Probably every mom who carefully monitors the health of her child is looking for products that will provide the maximum benefit for the baby. And one of these products is undoubtedly goat milk. However, before starting a child’s recovery with this product, it’s worthwhile to study all aspects on the topic “harm and benefits of goat’s milk for a child” in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
From myths to the present
Even the ancient Greeks believed that such a great god as Zeus was fed goat milk. This goat named Alphea became the constellation Capricorn. And her horn has become a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Avicenna considered this milk "balanced" (balanced).
Pleasant features of goat milk
One of the main features of goat milk is that the body digests it quite easily, which contributes to the good work of the stomach. Since it contains beta-casein several times more than cow's milk, its composition is almost identical to breast milk. Also, it lacks alpha-1s-casein, which makes it considered hypoallergenic.
However, you should not replace breast milk with goat milk - after all, it has a higher fat content than breast milk. Also, do not forget about the importance of the enzyme lipase, which is absent in this dairy product. It contributes to the breakdown of fats, and this is quite important for the proper development of the child's body. The harm and benefits of goat milk for a child have long been studied by specialists. Of course, feeding a baby with goat's milk is still necessary, so a young mother should take care of combining goat and breast milk, adding this valuable product to baby food in small quantities.
Vitamins and minerals that make up goat's milk
1. The most important element that enters our body with goat milk is cobalt. Goat milk has almost six times more milk than any other dairy product. This element is one of the key components of vitamin B12 and is responsible for the normalization of metabolic processes, is involved in hematopoiesis. Given this, it is worth consuming goat cheese with the aim of improving digestion and strengthening immunity, preventing anemia.
2. When adding goat milk to the daily diet of both mother and baby, you can not worry about additional multivitamin complexes. These are the properties of goat milk - it gives the body all the necessary substances. After all, this dairy product contains vitamins such as: A, almost the entire group B, C, PP, D, H, E. Using the product will help both get rid of vitamin deficiency and recover from colds or serious illnesses and even surgical operations.
3. When thinking about what the harm and benefits of goat's milk are for a child, do not forget about yourself. Indeed, goat milk has a lot of magnesium, which will help get rid of the harmful effects of life in a big city. It has an amazing ability to remove radionuclides and strontium from tissues. It will also help the circulatory system get rid of excess cholesterol, so that the pressure normalizes. So adults should introduce this healthy drink into their diet.
4. The presence of manganese guarantees the full development of many organs: the liver, kidneys, and even the brain of a small child. In addition, he is responsible for cellular respiration and mineral metabolism. Calcium is also indispensable, which is also quite a lot in goat milk.
Can goat milk be dangerous for the baby?
Yes, of course, it is worth exploring what harm and benefit goat milk is for a child, and most importantly - do not turn this natural product into a panacea. First, a child may be allergic to this product. In order to avoid a sudden manifestation of allergic reactions, introduce the product into the diet gradually, without giving too much goat milk to the baby.
In addition, many young mothers (or grandmothers) give milk without pre-treatment, and this can cause irreparable harm to the children's body. So, for example, brucellosis bacteria can be introduced into the baby's body if you give him unverified milk. Also, the low price of goat milk (less than 90 rubles per liter) can turn into a kilometer bill for the treatment of the child.
Therefore, do not forget about the need to boil goat milk when buying it from unfamiliar sellers. When boiled, it can stand for a week and not deteriorate, at room temperature it is able to maintain its beneficial properties and not deteriorate for three days.
What should be remembered when introducing a child to goat milk?
1. Do not replace breastfeeding with goat milk. Still, mother's milk has the whole complex of vitamins necessary for the baby in the first year of life.
2. Any fermented milk products, milk derivatives (for example, cottage cheese from goat milk), the mother should give the baby only if he is already more than seven months old.
3. Do not give the child a large amount of goat milk (or better to protect against the use of this product), if the baby is not yet one year old.
Negative consequences
Realizing what harm and benefit of goat milk can be for a child, it is worth evaluating the negative consequences of taking such milk too often for a child's body.
Since there is too much casein protein in goat milk, it is absorbed rather poorly. Yes, and increased fat content is not the most pleasant factor in the aspect of digestion by a fragile children's body. Often it is not completely digested and even comes out in the form of white lumps. By comparison, cow's milk is less oily, and therefore is perceived much better by the baby’s stomach.
Too much saturated goat milk will create a huge burden for the urinary system. Subsequently, it can even result in serious kidney disease.
An overly saturated composition may not be absorbed by an underdeveloped intestine, which may cause constipation in a child.
Should goat milk be diluted?
It is believed that the baby should be gradually prepared for the transition to goat milk, in a 1: 1 ratio mixing it with water. Such a dilution both reduces the fat content of the product and deprives it of most of its beneficial properties. So the decision to switch to goat's milk should be made after consulting with your doctor first.