Superfood Benefits of Camel Milk
June is National Dairy Month which recognizes the important contribution dairy products make in providing nutrition to billions of people around the world.
Most people understand that dairy foods are an important source of nutrients for growing children and teens. However, milk and other dairy foods offer excellent nutritional value to adults, seniors and athletes, too. Dairy products are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, including carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamins A, D, B12, riboflavin and niacin.
For example, just one 8-ounce serving of real dairy milk can offer up to 8 grams of protein which builds and repairs muscle tissue (an equal serving of almond beverage has only about 1 gram of protein).
A superfood is a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being, so milk, with its excellent nutritional profile, is recognized as a superfood, and could be considered the original superfood.
All Real Dairy Milks are Not Equal
Real dairy milk can come from a variety of animal sources with cow, goat and sheep milk being the better-known forms of real milk. There’s now another real dairy milk gaining popularity in the US – camel milk.
Camel milk may be a “new” milk to us in the western world, but it’s been used for centuries by the nomadic people of the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia to help them maintain their health despite living in a harsh environment.
What's So Special about Camel Milk?
Camels are unique animals and produce unique milk. The quality and strength of some of the properties of camel milk are not found in any other milks.
Camel milk is loaded with nutrients such as vitamin E, selenium, iron, folate and much more.
The overall fat content of camel milk is approximately 50 percent lower than cow milk, while the percentage of healthy unsaturated fatty acids is higher. The monounsaturated fats in camel milk have some of the same benefits of olive oil. The body needs these fatty acids for brain function and cell growth.
Camel milk is rich in natural vitamin C – three to five times higher than in cow milk. Vitamin C is needed to grow and repair tissues throughout the body, to form collagen, make skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.
Camel milk contains more calcium than other milks. Your body needs calcium to build and maintain strong bones and your heart, muscles and nerves also need calcium to function properly. The intake of this natural mineral is important for growing children.
Camel milk contains high levels of minerals (sodium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc and magnesium.) Iron is one of the most vital minerals because it plays a vital role in immune system function. Magnesium plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions within the body, including the metabolism of food, synthesis of fatty acids and proteins, and the transmission of nerve impulses. It’s also necessary for the optimum absorption of the calcium.
Another great benefit is that camel milk doesn’t contain the A1 beta-casein and beta-lactoglobulin proteins found in cow milk. These proteins have been linked to allergic reactions to cow milk, such as bloating, pain, gas, diarrhea, or reflux.
The natural probiotic features of camel milk assist healthy bacteria growth in the gut and support healthy digestion. Promoting a healthy digestive tract and a strong immune system are the most widely studied benefits of probiotics.
And the cherry on the top -- camel milk contains lanolin, collagen, and other natural moisturizing ingredients, that have a calming and soothing effect on the skin.
If you want to include the nutritional benefits of real dairy milk in your diet, it’s not hard to see why camel milk is the smart choice.
