Should You Be Drinking Goat Milk (Even if You’re Not a Baby Goat)?

goat milk

 

Goat milk may be the dairy alternative you’ve been looking for.

Cow’s milk simply can’t get a break, can it?

If you aren’t vegan and are searching for a better alternative to cow’s milk, look no further than goat milk. Nut milks may be getting all the attention as the dairy alternative of late, but goat dairy products are the next in-vogue milks–and for good reason.

Goat’s milk has less lactose and a similar chemical structure to that of human breast milk. It makes up 65 percent of the consumption of milk worldwide, but is only recently becoming more popular in the U.S., where cow’s milk currently reigns supreme. It has a denser, creamier texture and earthier taste than cow milk. One cup of full fat goat milk contains 168 calories, 10 percent of the RDA of vitamin A, 33 percent of the RDA of calcium, 10 grams of fat and 9 grams of protein.

While goat’s milk may contain more calories, fat and saturated fat than cow’s milk does, it also contains less sugar and a higher amount of calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A and protein. Cow’s milk offers more B vitamins and selenium, but considering that it is very difficult to digest goat milk may still be the healthier choice.

The fat globules in goat’s milk are much smaller than they are in cow’s milk, making them easier for digestive enzymes to break down. Goat’s milk also contains higher levels of short- and medium-chain fatty acids, giving it the unique ability to improve the metabolism while inhibiting cholesterol deposits.

Cow’s milk contains a hard-to-digest protein called casein that is highly allergenic. The levels of casein in goat milk are about 89 percent lower than in cow’s milk. One study of infants allergic to cow’s milk found that up to 93 percent of the subjects could drink goat milk with virtually no side effects.

Looking to Give Goat Milk a Try?

LaLoo’s makes incredible 100 percent goat milk ice cream in five different flavors.  They are totally decadent and absolutely delicious. Coach Farm makes goat milk yogurt with live active cultures and natural flavors. In its raw state, goat milk is  the most nutritionally potent, but it is difficult (and oftentimes illegal) to access raw goat milk on the market. Raw goat milk cheese, however, is readily available. Mt. Sterling makes a variety of raw goat cheeses. Meanwhile, goat milk can also fit into your beauty routine, as it is an increasingly common ingredient in soaps and other toiletries, such as in this Canus goat’s milk soap with marigold.

Related on EcoSalon

Is All French Cheese Organic?

Nutritional Breakdown: Macaroni and Cheese

Goat Milk Yogurt Ranch Dressing

Photo Credit: Carly Lesser and Art Drauglis