Goat diary is a gift from God. I gave up cow’s milk and everything made with it about 3 years ago, and renouncing the mucus-forming, antibiotic-laden, digestion-clogging gook was easy with a little help from a righteous goat.
Without throwing too many cheap shots at the poor, holy cow, I want to explain the basic differences between cow and goat dairy to illustrate why making the switch is an excellent idea for you and your family.
Goat Milk is Easier to Digest than Cow Milk
Our bodies were designed to consume human milk, a perfect food for growing babies. We are born with the ability to digest our mother’s milk, but many people become lactose-intolerant as teens or adults, when our bodies stop producing the enzymes necessary to digest any kind of milk.
Goat milk has smaller protein molecules than cow milk, the most similar to the protein found in human milk. In addition, the fat molecules in goat milk have thinner, more fragile membranes - half the size of those in cow milk. This leads to an average curd tension that is literally 1⁄2 that of cow milk (36 grams for goat milk and 70 grams for cow milk). Curds from milk form in the digestive tract or during cheese or yogurt making (anywhere that the milk is subjected to acid). Having less curd tension means that the milk is less "tough", and easier to digest. Dr. Bernard Jensen (my personal hero) showed that goat milk will digest in a baby's stomach in 20 minutes, whereas pasteurized cow milk takes 8 hours. The difference is in the structure of the milk.
Goat Milk is Nutritious
Compared to cow dairy, goat dairy contains more calcium, phosphorous, vitamin A, riboflavin, thiamine, selemium and less cholesterol!
Goat Milk is non-Allergenic
Goat milk does not contain the complex of proteins that are the main stimulants of allergic reactions to cow dairy products. Therefore, it does not stress/depress the immune system. Seven percent (7%) of U.S. children show symptoms of cow-milk allergy such as wheezing, congestion, frequent ear infections, eczema, skin rashes and digestive troubles. In the vast majority of cases, these problems are often eliminated when goat milk is substituted for cow's milk.
Goat Milk as a Substitute for Those Who Are Lactose Intolerant
Goat milk and goat milk products can be tolerated by most of those who are lactose intolerant. Because unpasteurized goat milk is digested very rapidly, lactose (the main sugar found in milk), does not remain for long periods of time in the intestines, where it can ferment or cause an osmotic imbalance, followed by digestive upset. Additionally, goat milk contains 7% less lactose than cow milk.
Goat Milk is an “Alkalinizer” of the System
Goat milk is a rare dairy food in that it has an alkaline ash. This means that it does not produce acid in the intestinal system. Acidic blood and intestinal pH levels have been associated by researchers with fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pains, sore pressure points, excess weight, blood sugar imbalances, and excessive yeast populations. Goat milk helps to increase the pH of the blood stream because it is the highest dairy product in the amino acid L-glutamine, an alkalinizing amino acid.
Goat Milk Contains Twice the Healthful Medium Chain Fatty Acids
In comparison to cow milk, goat milk contains twice the content of medium chain fatty acids, such as capric and caprylic acids. These fatty acids are highly antimicrobial. Capric and caprylic acids are used today in dietary supplements to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans and other yeast species. They also boost the immune system and enhance energy.
While in the North America, we may think of goat's milk as a beverage alternative to cow's milk, in most areas of the world, the opposite is true. Worldwide, more people drink goat's milk than cow's milk.
Most people assume goat's milk will have the same strong musky taste for which goat cheese is famous. Yet, in fact, good quality goat's milk has a delicious slightly sweet, and sometimes also slightly salty, taste.
The same goes for it’s fermented friend, yogurt. This is my favorite easy-to-digest indulgence in the morning: a frozen banana, handful of wild blueberries and about a ½ cup of goat’s yogurt. Blend it until smooth and I’ve got a fully loaded breakfast that’s great on the go. I just pour it into a mason jar and make everyone on the subway jealous! This also a delicious dessert.
Goat cheese comes in many forms too. We are all familiar with the soft, spreadable type, but goat cheddar, mozzarella, and feta are also available. I love to put a couple slices of goat cheddar on crusty, whole-grain bread with some jam (the best is my friend Kaitlin’s organic peach and ginger jam that she bestows upon me after the summer harvest. She’s such a lovely girl). This satisfies my craving for a salty-sweet snack, while supplying me with fiber, protein and calcium!
Here’s a simple recipe for a Waldorf salad (pictured above) that is far superior made with goat yogurt. This with a side of quinoa and you’ve got a lunch that really satisfies…
Waldorf Salad with Goat Yogurt
Ingredients
1 large apple
2 stalks celery
1 tsp lemon juice
1 handful of raisins
1 handful of chopped walnuts
4 Tbsp goat yogurt
1 tsp. maple syrup, agave nectar or liquid honey
Directions
1. Chop the apples and toss immediately with lemon juice to prevent browning. Chop the celery and walnuts. Add raisins.
2. Combine the yogurt and maple syrup or other sweetener.
3. Toss all ingredients together and serve.
I hope that I have inspired you to try some goat dairy – there are so many ways to enjoy this delightfully digestible food and many are found at a regular grocery store (a small miracle for those of you who have not yet ventured into a health food emporium). There’s a goat lover in all of us, unleash yours today!
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