Goat Milk

We started backwards. I knew dairy goats were in my future. Our land was well suited for them, and the market for their milk was increasing. Finding customers would not be a problem. But neither of us had actually ever tasted goat milk and that seemed just a tad bit important. So David and I stood there, glasses in hand, daring each other to take the first sip.

“It’s probably going to taste funny.”

“We’ll just have to get used to it.”

“We’ve got to try it. What will we tell our customers if we haven’t even tasted it? Okay, on the count of three…”

One swallow later and I was laughing in amazement. Where was the strange odor? The funny taste? This stuff was delicious.

“Wow, this is really good,” declared my newly converted husband. “I like this better than cow’s milk!”

And with that, unbeknownst to us, we took a giant step towards better health.

Although I had done a great deal of study on goat husbandry before starting my herd, even now I am just beginning to learn and understand the benefits of goat milk. So what I am sharing with you is simply my own experience with it.

First though, as anyone should do when sharing this sort of information, let’s start with a disclaimer. My results may be vastly different than your own and my comments are not intended to be medical advice. Before making any major changes to your diet, especially if you have a true milk allergy, be sure to talk with health care professionals and do your own research carefully. I drink and cook with raw milk. You will need to decide if that is right for you or if pasteurized milk is a better choice. I’ll give you some helpful links at the end of this article to get you started on your study.

My mom was an advocate of cow milk, and for good reason: “Milk does a body good.” I enjoyed the taste and faithfully drank my 3 daily servings without complaint. I was also sick…a lot.

As a child, ear infections, upper respiratory infections, and congestion were constant companions. I had allergies and while I wasn’t really overweight, I always felt a bit chubby. Some issues I grew out of, while others remained with me into adulthood.

A growing number of health professionals, including my sister, began drawing the connection between dairy products and chronic illnesses, including things like allergies and inflammation. Her whole family had trouble with dairy and they eliminated most of it from their diet.

Then I had a daughter who was born with an obvious lactose intolerance. Being a nursing mom, I chose to eliminate all dairy from my diet rather than give up breastfeeding. Guess what? Not only was she more comfortable, but I noticed that my own chronic congestion had significantly decreased. I felt better than I could remember and willingly gave up dairy for my own health…except for ice cream and cheese, which seemed worth the digestive discomfort that occasionally came with them.

In the years to follow, I began reading about the human body’s ability to tolerate goat milk more readily than cow milk so by the time I began milking my own does, I was ready for the big test. Would my health concerns return?

The results? No congestion. No sinus issues. Unexpectedly, I also found that on raw, full-fat goat milk my digestive system improved. I lost weight, and my skin became healthier.

And then there was the dog. Early in her life, Allie contracted Lyme’s Disease which left her with frequent tummy troubles. On a whim, I began giving her raw goat milk each morning and, you guessed it, no more diarrhea. She now gets a small daily serving.

Even the barn cats get a daily serving of raw goat milk on their morning “cereal.”

A few weeks ago, I allowed myself the treat of a peanut butter milkshake from a local fast food restaurant. By the end of the day, I was miserable and knew exactly what had happened. For my body, cow milk, especially its lactose, is a problem. For me, goat milk works well.

Have you had an experience with goat milk? Please share your story with us so we can all learn together.

In future posts I will share more of what I am discovering about goat milk. Why did I have such positive reactions? Why is it helping so many other people? For now, take a look at these helpful websites.

One of my favorite sites is: www.everything-goat-milk.com.

Here’s another article: “Raw goat’s milk offers many benefits”: http://www.naturalnews.com/031586_raw_goats_milk_health.html

And for an interesting comparison between goat milk and cow milk, see: http://www.prevention.com/content/which-healthier-goat-milk-vs-cow-milk.