Since ancient times we have heard the saying “A healthy mind lives in a healthy body”. To maintain health people tend to do various activities from physical activities to have a balanced diet. What we put inside our stomach is as important as what we do physically to maintain it. A balanced diet is a diet which comprises of all the vitamins, minerals required for a healthy body to function properly. In relation to this milk plays an important role and is always considered a complete food. Therefore, what are the types of animal milk consumed by humans?
Milk is rich in Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, D, E, and K, and most importantly, Calcium that is important for healthy bones and teeth. Milk also contains potassium, which helps in lowering blood pressure. Milk is rich in Vitamin D; it also acts as a blanket against some cancers like prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, etc.
Milk is used to make a person strong that’s why athletes focus on the consumption of milk as an important factor. We can get milk from many animals from their mammary glands like a cow, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, yak, etc. to name a few. And each one has its own importance, usage, and nutrients. It is also one of the primary products of Dairy Products. Some of the milk giving animals and their nutrients is given below:
Cow milk
It is the most common source of milk all over the world, especially India, where it is considered as a mother and is worshipped as well. One can easily find cow milk; it is a good source of protein, calcium, and iodine. It helps in muscle function, bone development, and controlling blood pressure. Due to its healthy and low-fat content, it is helpful in weight loss. It is given to infants as easy to digest.
Buffalo milk
It is the second most common source of milk after cow but is highly rich in fat, which makes it difficult to digest, especially for infants. It is high on calories too. It has more protein and minerals than cow milk. Its thick consistency makes it suitable for dairy products like cheese, ghee. It is considered a good option for weight gain.
Camel milk
It is an essential source of milk for the people of dry regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and UAE. It has no lactose content in it, making it suitable and appropriate for lactose-intolerant people. It has anti-microbial properties in nature. It is to digest than cow milk also. It lowers blood sugar and insulin content in the body.
Goat milk
It has similar properties like cow milk, except for the fact that it has a very low level of lactose. In some studies, it is found that the people having symptoms of eczema, constipation, asthma, who consumed this milk for some duration, have observed either they are fully cured or reduced. It is naturally lower in cholesterol. It also reduces inflammation in the stomach.
Sheep milk
It is delicious tasting milk with several health benefits. It can boost the immune system, prevent birth defects, cancer, and much more. It is used in the production of various famous cheeses, yogurts. Due to its less time for cultivation, it is difficult to find, which makes it expensive when compared to others.
Yak milk
Yak milk is popular in high altitude mountain areas like Tibet as mostly they are the only dairy species present over there. It has more amino acid content than a cow, buffalo, and goat milk. It is sweet in taste as well in smell. It is pink in color. It is more beneficial when drink raw. It helps in increasing bone density.
Horse and Donkey milk
This animal milk is very similar in composition and is “closest to human milk”. It is good for the skin. In Russia, it is used in making an alcoholic drink known as “kumiss”.
We can conclude that whatever animal’s milk one consumes it is beneficial in one or another way. It helps in overall body development of the body and helps in leading a happy and healthy way.