Goat milk: Benefits and side effects

Weight issues are very common in the modern world. While having an overall calorie deficit is an ideal approach to weight loss, this cannot be achievable until you manage your hunger pangs. Consumption of satiety increasing foods is one way of dealing with hunger while maintaining an overall calorie deficit. These foods help in making you feel full for a longer time.

The high protein content and effective nutritional composition of goat’s milk, having all the essential fatty acids, makes it a satiety promoting food.

In a study, researchers have demonstrated that goat milk offers a better satiety index than conventional cow milk. It also has an appetite suppressant potential, allowing you to cut down on extra calories. However, this study was conducted on 33 healthy participants and only recorded subjective desires to eat. Differences in weight or BMI were not recorded.

But, research evidence also states that goat milk has lower total solids and fats when compared to cow or buffalo milk, so, it may be a healthier addition to your diet. Its specific effect on reduction in weight and BMI is, however, unclear, although it has been evidenced in several in vivo animal studies. It is, thus, recommended to include goat milk in your breakfast routine for the best results.

(Read more: Diet chart for weight loss)

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The composition of goat milk is slightly different from cow’s milk in that it has shorter chains of fatty acids and a much smaller size of fat globules. This means that fat is more widely dispersed in goat’s milk than in cow’s milk. It is also more alkaline than cow’s milk. These factors collectively contribute to the better digestibility of goat milk.

Also, goat milk has lower levels of alpha-1-casein, which make it more similar to human milk and thus more easily acceptable to the body. Not just milk, even the curd formed from goat’s milk is light and less dense, making it more easily and quickly digestible.

So, if you suffer from digestive problems, substituting your regular cup of cow milk with goat milk and your usual curd with goat milk curd may be helpful.

However, no clear nutritional advantage has been observed with this substitution, neither has this substitution been of use in those who are allergic to milk. But, some studies suggest that goat milk can be used to treat allergies with cow milk. So, you may like to visit your doctor before making a substitution.

(Read more: Food allergies symptoms)

Drinking milk is important for your health. Opting for goat milk is even more beneficial. Studies show that goat milk is associated with a lower risk of diabetes. This is due to the presence of alpha 2 beta-casein rather than the alpha1 variety present in cow’s milk.

A 2003 research demonstrated that alpha 1 beta casein is a trigger to diabetes and many other health issues. Being naturally lagging in the alpha 1 type, goat milk is ideal for the prevention of diabetes.

(Read more: What to eat and what not to eat in diabetes)

One of the most important reasons we drink milk is to have stronger bones, isn’t it? Calcium is essential to maintain the structure and integrity of the bones and its deficiency is associated with poor bone health.

(Read more: Calcium deficiency symptoms)

Studies have found that goat milk has a higher calcium content than cow’s milk, which is why it is better for your bones. But is the research in favour of goat milk just limited to that? Certainly not.

Iron deficiency anaemia is associated with bone demineralisation. Chronic deficiency of iron increases the risk of osteoporosis and bone resorption. An animal-based research has demonstrated that dietary supplementation with goat milk aided the recovery of bone resorption. It also led to the stabilisation of the rate of bone turnover. In addition, a higher calcium content was observed in bones and an increase in the iron content was also observed in the group which was fed with goat milk as compared to cow milk.

A better recovery in iron stores aided by the consumption of goat milk can be attributed to the finding that consumption of goat milk led to lesser calcium-iron interactions. This cannot be achieved with the help of additional supplementation of calcium, because it would lead to the depletion of iron stores (calcium usually inhibits iron absorption). So, it can be ascertained that the consumption of goat milk is more beneficial than the consumption of cow’s milk and even calcium supplementation for the bones.

(Read more: Calcium-rich Indian food)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder characterised by the inflammation of multiple joints in the body. It is an extremely painful condition. Individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis often suffer intense pain and stiffness of the joints. They even have a higher risk of osteoporosis, which means that their bones become less dense and are more prone to fractures.

Researchers say that drinking goat milk can be helpful in such cases, particularly in the avoidance of osteoporosis. A study conducted on 42 patients affected with rheumatoid arthritis evidenced that daily administration of 400 ml of goat’s milk along with drug therapy and other measures to avoid osteoporosis had a positive impact on improving bone metabolism.

(Read more: Rheumatoid arthritis diet and diet plan)

Milk is a physiological fluid, which has a high nutrient content and is important for body functioning. Now we know that goat milk is healthier, but, has it something more to offer?

In addition to the several health benefits, goat milk helps in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer. This is supported by sufficient research evidence. An in vivo animal study done to compare the effects of goat milk and soy milk on the levels of tumour marker enzymes responsible for the process of carcinogenesis proved goat milk to be a better alternative.

Despite the high antioxidant activity of soy milk, which is believed to inhibit the process of carcinogenesis, goat milk has been found to be a better alternative. Researchers postulated that certain components of the human diet have the potential to increase the risk of cancer, while others may aid in its prevention. They said that milk fat helps in reducing the risk of chemically induced tumours and cancers. It also helped in reducing the severity of cancer.

(Read more: Difference between cancer and tumour)

It is believed that goats are able to selectively extract potential anti-cancerous agents from their feed, like beta-carotene, beta ionine, etc from their feed and transfer it to milk, which is then consumed by humans. This is the mechanism by which it functions as an anticancerous agent.

Researchers have concluded that individuals who have a diet rich in milk and dairy products had a diminished activity of the tumour agents. From this study, researchers evidenced that goat milk worked as an anticancerous agent in the prevention of hepatocarcinogenesis in animal models. So, goat milk may be a healthy inclusion in your diet offering more than just stronger bones. However, sufficient human-based researchers will help in a better analysis of this claim.

(Read more: DIet for cancer patients)

Milk is required for the process of growth and the development of a healthy bone structure, which lays down a strong foundation for a lifetime. This is why drinking milk is more important for infants than it is for adults. But, what if cow milk does not suit the baby? Chances are that goat milk may be a suitable alternative in this case, although that is not an affirmation.

Several researchers have demonstrated that individuals who manifest an allergy to cow milk can usually tolerate goat’s milk. This can be attributed to the lower lactose content of goat milk when compared to the other varieties of milk. However, another set of studies say that if the baby is lactose intolerant or has a specific allergic reaction to milk, it is possible that even the substitution with goat’s milk will not help. This is because the quality of proteins present in both these types of milk is quite similar.

(Read more: Lactose intolerance symptoms)

Despite the absence of substantial research evidence, you can use goat milk as an alternative to cow milk for your baby and check if it suits. But, you must first consult with the paediatrician or your family doctor to rule out serious health concerns in the baby.

Also, you do not need to worry about the nutritional composition of the milk and its effect on the growth of your baby. This is because goat milk has a very high nutritional content and researchers have even said that formulas based on goat milk have a better influence on growth and development. In fact, animal studies have found the procurement of better immunity with the consumption of goat milk.