Episode 12 – Great Goat!
More people drink milk from goats than from any other animal worldwide, yet here in the US, less than 5% of people regularly drink goat milk. With small (but increasing) popularity, it’s no wonder that most people aren’t aware of the great benefits goat milk can provide to us and our fur babies. So let’s take a look at what those benefits are and how you can incorporate goat milk into your pet’s daily diet!
It’s easy to digest. Goat milk has smaller fat particles which produce a smaller, softer curd in the stomach. These curds are much easier for the body to break down in the gut and intestines. Goat milk is also low in milk sugars (lactose).
It contains high amounts of short and medium-chain fatty acids. These nifty fatty acids provide an energy boost without storing “extra” as fat, can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) while raising good cholesterol (HDL), and can even help prevent coronary and intestinal disease. Even though they provide the same amount of energy for the body, they have fewer calories and are much more easily digested.
It reduces inflammation. Goat milk contains oligosaccharides and a unique enzymatic composition that soothes gut inflammation. Oligosaccharides act as prebiotics in the colon; promoting healthy gut flora, lowering occurrence of inflammation-causing bacteria, and even help repair damaged gut cells that may arise from such problems as leaky gut syndrome or diabetes.
It supports metabolism and acts as an antacid. With a high fat content and low sugar content, glucose metabolism is much more effective and insulin sensitivity is improved, meaning that goat milk is a great tool to help prevent or manage diabetes. The antacid properties of goat milk are thanks to the very high amounts of potassium in the milk that, when consumed, is alkaline-forming and helps to maintain a proper pH balance in the body.
It provides complete, bioavailable nutrition. Goat milk not only contains exceptional amounts of nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, but the raw and natural (bioavailable) form of the nutrients are more easily digested and absorbed by the body. Disorders such as malabsorption, bone demineralization, and anemia may be prevented or treated by providing such bioavailable nutrition. Additionally, high amounts of selenium and zinc can help prevent neurodegenerative diseases.
Also pretty neat: Goats are easy(er) on the environment—three goats can live on the same acreage required for one cow, they require less food than cows, and they produce less harmful gas such as methane.
So, how should you feed raw goat milk to your pet? It’s easy! Raw goat milk can be found in the same freezer section as other raw frozen foods at your local pet supply store. Raw goat milk comes in several packaging options, and many brands have added ingredients to make goat milk even more amazing. At Steve’s Real Food, we take goat milk to another level by turning it into raw yogurt (extra probiotics!) and adding chia seeds. You can find the Enhance Chia Freeze in a 16oz. resealable pouch with other frozen Steve’s products. You may add the defrosted goat milk to your pet’s regular meal or use it as a meal substitute in times of digestive upset. Follow packaging directions for proper feeding amounts.
Please also check out the Enhance line of products, exclusive to Steve’s Real Food. Enhance is a line of products designed to add a nutritional boost to your pet’s diet, no matter what they currently eat. All freeze dried powdered formulas begin with a freeze dried raw goat milk base and have extra functional ingredients specifically designed to address common nutritional needs for both dogs and cats. More information on our Enhance line can be found HERE.
Note: As always, we are referring to raw goat milk. Raw goat milk has not been pasteurized and so retains enzymatic and biotic activity, as well as unaltered fat molecules. These benefits mentioned above will be not as effective or non-existent when the goat milk is cooked (pasteurized).
