6 Things The Dairy Haters Forgot to Tell You

We have all heard the dairy naysayers talk about the reasons why you shouldn’t drink dairy:

It is hard to digest, lactose intolerance is rampant, cholesterol is bad for you. And so on…

1. Goat milk is one of the most nutrient dense foods and is closer to human milk than cow milk.

    
   Goat milk is rich in minerals like calcium and potassium, fat-soluble vitamins, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3s when from grass-fed animals. Goat milk is also high in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which help provide quick energy and have immune benefits. It is higher in potassium and more alkalizing than cow milk.
    
   Goat milk better matches human nutrition needs. In fact, it contains 20x the amount of taurine as cow milk, which is the same amount as human milk. It is also higher in potassium and more alkalizing.
   
   Cow milk is designed to bring a 100 lb baby calf to over 1000 lbs, whereas goat milk takes a 7-9 lb baby goat to a 100+ lb adult goat, making it more similar to human growth.
   
   

2. Quality dairy doesn’t need gums, stabilizers and thickeners like plant “milk.”

    
   However almond, soy, oat, and other plant milks need thickeners in order to replicate the thick, rich, creaminess of dairy while preventing separation of the components. Some of that richness, by the way, comes from the milk fat, which is a great source of the fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A. 
   
   

3. Real milk doesn’t have nutrient inhibitors that block absorption of minerals.

    
   Most alternative "milks" are made from nuts, seeds, and grains. These foods all have a nutrient inhibitor called phytic acid that needs to be neutralized through soaking in order to absorb the most minerals possible. Real milk on the other hand, has a plethora of minerals without phytic acid, allowing for enhanced mineral absorption. Our Capra Mineral Whey, which is concentrated from goat milk, contains over 20 minerals!
    
   Calcium is added to plant "milks" to replicate the naturally rich source of calcium that dairy is. This added and isolated calcium is harder to digest and absorb and lacks other supporting minerals (like magnesium).
   
   

4. While cow milk is one of the top allergens, many people who don’t tolerate cow milk actually do really well with goat milk.

    
   Cow milk has larger fat molecules, which is why the fat floats to the top so thickly, and contains harder to digest protein. A significant amount of cow milk contains A1 casein, which is more inflammatory and reactive than the native A2 casein, due to how cows have been bred over the years. Goat milk naturally is an A2, easier-to-digest milk that is lighter and faster digesting in the stomach.
   
   

5. Lactose functions like a prebiotic.

    
   Though not officially classifed as a prebiotic (yet), lactose functions as such by being a natural food for the Lactobacillus acidophilus (a beneficial bacteria) in the gut. Lactose can also be reduced and better tolerated for those who are sensitive to it through the process of fermentation, like making yogurt or kefir. Sometimes when people don't react well to cow dairy, it is actually more of a protein indigestion issue with cow milk, than a lactose issue, which is evident if you switch to goat milk and do better.
   
   

6. Grass-fed animals and rotational grazing improves soil health and helps regenerate ecosystems.

    
   No, cow (or goat) farts aren't going to harm us all. If you listen to people against animal farms, they will tell you that the carbon dioxide or methane given off by cows and other animal farms is poisoning our environment and adding to excess carbon in the atmosphere. What they don't tell you is that rotational grazing (moving livestock between different paddocks and allowing the land to rest) deepens plant roots, increases plant, insect and wildlife diversity, prevents erosion, builds the soil and leads to more resilient ecosystems.