Although you would believe that camels are just used for transportation, camel milk has long been consumed in Middle Eastern, Asian, and African cultures. It’s actually very sought-after.
Camel milk, in contrast to other types of milk, has significant levels of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, iron, copper, magnesium, vitamin C, and calcium. Also, camel milk is very low in calories.
Now, you must be wondering “what is camel milk good for?” or “what are camel milk benefits?”.
Well, the nutritional value of camel milk possesses a lot of health benefits. Camel milk benefits your body fight infections, lower blood sugar levels, and many more.
Let’s get into the detail about camel milk benefits on your health. Continue scrolling!!
Table of Contents
Properties of camel milk
For millennia, nomadic civilizations living in harsh conditions like deserts have relied heavily on camel milk as a source of nutrition. It is currently manufactured for commercial purposes, distributed worldwide, and offered online in frozen and powdered form.
You might question why some individuals pick camel milk when there are widely available options like cow’s milk and other plant and animal-based kinds of milk. Well, keep reading to know that.
Chemical composition of camel milk
Camel milk smells normal, is opaque white, and tastes salty. Camel milk is 90% water and 10% total solids. It has a high iron and calcium content.
In comparison to cow’s milk, camel milk contains higher amounts of insulin, whey acidic protein, peptidoglycan recognition protein, B-lactose albumin, casein micelles, whey, and Omega-7.
Comparing camel milk to cow and human milk, it contains less fat. Additionally, it has been claimed that camel fatty acids are primarily made up of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The wellness of the body may benefit greatly from this.
Mineral profile of camel milk
Camel milk has a reasonable amount of calcium and iron as well as a high acid content from vitamin C, which lowers pH. This may facilitate the intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients.
It also contains zinc, which is crucial for the preservation and enhancement of the immune system. Additionally, compared to milk from other mammals, camel milk is said to contain a higher concentration of trace minerals.
Vitamin content of camel milk
Different amounts of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins can be found in camel milk. Compared to cow milk, vitamins A and E seem to be lacking in camel milk.
However, compared to other mammals, camel milk is a special source of vitamin C. This makes camels an important mammal in the desert since they provide a source of vitamin C there, where other sources are limited and difficult to grow.
Read to learn about other vitamin C rich foods.
The nutrients found in one-half cup (120 ml) of camel milk are as follows:
- Calories – 50
- Protein – 3 grams
- Fat – 3 grams
- Carbs – 5 grams
- Thiamine – 29% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Riboflavin – 8% of the DV
- Calcium – 16% of the DV
- Potassium – 6% of the DV
- Phosphorus – 6% of the DV
- Vitamin C – 5% of the DV
7 Surprising camel milk benefits
Although camel milk isn’t expected to compete with cow’s milk for shelf space in your nearby supermarket’s dairy department any time soon, it is quickly rising in demand.
Camel milk is believed to aid in the treatment of a variety of illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, shingles, and autism. Additionally, it is simpler to digest than cow’s milk, making it a favorite among lactose intolerant people.
Let’s learn about camel milk health benefits.
1- Camel milk promotes heart health
The nutritional advantages of camel milk are combined with a variety of fatty acids, which can assist to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. Additionally, it aids in controlling blood pressure and lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
2- May lower blood sugar and insulin
In both type 1 and type 2 diabetics, camel milk has been demonstrated to reduce blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity.
The milk’s antidiabetic properties may be caused by proteins that resemble insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels.
According to studies, 4 cups of camel milk is comparable to 52 units of insulin (1 liter). Additionally, it has a lot of zinc, which could increase insulin sensitivity.
Get to know about the best foods in diabetic care.
3- Camel milk benefits in fighting against disease-causing organisms
Due to its high protein content and other chemical ingredients, camel milk aids in boosting immunity. Compounds found in camel milk appear to fight a variety of pathogenic organisms.
The two primary immunoglobulins and lactoferrin found in camel milk are the two substances that give it its potential immune-boosting effects. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities are all possessed by lactoferrin.
Camel milk health benefits also prevent the growth of bacteria that can lead to serious illnesses such as E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Clostridium, H. pylori, S. aureus, and C. albicans.
Furthermore, a mouse study demonstrated that camel milk shielded against the hazardous anticancer treatment cyclophosphamide’s leukopenia (low white blood cell count) and other negative effects. These findings back up milk’s immune-boosting abilities.
More research points to camel whey protein as the cause of the milk’s antimicrobial properties. It might possess antioxidant qualities that aid your body in preventing harm from free radicals.
4- Camel milk promotes growth
Excellent levels of protein are present in camel milk, which is absent from goat or cow milk. Camel milk encourages the growth and development of the organ system and bones because protein is the substance that gives our bodies its structure. For this reason, newborns and children who are undernourished are given camel milk.
5- A good option for people with lactose intolerance
A lack of lactase, an enzyme required to break down the lactose found in dairy products, results in the prevalent illness known as lactose intolerance. Consuming dairy products, this condition can result in bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Many people who are lactose intolerant find camel milk to be more palatable because it has less lactose than cow’s milk. Additionally, camel milk differs from cow’s milk in terms of its protein composition, and it seems to be more tolerable for people who have a cow’s milk allergy.
6- Improves blood circulation
Camel milk has been used to prevent anemia because of its high iron concentration, which is a crucial component of red blood cells. Camel milk benefits in increasing oxygenation and blood flow to the organs and extremities.
Learn about iron-rich foods to fight anemia.
7- Easy to add to your diet
Almost always, camel milk can be used in place of other forms of milk. It can be drunk straight or added to smoothies, baked goods, pancake and waffle batters, coffee, and tea. You can even use it to make tea with milk and sugar.
Depending on where the milk is from, there could be slight changes in flavor. While Middle Eastern camel milk is said to have a more nutty and smoky flavor, American camel milk is described as tasting sweet, slightly salty, and creamy.
Read more about how many calories are in a cup of tea.
3 Camel milk side effects
Camel milk side effects are given below:
1- It costs a lot to buy camel milk.
A pint of camel milk may cost anywhere from $16 to $18. This is due to the fact that camels generate much less milk than cows do.
Like all animals, camels produce milk in the majority of cases only after giving birth, and their pregnancies last 13 months. An average modern dairy cow produces 6 gallons (24 liters) of milk per day, but camels only produce about 1.5 gallons (6 liters) each day.
Therefore, camel milk is much more expensive compared to cow milk.
2- Camel milk may not be pasteurized.
Camel milk is typically drunk raw, unprocessed, and unpasteurized. The fact that most camel’s milk is ingested raw poses one of the biggest hazards.
Due to the significant danger of food illness, many medical specialists do not advise ingesting raw milk in general. Additionally, bacteria found in raw milk have been linked to infections, renal failure, and even death.
This risk is especially concerning for high-risk groups like expectant mothers, kids, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems.
So, if you decide to buy it, ensure sure the product is pasteurized. Otherwise, you run the danger of being ill from drinking camel milk.
3- It may pose ethical concerns.
In order to produce milk on a bigger scale, camel dairy farms are being established in countries where camels do not typically inhabit, such as the United States.
Many people contend that drinking milk from other mammals, such as cows, goats, and camels, is exploitative and unnecessary for humans to do. Therefore, due to ethical considerations, some people refrain from drinking camel milk and other animal-based kinds of milk.
FAQs
Can I drink camel milk daily?
Yes. In fact, the recommended dosage of camel milk to help diabetics better control their blood sugar is 2 cups (500 ml) each day.
What does camel milk cure?
Camel milk helps cure serious food allergies, skin conditions, diabetes, heart problems, etc.
Is camel milk better than cow milk?
Numerous elements that are vital for general health are abundant in camel milk. Camel milk is comparable to full cow’s milk in terms of calories, protein, and carbohydrates. It provides greater vitamin C and B, calcium, iron, and potassium while having less saturated fat.
Does camel milk increase weight?
No. Compared to other types of milk, camel milk is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol. It is therefore appropriate for your weight-loss journey.
The low-fat composition lowers the likelihood of gaining weight and becoming obese.
Conclusion
Some nomadic people have consumed camel milk as a staple food throughout history. Recently, it has attracted interest as a health food in more developed nations.
According to research, those with lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy can handle camel milk better. Additionally, it may improve immunity, and reduce blood sugar.
You can buy camel milk online in the powdered or frozen form if you want to try it but can’t find it nearby. We hope the information about camel milk benefits added greatly to your knowledge. In case, you want to learn more about the nutritional content and health benefits, you can consult with the best nutritionists in town. For that, you can make an appointment via Healthwire.
