Is it better for babies to drink goat milk or cow milk? Is it better for babies to drink goat milk powder or cow milk powder?

Many parents have no idea when choosing milk powder for their babies. There has always been a debate about which is better, goat milk or cow milk. Today, let's analyze the difference between goat milk and cow milk.

Benefits of Goat Milk

1. The fat globules and protein particles in goat milk are only 1/3 of those in cow milk, and the particle size is uniform, so it is easier to be digested and absorbed by the human body.

2. Goat milk has a high content of milk protein, so the protein clots are fine and soft, which also helps to be absorbed and utilized by the human body.

3. The fat structure of goat milk has a short carbon chain and a high content of unsaturated fatty acids. It is in a good emulsified state, which is more conducive to direct utilization by the body.

4. The casein structure of goat milk is different from that of cow milk. Goat milk mainly contains α-2S casein and β-casein, both of which are easily decomposed by yeast. Cow milk mainly contains α-1S casein. Therefore, people who are allergic to milk or have weak constitution can fully accept goat milk.

5. The immunoglobulin content in goat milk is very high. The role of immunoglobulin in the human body cannot be replaced by antibiotics. Usually, for diseases caused by viruses such as colds, influenza, and pneumonia, antibiotics not only cannot effectively kill the virus, but on the contrary will bring many side effects to the human body. Immunoglobulin can effectively eliminate the virus and protect the human body from harm.

6. The absorption rate of goat milk in the human body is 89%, the absorption rate of breast milk in the human body is 91%, and the absorption rate of cow's milk in the human body is only 48%.

7. Formula milk must contain essential amino acids and semi-essential amino acids similar to those in breast milk in order to meet the amino acid needs of infant growth and development. The amino acid pattern of goat milk protein is very close to that of cow milk, but very different from that of breast milk. For example, compared with breast milk, the proportion of glycine, tryptophan and cysteine ​​in both is very low, while the proportion of methionine is very high. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the whey protein/casein ratio, or add additional amino acids to make it close to the amino acid pattern of breast milk. In this regard, goat milk powder is not better than cow milk powder.

Goat milk is not superior to cow milk and is far inferior to breast milk

Many people believe that goat milk has high nutritional value and is similar to breast milk. In fact, goat milk is not better than cow milk and is far inferior to breast milk. Like cow milk, goat milk has a higher concentration of electrolytes and proteins, which increases the burden on the kidneys. The immature kidneys of newborns put them at risk of hypernatremia and azotemia, especially if they are dehydrated. If infants are fed with whole goat milk, it can cause serious illness or even death, including electrolyte disorders, acidosis and allergies. The conclusion that goat milk is close to breast milk is obviously untenable.

Comparison of nutritional content between goat milk and cow milk

Protein composition:

The protein content of goat milk is slightly higher than that of cow milk, of which casein accounts for 75%, α-S1 casein accounts for 1-3% of the total protein, and the content of β-lactoglobulin is lower than that of cow milk. The protein content of cow milk is 2.7% to 3.7%, of which casein accounts for 85%, α-S1 casein accounts for 43% of the total protein, and the content of β-lactoglobulin is more than twice that of goat milk.

lactose:

Both cow's milk and goat's milk are available.

Vitamins:

Goat milk lacks folic acid, with a content of 1/5 of that of cow milk, and a vitamin C content of 1.29 mg/100 g. Cow milk folic acid is 4 times higher than goat milk, and the vitamin C content is 0.94 mg/100 g, which is much lower than breast milk.

Fat:

The fat globule cells in goat milk are small, only one-third of those in cow milk. The unsaturated fatty acid content is twice that of cow milk, close to the size of the fat globule cells in the human body, and is mostly saturated fatty acids.

Minerals:

Goat milk contains more minerals, with a total content of 0.85%. The calcium and phosphorus content is 20% higher than that of cow milk. There is no antagonism between calcium and iron, and the absorption rate of calcium and iron is high. The mineral content in milk is 0.72%, and calcium accounts for 45% of all minerals. The calcium-phosphorus ratio of cow milk is similar to that of goat milk, and the iron content is similar to that of goat milk, but the calcium and iron in milk will interact with each other, thus affecting the absorption of divalent iron.

Epidermal Growth Factor:

Goat milk contains the same active factor as human milk - epithelial cell growth factor (EGF), which is beneficial to the growth and repair of epithelial cells. Cow's milk does not contain epithelial growth factor.

pH:

Goat milk is alkaline, while cow milk is acidic.