Goat's Milk Protein Guide - The Benefits Over Cow's Milk Protein
12/6/06
Goat's Milk Worldwide
Here in the US most of us drink cow's milk, although many vegans, vegetarians, and lactose intolerant do enjoy soy milk. What many of us don't realize is that most citizens of the world drink goat's milk. Unlike our country, in many places no one sees large herds of dairy and beef cattle. Because we're not used to it, we may be under the impression that milk that comes from a goat won't taste so good. According to some, the opposite is true...goat's milk tastes a bit sweet and definitely pleasant, although opinions vary. As a food source it's a complete protein, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids necessary to produce healthy cells in our bodies. Not only that, it mimics the structure of mother's milk, the most basic of human foods.
Benefits of Goat Milk Protein
Protein constitutes the foundation of our physical being. Without it the human body won't grow to a normal size nor will brains function as they should. Each skin, muscle, blood, heart, in fact every cell is built from protein. Extreme sports practitioners, bodybuilders, and other endurance athletes require even more protein than their less active counterparts. Not only do proteins help build lean healthy muscles, they also protect them as they go into the catabolic, or breaking down phase, after a hard workout. A one cup serving of goat's milk provides nearly 9 grams of protein, which is over 17% of the daily requirement. Using a good protein powder or other supplement containing goat milk will provide even more.
Amino acids work with nitrogen to arrange themselves into the patterns each of us needs to function. Our bodies produce some of them, but there are eight considered essential as we need to derive them from foods. That's why the type of protein we eat is so important. The so-called perfect proteins, such as goat milk, contain these essential amino acids.
Nutritional Make-up of Goat's Milk Protein
Cow's milk and goat's milk protein are both comprised of around 80% casein (milk) protein and 20% whey protein. Because goats eat the same thing year round, the fatty acid content remains consistent. On the other hand, cows often feed on different grains depending on the season creating variations in this area.
Cholesterol levels are the same for both types of milk, but goat's milk has more of vitamins A, B6, and D and also more potassium, manganese, chloride, and copper. Its calcium content is quite a bit higher as well. Levels of vitamin B12 and zinc are generally a bit lower. The higher potassium content contributes to maintaining low blood pressure, essential in avoiding strokes and heart attacks. Americans seem particularly prone to these life-threatening events.
A high quality goat's milk protein powder or supplement will also contain added vitamins and minerals to increase its effectivity. For example it will supplement for the lower B12 content.
Negative Aspects of Goat's Milk Protein
There isn't much that can be said against goat milk protein or protein powder. One complaint, but only from some people, is the taste of the milk itself. This of course doesn't apply to a protein powder from a trusted manufacturer. Fine tuning the flavors of supplements will make or break a product, so it's become a critical part of creating them.
Finding low-fat goat milk can be difficult, but people working to build their muscles won't find this a problem, since they often want extra calories and healthy fats. When it comes to protein powder with goat's milk, lower calorie products are easy to find should that be what you want.
Digestibility of Goat's Milk Protein
Goat's milk digests easily and it's also hypo-allergenic. Because of the way the protein is structured, digestive enzymes in human stomachs break down goat milk curd more easily than that of cow's milk. The main casein in cow's milk is called “Alpha-S1”; it's tougher and harder to digest. Another contributing factor is that the fat globules in goat's milk are finer than that in cow's milk so that the enzymes break it down for digestion quickly and more efficiently. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) found abundantly in goat's milk raise metabolism, providing more energy in the body. They also help block cholesterol deposits as well as dissolve those already present. Another difference from cow's milk is the fact that it doesn't contain agglutinin, a substance that causes the fat globules to form clusters. This lack enhances the digestibility of goat's milk.
Unlike some cows, most goats don't receive doses of antibiotics and growth hormones, nor do they feed on pesticide treated grasses. This means that protein powders from their milk, as well as the milk itself is more pure. This isn't to imply that other milk protein powders always contain these substances, but it is less likely with goat's milk.
Comparison to other types of protein
For obvious reasons goat's milk protein is most often compared to that from cows. Both are known as casein protein, but there are definite differences. Some of these include:
- Globules of milk (casein) protein produced through digestion are called curds. Those from goat milk protein are softer and smaller... thus more easily digested; especially beneficial to babies and young children
- Cow's milk contains alpha-S1 an allergen for many, but goat's milk protein contains little. Scientists aren't able to verify that children nourished with goat's milk suffer fewer allergies, however many mother's find goat's milk far superior in this area
- Goat's milk protein contains a bit less lactose than cow's milk which is advantageous to some with this intolerance
- The vitamin and mineral content varies between goat and cow's milk. For example goat's milk is lower in folic acid and vitamin B-12. Goat's milk does have more calcium, vitamin B-6, vitamin A, niacin, copper, selenium, and potassium
- Goat's milk is a bit higher in fat than cow's milk and it's easier to find low-fat varieties of cow's milk. However, both tend to be low in most essential fatty acids (EFA). The exception is the fact that goat's milk has more linoleic and arachnodonic acids, as well as more short and medium chain fatty acids. These all aid digestive enzymes in the intestinal track
Many doctors and nutritionists advise supplementing goat's milk with folic acid and other nutrients when given to infants. As for adults and children beyond infancy, goat's milk often rates higher because of its many benefits, especially its abundant calcium content. If you're thinking about feeding your baby goat milk, be sure to talk about it with your healthcare professional, as you would any potential change.
People That Benefit from Goat's Milk Protein
Since it's easy to digest and hypo-allergenic, there are specific groups of people that can't drink cow's milk who may be able to tolerate goat's milk. Some of these are:
- Bodybuilders - Any athlete training in extreme sports needs a lot more protein than the more sedentary. Milk (casein) protein is an excellent source. A goat's milk protein powder, or a mixture containing goat's milk allows the bodybuilder and other athletes help meet their daily needs
- Lactose intolerant - Some people don't have the lactase enzyme in their systems, meaning they can't digest milk sugar (lactose). Many of them tolerate goat's milk very well because it contains less lactose. Also because of the smaller curds and fat globules, it passes more quickly through the digestive system. If they are allergic to the protein b-lacto globulin, they may not be able to drink goat's milk either
- Respiratory problems - Drinking milk creates mucus, which makes breathing more difficult. Goat's milk produces less than cow's milk
- Allergic infants - Some babies are allergic to both cow's milk and mother's milk. Goat's milk makes an excellent substitution in some cases. Of course parents must always consult with their physicians or other care givers before experimenting
- Medical conditions - Some other human ailments said to be helped by goat's milk protein include asthma, chronic ear infections, eczema, and sometimes rheumatoid arthritis
- Sensitive digestive systems - Generally speaking goat's milk digests more easily than milk from cows
Anyone trying to lose weight in a healthy way needs a protein that absorbs easily in order to keep their energy levels high on less food. The same is true of all athletes, including bodybuilders. They require large stores of protein without the bulk of too many meals. Goat's milk protein fills the bill nicely and is gaining popularity in the US. You'll find more protein powders made with goat milk than ever before.
Rich Source of Calcium
Just about everyone knows that calcium is good for us, although we may not be aware of all the reasons why. Goat's milk is calcium rich; more so than cow's milk and it's worth looking into for all the added benefits.
Best known for promoting healthy, strong, dense bones, calcium performs some other excellent functions as well.
Just by breathing polluted air and eating chemically treated foods, we continually expose ourselves to various cancers. One that takes many lives each year is colon cancer. Calcium helps protect the cells in the colon from malignant tumors.
Migraine headaches frequently debilitate many people, especially women, everyday. Studies show that sufferers that take extra calcium often find at least some relief.
Bone loss occurs in most people as they age. Conditions such as menopause and rheumatoid arthritis add insult to injury. Increasing calcium through goat's milk protein and supplementation helps slow and may even prevent these conditions for some people. Calcium is also recommended for treatment of pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS).
Most of us know about at least some of these positive aspects gained from ingesting calcium. Some less known functions are improved blood clotting, maintaining a healthy blood pressure, keeping muscles from painful contractions, well functioning nerves, and aiding digestive enzymes. Too little calcium in our cells will cause it to leach out of the bones and into the bloodstream. Bone loss is a normal consequence of aging, so we shouldn't risk making it worse by ingesting too little calcium.
We live in a great age when it comes to finding good protein powders. Whatever your needs you have many choices. It's a good idea to do some research as each of our bodies and requirements are different. Once you've decided which supplement you're interested in, read the labels and don't be afraid to experiment. One containing goat's milk makes an excellent option.
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