Does Goat’s Milk Have Probiotics?

If you’ve seen one of our recent posts on goats, then you most probably have some questions regarding the quality of their milk, and you might also look for specific details such as whether it contains probiotics or not. The good news is that in this article, you’ll find the essential information on this product and on its qualities.

Since for some people cow milk is not an option because it can be difficult to digest and it contains allergenic components, goat milk is many times a suitable alternative that allows people to enjoy delicious dairy products in their daily diets.

Besides discussing the benefits of goat milk, in this article, we will also go into details on what probiotics are, since they have an essential role in maintaining the digestive system and, therefore, have a significant impact on our overall health.

Probiotics

Many people have heard about probiotics and about them being essential for a healthy digestive system, but they might not know the specifics. These are essentially good bacteria that do their work in the gut and that are responsible for the absorption of healthy nutrients, this way also supporting the immune system.

Luckily, probiotics are found in a wide range of food options, which means that you can create balanced diets containing these particular alternatives. According to research, there are hundreds of benefits in terms of health if you choose to include probiotic-rich ingredients in your meals.

On the other hand, if your body doesn’t have enough probiotics to function properly, there are side effects you might start to notice such as digestive disorders, autoimmune diseases, skin issues, or frequent cases of flus and colds.

Historically, humans have had plenty of probiotics included in their diets from eating fresh foods, as well as thanks to the fermentation processes developed to keep food from spoiling.

However, things are not the same today since refrigeration and the various agricultural practices that we employ are actually depleting food from these beneficial bacteria. Even more so, because large food chains need to keep food fresh as long as possible, they use antibiotics that kill off bacteria, including the good kind, which means that our bodies lack their benefits.

Benefits of probiotics

If you do choose to add more probiotic-rich foods into meals every day, you will see a wide range of benefits, such as an improved digestion, a stronger immune system, or increased levels of energy thanks to the production of vitamin B12.

Moreover, since probiotics destroy candida bacteria, you run a lower risk of dealing with this condition, while your skin will look better and healthier because these useful bacteria also work on improving conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Thanks to the direct and beneficial effects on the immune system, you will most probably experience fewer colds and flues. For those who are also planning to lose some weight, the good news is that a healthy digestive system definitely helps in this matter as well, making things easier and helping you get the full benefits of a healthier lifestyle or of working out.

Goat cheese and probiotics  

If everything written above sounds good, then it’s time for you to start consuming more probiotic foods in order to improve or maintain your health. There are many types of foods that you can choose from in order to achieve this, and dairy products are definitely one of the top choices, given the high levels of probiotics they contain naturally.

Goat milk is no exception to this, and since it has a slightly different nutritional structure than cow milk, it’s many times a more suitable alternative for those who do not tolerate the latter. What you should also keep in mind is that different foods have different kinds of probiotics, so learning a bit more about these and creating a varied diet is definitely the way to go.

Going back to goat milk, it’s a good time to mention that this food is high in probiotics such as Bifidus, Acidophilus, Bulgaricus, and Thermophillus, known for their particular benefits for the digestive system.

However, you should buy unpasteurized and raw cheeses if you want to get those beneficial probiotics. The pasteurization process is used to kill bacteria in general, which means beneficial ones as well.

It’s true that certain brands and companies are selling products that contain probiotics added after this process, but it’s always better to go for the natural alternative if you have the chance and if it comes from a reliable source.

Other benefits of goat milk

As you’ve seen, goat milk can be an important source of probiotics if you consume it as naturally as possible. However, there are many other benefits that this product has to offer for the body’s health, and in the following lines, we’ll take a look at some of the most important ones.

You might have heard that cow milk is high in calcium, and if you have any concerns that you might not get the same benefits if you switch to goat milk, then you can put all of these thoughts aside. In fact, the latter contains even higher levels of the mineral. It’s enough to say that a cup of goat milk contains about 33% of the daily recommended calcium value.

Moreover, since it contains important levels of fatty acids and triglycerides, this wonderful product helps not only on the inside but also on the outside. You might notice that thanks to its moisturizing qualities, your skin will start to look better and healthier.

The fact that goat milk can help fight acne is another benefit worth considering, while the lactic acid it contains clears the body from dead skin cells, this way promoting a smoother and firmer skin.

Since goat milk features a pH level that is actually very similar to that of humans, it’s easily absorbed by the skin without causing irritations but keeping bacteria at bay, this way helping you fight various skin conditions. Next time you see someone that uses goat milk products in their natural skin care routines, you’ll know the reason they do it.

Bibliography:

1) Primal raw goat milk

2) Probiotics in Goat Milk-  Ability to Improve Sensory Attributes

3) Interest in a healthy diet

4) Goat milk benefits