Selasa, 24 April 2012

Should you switch to goats' milk? Fans claim it's less fattening, packed with vitamins and won't trigger allergies

Should you switch to goats' milk? Fans claim it's less fattening, packed with vitamins and won't trigger allergies

By Peta Bee

PUBLISHED: 20:11 EST, 23 April 2012 | UPDATED: 20:13 EST, 23 April 2012


Many people are turning to goats’ milk products as a ‘healthier’ alternative to dairy products â€" indeed the UK market is now worth £50 million a year.

At around £1.40 per litre (compared with 52p for cows’ milk), goats’ milk is clearly not cheap â€" but is it worth the outlay?

First, let’s look at the nutrition.

Goats' milk is thought to be less fattening, packed with vitamins and less likely to spark allergies

Goats' milk is thought to be less fattening, packed with vitamins and less likely to spark allergies

‘Both cows’ and goats’ milk contain similar levels of calcium and most other vitamins and minerals,’ says Jennifer Lowe of the British Dietetic Association.

But when it comes to vitamin B12 â€" which is important for the formation of healthy red blood cells â€" cows’ milk wins hands down.

 

‘Half a tumbler of cows’ milk contains nearly two thirds of the recommended daily intake â€" you’d have to drink nine times that amount of goats’ milk to get the same levels,’ says Lowe.

Some children given goats’ milk have been found to have B12 deficiency (symptoms include fatigue and weakness).

However, goats’ milk may boost iron absorption more effectively than cows’, according to a study last year from the University of Granada in Spain.

The study also found goats’ milk contained higher levels of zinc and selenium, which help the immune system.

Furthermore, many fans of the milk claim that those with an allergy to cows’ milk can happily pour goats’ milk on their cereal.

But this may not be the case.

If you have an allergy to cows’ milk â€" around five per cent of the UK population is thought to be affected â€" you’re likely to have a similar response to goats’ milk, and sheep’s milk, too. < /p>

‘The protein that causes an allergy is very similar in all these types of milk,’ says Lowe.

People who claim to be intolerant to lactose, the natural carbohydrate in milk, often swap cows’ for goats’ milk.

But Lowe points out that, ‘the two actually contain similar levels of lactose â€" 4.1 per cent in goats’ compared with 4.7 per cent in cows’ â€" so switching to goats’ milk won’t make any difference to your symptoms.’

Instead those people with a lactose intolerance should opt for a dairy-free alternative such as soya milk. But could goats’ milk help you shed the pounds?

When it comes to calories and saturated fat, there’s little difference between cows’ and goats’ milk.

A 100ml serving (about half a tumbler) of whole fat cows’ milk provides 67 calories and 3.9 grams of fat, while goats’ contains 60 calories and 3.5 grams of fat.

The semi-skimmed versions of both contain around 45 calories and 1.7 grams fat.

However, although it may not be a great help to slimmers, some claim that goats’ milk helps to minimise abdominal bloating.

Goat's milk contains less calories than the cow variety

Goat's milk contains less calories than the cow variety

It’s true that its fat globules are generally smaller than those in cows’ milk so the body’s digestive enzymes can break it down more rapidly â€" however, there’s no confirmed link with reduced abdominal bloating.

Other more tried and tested methods of reducing bloating include avoiding foods such as onions and cauliflower, which are known to be a cause of the problem.

Experts also recommend trying to avoid ‘gulping’ too much air when drinking and eating.

They advise chewing with your mouth closed, not talking and eating at the same time, and sitting down when you eat.

Drinking lots of fluids is also important, and some experts believe that consuming foods and drinks with probiotic ‘friendly’ bacteria may also help.

And last year’s study at the University of Granada found goats’ milk contained a significant amount of oligosaccharides, compounds that reach the large intestine undigested and act like prebiotics, enhanci ng the growth of healthy ‘probiotic’ gut flora that wards off infections.

There’s been a 40 per cent rise in demand for goats’ milk for children in recent years, the result of an increase in the numbers said to be either allergic to dairy or unable to digest it.

But goats’ milk is not for babies and young infants â€" the proteins are too concentrated for young children to digest and some sources of it are unpasteurised, raising the risk of bacterial infection, diarrhoea and sickness.

According to the Department of Health: ‘Infant formulas and follow-on formulas based on goats’ milk protein have not been approved for use in Europe’.

So when you’re considering whether to switch to goat, it seems that sticking with old-fashioned cow may be better for your health â€" as well as your wallet.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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And all milk's nutrient value is rendered practically useless if it undergoes pasteurisation. If you want to drink milk, drink it RAW.

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They say that it's not suitable for babies, despite the fact that my 9 month old has a lactose/cow's milk protein intolerance, and we have been told to give her goat's milk, as it is more gentle on the stomach!! She can't have formula because all formula is reconstituted cows' milk, and babies are not allowed soya milk as it is one of the most common allergens. So on Dr's advice she has goat's milk when away from me as she is normally breastfed.

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On the other hand I recently head what happens to all those baby goats that have to be taken away from their mothers in order to produce the milk. They are arbitrarily killed ( as are calves of course).

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Even though it is best to not drink cows milk, or products of cows milk, butter, cheese, etc if you have cancer because of the growth factors in milk, it seems that you can still drink goats milk, butter cheese etc. This must be because they are a much older species, and it alters ph level in the blood, a bit like sodium bicarbonate which many cancer sufferers take. It also contains less enzyme xanthise oxidase which can damage the heart. If you have had cancer, best stick to goats milk as well.

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Weaned human infants do not need any kind of milk, especially not from other species.

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Goat smells awful, soya milk is the best for you try it.

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All of which is very interesting and once again goes to prove that mother nature is cleverer than the scientists. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that goats milk is digested more easily than cows milk. One of these days the scientists will work out how, and then they'll tout it as a 'new discovery'. My eldest child was breastfed to start with, but when I tried to put him on formula, cows milk formula made him very sick and soya formula brought him out in instant hives. I found a goat milk formula and he drank it happily and with no ill effects for two years. I know of plenty of other people of middle age and upwards who were given goats milk as children as they weren't able to digest cows milk. In the same way that baby formula is only a crude synthesis of breast milk because scientists cannot possibly understand the intricacies of the real thing, cows milk and goats milk may seem the same on the surface but there is obviously more going on.

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Like drinking milk from Baphomet? No thanks!

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Cows milk at around at around .52 pence per litre. Not in Cyprus it isn't we have the most expensive in the EU at around £1.75

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Nice to see Samanatha "Face Like A" Brick getting some exposure.

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