Goat milk isn’t as commonly spoken about as cow’s milk, but it’s just as important and beneficial. You can find goat milk in most supermarkets, even if you have to look a little longer for it than other types of milk.
You won’t just find goat milk in the supermarket in a drinkable form or as an ingredient in delicious recipes for the holidays. It’s a common ingredient in skincare and beauty products because it is known to be beneficial for the skin.
Below, we’ve covered the benefits and uses of goat milk.
Great Alternative to Cow’s Milk
Goat milk is a great alternative to cow’s milk for those with an allergy to the latter or those with lactose intolerance.
When you use goat milk instead of cow’s milk, you won’t experience the same digestive issues due to the protein in goat milk being easier to digest and absorb than the protein found in cow’s milk. It won’t cause nasty digestive symptoms like diarrhoea and abdominal cramps and will ensure optimal digestive health and function.
If you’re lactose intolerant or avoid cow’s milk voluntarily, you can still enjoy all of the same recipes that contain cow’s milk by switching it to goat milk. It’s great for pasta dishes, soups, naan bread, tzatziki, fudge, and cakes. It has a deliciously creamy taste that will give your dishes a lovely creamy texture and enhance their flavour.
Reduced Inflammation
MCFA are known to have inflammation reducing effects. These effects are partly due to the beneficial effects of MCFA on the gut microbiome and their ability to regulate metabolic markers like hormones and metabolites.
Since goat milk is packed full of MCFA, it may be beneficial in the management of inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s disease, arthritis, obesity, and diabetes.
However, it’s important not to stop taking any medications you have been prescribed by your doctor to treat your inflammatory conditions. Goat milk won’t be as effective as medications at managing your inflammatory conditions, but it may be beneficial alongside them.
Some drugs can interact with specific nutrients (known as drug-nutrient interactions), and vice versa. These interactions may increase or decrease the potency of the drug, affect its metabolism and excretion, or inhibit it from working altogether. Speak to a registered dietitian for expert guidance on drug-nutrient interactions to ensure goat milk is a sensible addition to your diet and won’t negatively interact with any of your current medications.
Beneficial in Hair and Hygiene Products
Goat milk soap, body wash, body lotion, shampoo, and conditioner are becoming increasingly popular due to their many benefits. It’s a natural ingredient that provides hydration and nutrition for the skin with a very low risk of adverse reactions.
You won’t find that your skin becomes dry or itchy when you use goat milk, even if these are common effects of using traditional soaps. Unlike conventional soaps that contain artificial chemicals that can irritate or damage the skin, goat milk soap is often produced using natural ingredients that have no adverse side effects.
Beauty and Skincare Products
Because goat milk is so rich in nutrients, including vitamin C, it’s an ideal ingredient to include in skincare and makeup products, including serums, cleansers, face creams, and moisturisers.
Beauty products that contain goat milk in any amount will enable you to experience its benefits but search for products where goat milk is one of the main ingredients for optimal health effects. Generally, the ingredients are listed in order on beauty products, where the first ingredient is the most abundant and the last is the least abundant.
Remember to check the other ingredients in your chosen skincare and beauty products before purchasing them to ensure they don’t contain any ingredients you’re allergic to.
High Medium-Chain Fatty Acid Content
Goat milk contains lots of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), which are a group of fatty acids that are known to be beneficial for health and well-being. They are rapidly digested in the lower gastrointestinal tract, so are absorbed and utilised efficiently.
Some MCDAs have natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which can help inhibit the growth of potentially harmful bacteria and yeast in the gut, promoting better gut health and function.
MCFA can aid weight loss by making you feel full and satiated so you’re less likely to over eat. They may also help with exercise performance, particularly endurance workouts.