, some people actually find goat's milk easier to digest, thereby avoiding the unpleasant symptoms of lactose intolerance.
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Excellent Source of Calcium
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The body needs calcium to grow and maintain bone density, and to maintain dental health. One cup of goat's milk contains 33 percent of the RDA of calcium and only 168 calories. A cup of goat's milk also contains a higher amount of vitamin A, riboflavin and niacin than the same amount of cow's milk.
A Good Source of Protein
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One cup of goat's milk provides 8.7 grams of protein, about 18 percent of the RDA for protein. Protein is made up of amino acids that are used by our bodies for tissue repair and muscle growth. Goat's milk is a cost-effective source of high-quality protein.
Potassium
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Potassium is used by the body to regulate blood pressure and heart function. One cup of goat's milk provides just under 500 mg of this cardiovascular-protecting nutrient.
Healthier for Children
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Because goat's milk does not contain agglutinin, the fat globules don't cluster together like they do in cow's milk, making goat's milk easier for the body to digest. Because it doesn't contain agglutinin, goat's milk does not need to be homogenized. Homogenization alters the chemical structure of the fat in milk. There is some debate as to the effects on heath of drinking milk that has been homogenized.
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