A large number of adults with everyday problems such as skin disorders, respiratory problems, gastric upsets and migraine, would not consider their symptoms to be related to cow's milk in any way. But very often with the right advice, these symptoms can be traced to Cow's Milk Allergy.
Alternative sources of milk need be found for all these people. Many people think of Soy as the first resource for this purpose. But increasingly, questions are being raised about the value of Soya as a food for infants, and as a staple food for adults. We are coming to realise that if soy forms a substantial part of our diets, the plant estrogens it contains can have very undesirable effects for men, women and babies. See the article "Soy, Menopause, Tofu and Infant Formulas" on this site.
What we in the West tend to forget is that worldwide, more people drink the milk of goats than of any other single animal species. In the 1980s, Dr G F W Haenlein PhD of the University of Delaware, Newark, estimated that over 440 million goats throughout the world produced an annual estimated 4.8 million tons of milk, mainly consumed locally, or processed into various types of cheeses.
The truth is that the size and metabolism of the cow makes it an unsuitable foster-mother for the human species. The milk of the cow is designed to propel a 100lb calf towards 600lb+ bovine maturity at 24 months - a far cry from starting off an 8lb human infant, destined to reach 130lb maturity in 18 years. It is hardly surprising that the human digestion finds difficulty in coping with cow's milk. An explanation of the differences between the two milks given below will make this even clearer.
The Symptoms of Cow's Milk Allergy in Infants:
The most common symptoms evident in babies suffering from CMA are: Eczema; recurrent diarrhoea; recurrent rhinorrhea; repeated vomiting; persistent colic; recurrent bronchitis; asthma.
Other infant problems listed as being possibly related to cow's milk include: Croup; sudden cot death; recurrent abdominal pain syndrome; hyperactivity syndrome.
Studies have shown that when all sources of cow's milk are removed from the diet of babies suffering CMA the symptoms are relieved. Further tests have also shown that twenty per cent (20%) of babies suffering from CMA are also allergic to Soya milk replacement formulas.
Symptoms of CMA in adults include:
Rashes and eczema; diarrhoea and vomiting; respiratory problems; migraine; asthma.
Why Use Goat's Milk as the Alternative?
Evidence has shown that as many as 99% of all CMA sufferers are able to thrive on goat's milk. It is thought that food allergies including CMA are directly related to the speed and efficiency of the digestive process and the absorption of undigested proteins. Here are some reasons why goat's milk really is the healthier alternative for human consumption:
· The fat and protein globules of goat's milk are smaller, finer, and more evenly distributed through the milk, resulting in a more rapid and complete breakdown by the human digestive enzymes. The tension in the curd of goat's milk is only about one-third of that of cow's milk.
· During digestion the casein of goat's milk forms a less tough and more friable coagulum than the cow's milk casein, enabling the human digestive proteolytic enzyme to penetrate and break it down more easily.
· Higher levels of vitamin B and the mild laxative action of goat's milk also aid the human digestive process, relieving stress symptoms manifesting as neurotic indigestion, constipation and insomnia.
· Goat's milk has a high buffering quality due to its superior mineral content and this enhances its value for sufferers of peptic ulcers and other gastric complaints.
· The vitamin and mineral content of goat's milk compares favourably with both cow's milk and human milk, being closer in composition to human milk than cow's milk. In fact it is also significantly higher in the growth related vitamin riboflavin and the bone minerals calcium and phosphorus.
· Another significant difference is the higher amount of shorter-chain fatty acids in goat's milk, which also has lower levels of orotic acid. This can be significant in the prevention of fatty liver syndromes. However, the membranes around fat globules in goat's milk are more fragile, which may be the reason for the greater susceptibility of goat's milk to developing off-flavours.
Finally, it has been shown that not only is goat's milk valuable for children and people with allergies, it is also very valuable in rearing animals of all kinds, including dogs, kittens, foals, and even calves. In fact, calves can be fed a very much larger quantity of goat's milk than cow's milk, without developing scours.
