Goat's Milk: Why it's a Better Choice

For Adults and Children

What does goat's milk give you that cow's milk doesn't? In many parts of the world, goats milk is preferred to cow's milk. Even in the United States, the goat is gaining popularity. Goats eat less and occupy less grazing space than cows, and in some families the backyard goat supplies milk for family needs. Goat's milk is believed to be more easily digestible and less allergenic than cow's milk.

Go to Comparison Chart: Infant Formula & Breast, Goat's & Cow's Milk

Go to Nutrient Comparison: Goat's Milk & Cow's Milk

Different fat
Goats milk contains around ten grams of fat per eight ounces compared to 8 to 9 grams in whole cow's milk, and it's much easier to find lowfat and non-fat varieties of cow's milk than it is to purchase lowfat goats milk. Unlike cow's milk, goat's milk does not contain agglutinin. As a result, the fat globules in goats milk do not cluster together, making them easier to digest. Like cow's milk, goat's milk is low in essential fatty acids, because goats also have EFA-destroying bacteria in their ruminant stomachs. Yet, goat milk is reported to contain more of the essential fatty acids linoleic and arachnodonic acids, in addition to a higher proportion of short-chain and medium-chain fatty acids. These are easier for intestinal enzymes to digest.

Different protein
Goat milk protein forms a softer curd (the term given to the protein clumps that are formed by the action of your stomach acid on the protein), which makes the protein more easily and rapidly digestible. Theoretically, this more rapid transit through the stomach could be an advantage to infants and children who regurgitate cow's milk easily. Goats milk may also have advantages when it comes to allergies. Goat's milk contains only trace amounts of an allergenic casein protein, alpha-S1, found in cow's milk. Goats milk casein is more similar to human milk, yet cow's milk and goat's milk contain similar levels of the other allergenic protein, beta lactoglobulin. Scientific studies have not found a decreased incidence of allergy with goats milk, but here is another situation where mothers' observations and scientific studies are at odds with one another. Some mothers are certain that their child tolerates goat's milk better than cow's milk, and mothers are more sensitive to children's reactions than scientific studies.

Different minerals
Although the mineral content of goat's milk and cow's milk is generally similar, goat's milk contains 13 percent more calcium, 25 percent more vitamin B-6, 47 percent more vitamin A, 134 percent more potassium, and three times more niacin. It is also four times higher in copper. Goat's milk also contains 27 percent more of the antioxidant selenium than cow's milk. Cow's milk contains five times as much vitamin B-12 as goat's milk and ten times as much folic acid (12 mcg. in cow's milk versus 1 mcg. for goat's milk per eight ounces with an RDA of 75-100 mcg. for children). The fact that goat's milk contains less than ten percent of the amount of folic acid contained in cow's milk means that it must be fortified with folic acid in order to be adequate as a formula or milk substitute for infants and toddlers, and popular brands of goat's milk may advertise "fortified with folic acid" on the carton.

Benefits of Goat Milk:

It's Fresher

Available within 48 hours after milking to ensure the freshest product possible. Freshness is associated with a high level of bioactive components naturally found in unpasteurized milk.

It's Safer

There is no antibiotic residues, growth hormones, BST, or other contaminants used on the animals. In addition, the mechanical pasteurization process used for cow's milk releases xanthine oxidase, and enzyme which can create scar damage to the heart and arteries.
The goat's milk product must meet the same health standards as pasteurized cow's milk.
Goat milk does not contain the complex proteins that are the main stimulants of allergic reactions to cow dairy products.
Certain cow milk proteins have properties, which suppresses the immune system. Goat milk does not have these immunosuppressive properties.

It's Easier to Digest

Smaller protein molecules and fat molecules with thinner and more fragile membranes in goat's milk allow it to be digested easier than cow's milk.

Lactose Intolerant?

Easier digestion allows the lactose to pass through the intestines more rapidly, not giving it time to ferment or cause an osmotic imbalance.
Goat's milk also contains 7% less lactose than cow milk.
Additionally, most lactose intolerant people have found that they can tolerate goat's milk and goat milk products.

Goat's Milk Soothes the Digestive Tract

Goat's milk has long been used and recommended as an aid in the treatment of ulcers due to its more effective acid buffering capacity.
Children on goat's milk have been observed to sleep through the night and remain more satisfied between meals.

Goat's Milk is an Alkalinizer of the System

Goat's milk has an alkaline pH, so it does not produce acid in the blood or intestinal system.
Acidic blood and intestinal pH levels are associated with fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pains, sore pressure points, excess weight, blood sugar imbalances, and Candida Albicans infections.

Goat's Milk Contains twice the Healthful Medium Chain Fatty Acids

Goat's milk contains a higher content of medium chain fatty acids (ie. capric and caprylic acids) which are used to inhibit Candida infections. These medium chain fatty acids are immune and energy enhancing.

Goat's Milk Does not Produce Mucous

Goat's milk does not stimulate an immune response as cow's milk does, so there is no mucous formed.

Goat's Milk is a Rich Source of the Trace Mineral Selenium

The trace mineral selenium, which is often deficient in the human body, is necessary for its immune modulation and antioxidant properties. It helps control the human immune system and works directly on viruses by preventing reproduction.
Goat's milk contains the highest source of selenium of any milk (2.5 time more than powdered infant formulas, 35% more than pasteurized cow milk, and more than human breast milk).

Mother Nature is very Clever

Natural milk contains many bioactive components, which serve to retard the growth of harmful organisms, and to protect the health of the person consuming them. Goat's milk contains the same important bioactive components as mother's milk.

Raw Goat's Milk : Mother Nature's System for Protecting Infants
Component	Action	Breast Milk	Goat's Milk Products	Retail Cow's Milk	Infant Formula
B Lymphocytes	Produce antibodies, which target harmful microbes	X	X	-	-
Macrophages	Immune cells, which kill microbes in baby's gut; produce lysosome, an enzyme, which digests the cell walls of harmful bacteria, and activate other components of the immune system	X	X	-	-
Neutrophils	White blood cells, which ingest bacteria in baby's digestive system	X	X	-	-
T Lymphocytes	Kill infected cells directly or send out "alarms", which stimulate other parts of the immune system	X	X	-	-
IgA/IgG Secretory Antibodies	Prevent microbes in the intestine from invading other tissues	X	X	-	-
B-12 Binding protein	Reduces vitamin B-12 in the colon; a vitamin, which harmful bacteria need for growth	X	X	-	-
Bifidus factor	Promotes growth of Lactobacillus bifidus, a helpful bacterium in baby's gut, which helps crowd out dangerous germs	X	X	-	-
Fatty Acids	Disrupt membranes of viruses and destroy them	X	X	X	X
Fibronectin	Increases antimicrobaial activity of macrophages and helps to repair damaged tissues	X	X	-	-
Gamma-Interferon	Enhances antimicrobial activity of macrophages and helps to repair damaged tissues	X	X	-	-
Lactoferrin	Binds to iron, making it unavailable for germs	X	X	-	-
Lysozyme	Kills germs by disrupting their cell walls	X	X	-	-
Mucins & Oligosaccharides	Bind to bacteria and viruses, preventing them from attaching to baby's gut; encourage growth of friendly bacteria	X	X	X	-
Hormones & Growth Factors	Stimulate baby's digestive tract to mature and seal itself, reducing risk of infection	X	X	X	-

Nutrient Comparison: Goat's Milk and Cow's Milk
	Goat's Milk	Cow's Milk		Goat's Milk	Cow's Milk
Weight (g)	244	244	Calories	168	150
Water (g)	212.4	214.7	Protein (g)	8.7	8
Carbohydrate (g)	10.9	11.4	Fat (g)	10.1	8.2
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (g)	2.7	-	Saturated Fatty Acids	6.5	5.1
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids	0.4	0.3	Cholesterol (mg)	28	33
A (IU)	451	307	B-1 (mg)	0.12	0.09
B-2 (mg)	0.34	0.4	B-6 (mg)	0.11	0.1
Folic Acid (mcg)	0.7	12	Nicotinic Acid (mg)	0.7	0.2
B-12 (mcg)	0.16	0.87	Pantothentic Acid (mg)	0.76	0.77
C (mg)	3	2	Sodium (mg)	122	119
Calcium (mg)	326	290	Magnesium (mg)	34	33
Manganese (mg)	0.044	0	Zinc (mg)	0.73	0.93
Potassium (mg)	499	368	Phosphorus (mg)	270	227
Iron (mg)	0.12	0.12	Copper (mg)	0.112	0


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Goat's Milk: Why it's a Better Choice

For Adults and Children

Benefits of Goat Milk:

Raw Goat's Milk : Mother Nature's System for Protecting Infants