Goat milk & goat-sheep whey protein: What are their advantages
Proteins are among the macronutrients that are essential for our body’s health. They are responsible for many functions, which can be easily understood when we consider that they are present in every living cell and organism. They are structural components for muscles, skin, hair, nails, and bones. They contribute to good vision, hormone synthesis, metabolism, oxygen transport, and much more.
The amounts of protein we need to consume daily depend on many factors such as gender, age, activity level, and specific situations, e.g., pregnancy. Daily intake of the necessary proteins is not always an easy task. Lifestyles have become increasingly demanding, and foods that provide all the essential proteins require preparation time, such as meat. This is one reason why milk whey proteins in powder form have gained popularity in recent years.
In this article, we will explore why goat – sheep whey protein and goat milk are advantageous compared to their bovine counterparts, why they are considered better absorbed by the body, and how they can be consumed.
You can learn more about proteins in detail here.
What is whey protein?
Let’s start with the basics. Surely, we’ve all heard of or even consumed protein powder claiming to be “whey protein.” Milk consists of two proteins: whey protein and casein. Whey protein is the product left behind when milk is turned into yogurt or cheese and separated from the casein. It’s an exceptional protein as it’s a natural product (in its pure form) and is considered a complete protein since it contains all nine essential amino acids.
Whey protein is composed of α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, serum albumin, immunoglobulins, and proteose peptones.
How goat-sheep whey protein differ from their cow’s milk counterparts
The whey protein can be derived from any mammal that produces milk. The most common dairy products are bovine, but in recent years, especially in infant formulas, there has been an interest in goat and sheep products. This is because these specific products, due to their composition, present some differences compared to bovine ones. Let’s see some of them.
• Excellent Protein Source
All whey protein, including that derived from goat/sheep milk, is extremely rich in BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids). The difference is that goat-derived whey is so rich in BCAAs that it is considered one of the highest concentrations in any food. BCAAs are particularly important because they are known to aid in both recovery and muscle growth.
• Immune System Boost
The previously mentioned BCAAs also play another equally impressive role. They are an important element in supporting and boosting the immune system, helping the body effectively deal with various challenges. They contribute to increased antibody production, and some studies have even shown that BCAAs can reduce inflammation in the body. Additionally, BCAAs are essential for protein synthesis, which is necessary for the proper functioning and growth of immune system cells.
Furthermore, valine, one of the BCAAs, possesses antioxidant properties that can help protect cells from oxidative damage. Finally, goat milk contains a significant amount of oligosaccharides. When reaching the colon, these compounds act as prebiotics, thus competing with pathogenic bacterial flora.
• Ideal Choice for Lactose Intolerance & Other Allergies
It is not uncommon for many people who consume whey protein, especially bovine whey protein, to experience gastrointestinal problems. The same occurs with other bovine dairy products. This is mainly due to lactose intolerance (natural milk sugar) because the main carbohydrate in typical whey protein is lactose.
However, goat whey protein consumption is considered hypoallergenic due to its very low lactose content and its composition (lower levels of αs1-casein). Even with these low levels of lactose, it is very rare for someone to have allergies or intolerance to goat lactose, thus reducing the likelihood of gastrointestinal issues.
• Much Easier to Digest
Additionally, the protein and fat molecules in goat milk are significantly smaller than those in cow’s milk, making them much easier to digest. Moreover, it bears remarkable similarities to human breast milk as the ratio of β-casein to αs1-casein (70%:30%) in goat milk proteins is similar to that of maternal milk. Thus, its chemical composition aids in easy absorption, making it more digestible for the human body.
Another characteristic that enhances its digestibility is the uniform distribution of lipospheres, unlike cow’s milk where they gather on the surface, forming the familiar “cream line.” With all these attributes, goat whey protein offers better absorption and utilization of proteins by the body.
• Higher Bioavailability of Micronutrients
Goat milk, and consequently goat whey protein, provides greater bioavailability of micronutrients such as iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc. Bioavailability refers to the proportion or fraction of a nutrient consumed through diet and how much of it is absorbed, stored, and utilized by the human body. Bioavailability can be influenced by various factors such as nutrient concentration and food structure.
• Increased Concentration of Nutrients
Whey protein from goat milk presents an increased concentration of many nutrients compared to cow’s milk whey protein, as well as dairy products derived from goat milk. Compared to cow’s milk, goat milk contains more protein (3.6%-3.2%), more calcium (134mg%-113mg%), magnesium (14mg%-11mg%), and phosphorus (111mg%-91mg%).
It is also an excellent source of vitamin A because goats convert all beta-carotene from their food into vitamin A during milk production. Vitamin A, among other functions, contributes to maintaining healthy vision and supports the immune system. Additionally, it contains vitamins B6 & B12, riboflavin, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Furthermore, goat milk is rich in zinc, one of the most important trace minerals, as it enhances reproductive health, vision, skin, hair, and bone health.
• Assists in Weight Management
As we have seen, goat milk offers many advantages over cow’s milk, making it unique. All the aforementioned factors—the composition of proteins, fats, sugars, and characteristics that make it more digestible—confer beneficial properties to metabolism. Moreover, medium-chain fatty acids found in increased concentrations in goat milk require lower amounts of enzymes and bile acids for absorption by the intestine. They also metabolize rapidly in the liver and simultaneously reduce fat storage.
Goat-sheep whey protein
Consumption of protein from goat – sheep whey protein can offer all the above benefits to the body. Due to its origin from goat milk, it provides a richer, tastier, and creamier result, which also serves as excellent raw material for various preparations. This allows for daily consumption beyond the usual way, dissolved in water or milk.
Let’s look at some tasty ideas:
• Protein Smoothie
Simple, easy, and quick. In your favorite smoothie recipe, simply add the recommended amount of whey protein! Get creative by adding various fruits or chocolate.
• Protein Bars
Ideal and economical snack for every day and all times. It has the advantage that with a little preparation, you can make bars for the whole week.
• Ingredient for baking recipes
You can use goat whey protein as an additional ingredient in baking recipes such as bread, cakes, muffins, and whatever else you can think of. Don’t forget to send us a message or find us on social media to share your recipes!
Real Greek Dairies is a member of the Hellenic Protein group.
* All texts on realgreekdairies constitute informative content aimed at informing and promoting a healthy lifestyle in conjunction with a balanced diet. For specific cases and additional advice, it is advisable to always consult your doctor or nutritionist.
Aria
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