GOT (GOAT) MILK?

Milk. We all know how nutritious it is. We already know how nutrients in it, such as calcium, mineral, protein, and vitamins, are very beneficial for our health. These are the facts that we can find in our usually consumed milk, which source is from the cow. But how about the milk comes from another animal, like goat for example?

Nutritious Delicious Milk

Still remember about the controversial issue of the enterobacter sakazakii said to be found in formulated milk for babies? The issue had made many people, especially mothers, filled with concerns. Because of that most of them preferred a solution of exclusive breast-milk. However, for some mothers it can be impossible to do that due to medical reason. If this is the case, then goat milk could be an option.

Cute Baby Drinking Milk

 

Goat milk often recommended as substitute-milk for babies, children, or even adults who are allergic towards cow milk and other kinds of food. These days, goat milk is quite popular although has price much higher than the cow milk’s. It is probably because goat milk does have different characteristics from cow milk and breast milk (ASI). It has higher digesting capability, specific level of acidity, high buffer capacity, and can be used to cure certain illnesses. The result from the survey conducted by United Department of Agriculture said showed that goat milk is highly recommended to treat illnesses such as, TBC, asthma, anemia, hepatitis, muscle cramps and sore ulcer.

THE NUTRITIONS

Goat milk owns complete nutritional compounds and very good for health. The rather-sweet milk can be an alternative for those who cannot consume cow milk or lactose intolerance. It is very low in lactose so it does not cause diarrhea. It also does not contain beta lacto globulin, an allergen compound that often mention as the trigger of allergic reactions such as asthma, respiratory blockage, ear infection, eczema, skin rash, and nuisance in food digestion. However, although goat milk has low risk causing allergies, you should not assume it as a cure to remove allergic reactions.

Milking The Goat

High level of protein compound also contained inside goat milk. This is why goat milk is very beneficial for the growth of body and the establishment of body tissue. It is a non-expensive protein source but high qualified. The protein inside goat milk consists of 22 amino acids including several essential amino acids. The essential amino acids inside the body are crucial compounds in establishing numerous hormonal compounds and body tissue.

Goat milk is also a source of calcium mineral, phosphor, calium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and surely protein. As a calcium source, the goat milk is very good for maintaining the strength and solidness of bones. Calcium inside goat milk also protects the large intestine from the risk of cancer caused by chemical substances that went through it. It also prevents osteoporosis post the menopause stage, migraine, and lower the risk of pre-menstruation syndrome symptom.

A research conducted by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that goat milk has been proven to accelerate fat burning. The research showed that high consumption of natural calcium coming from the goat milk produced fat burning 20 times faster compared to none.

Other than being consumed, goat milk can also be used for skin treatment. Soap that made of the mix of goat milk has the same acidity level with the skin. It has soft effect on the skin and does not trigger irritation. Several studies reported the use of extracted goat milk soap could heal skin diseases, such as psoriasis and as mentioned before eczema.

THE CONTRA OPINION

The lack of interest to consume goat milk, one of many, caused by the assumption that people with high blood pressure should not consume it. However the assumption is completely wrong. The main compound of goat milk, which consists of calium, actually functions to stabilize the blood pressure, organize the working function of heart, and suppress the risk of getting arteriosclerosis.

The statement was confirmed by research done towards more than 40.000 American males who consume goat milk for more than four years. The research concluded that the group who consumed more calium turned out to have much lower risk of having stroke.

Seen from the nutritional compounds shows that goat milk do own quality as good as cow milk, if not better. Obviously, it can be another alternative for us as another source of nutrition, other than cow milk that has been commonly consumed.

hmmm... Nutritious food for nutritious milk

* From different sources.
* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.

 

UNIQUE FOODS: SNAILS (ESCARGOT)

Escargot

As quoted from wikipedia, “snail is a common name that can be used for almost all members of the molluscan class Gastropoda which has coiled shells in the adult stage”. The snails commonly used for consumption are the land snails, which are the snails that live in almost every kind of habitat, from deserts and mountains to marshes (wetlands), woodland, and gardens. The edible snails are particularly the species Helix Aspersa or Cornu Aspersum.

Although it is considered as a French dish, escargot or snails actually have been consumed for thousand of years now. It is believed that men in prehistoric age have been consuming the snails. Snails are even eaten in Africa, Mediterranean region, and Roman Empire.

Before it is cooked into many kinds of cuisines, the snails must be cleaned thoroughly, due to the toxic content as the result of the specific element contained in dirt, which the snails ate.  The cleansing process can last for several days.

Gulai Siput

In French cuisine snails are very popular, and known as escargot. Basically, escargot is snails prepared with traditional French recipes. Usually it is served still in the shell with garlic and parsley butter.

Not only in France, snails are also considered as delicacy in many parts of the world. You can name countries like Portugal, Spain, Greece, Sicily, China, Japan, and more. Even here in Indonesia, some people love the delicious taste of the animal. Moreover in our beloved countries, the cuisines made from snails are more varied. Snails are made into satay,  gulai (coconut-milk-based soup), pepes (steamed inside the banana leaf), and more.

The Art of Eating Escargot

The way to enjoy escargot, especially the ones that served with their shells is quite an “adventure”.  You have to use snail tong, which functions to clasp or hold the shell, while the snail fork is used to take the snail meat out off the shell.

Do snails have nutritional values? Yes, they do. Snails contain quite high amount of protein but a low amount of fat. The protein contained in snails is approximately about 15%, the fat is 2.4%, and 80% water. A study conducted in Brazil, estimated that snails contained 75% unsaturated fatty acids that consists of 57% polyunsaturated fatty acids, 15.5% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 23025% saturated fatty acids. This means that snails are a healthy alternative food, especially for people with high protein low fat diet requirements.


* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.