Singing the Praises of Goat’s Milk
// April 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Farming, Health
I don’t know if you heard or not … but I bought a dairy goat. The breed is called Lamacha and her name is Angel. It is quite appropriate because … well, it is bit of a story, each year my wonderful mother and father in law give us all a very nice Christmas gift. We get $100 cash in some type of fancy creative gift receptacle. I think I hang onto mine the longest. I tuck it into my wallet and wait until I can get something I really want. Last year I think I hung onto it until we went on our cruise … a full 10 months!! This year … I spent it on Angel. A pretty good investment considering goat’s milk at the store costs about $3.75 a quart. I love to buy something that keeps on giving!
Well, the milk has so many health qualities. For one, Tyler (my grandson – 1 years old) — has no tolerance for cow’s milk. He has horrible respiratory problems when he drinks it. Always a runny nose and lots of drainage. We researched the goats milk … bought him a quart … the first night … slept great and awoke with NO runny nose and he loves it. Surprisingly, goat’s milk is “the” choice for most of the world. But not as popular in the US. Unlike cow’s milk there is no need to homogenize goat’s milk. While the fat globules in cow’s milk tend to separate to the surface, the globules in goat’s milk are much smaller and will remain suspended in solution.
Goat’s milk is a very good source of calcium and the amino acid tryptophan. It is also a good source of protein, phosphorus, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and potassium. Other research has found some anti-inflammatory compounds (short-chain sugar molecules called oligosaccharides) to be present in goat’s milk. These oligosaccharides may make goat’s milk easier to digest, especially in the case of compromised intestinal function. We have a good family friend who had Crohn’s disease … who changed her diet that included goat’s milk … and now no symptoms from Chrohns. Don’t get her started … she has great claims about goat’s milk. We have also learned that Aid’s patients benefit in a big way from goat’s milk. Plus if you are looking for something that has a lot of protein and low fat … you guessed it … goat’s milk.
So Angel, is already helping us. We plan to learn to make yogurt, cheese and soap from the fruit of Angel’s utters. Now that is funny. Our Angel has utters not wings.
Not a lot of people can picture me milking a goat … but I am always up for learning new things that can enhance my resume.
wog
