One of many newest to hit the entrance pages is that of Kim Kardashian and her endorsement of camel milk.
While this milk is new to us within the Western world, it has been consumed for hundreds of years in different elements of the world and is in style in North Africa and the Center East. Camel milk is a serious supply of vitamin the place water is scarce and this sturdy animal can survive for a month with out water, but nonetheless produce milk.
However do you have to be slurping on these items, or sticking to the usual type? We requested London’s main nutritionist Lily Soutter for her tackle this newest superstar well being craze.
Is camel’s milk extra nutritious than cow’s milk?
“Each cows and camel’s milk are each extremely nutritious, however differ barely of their nutrient providing. Camel’s milk comes with larger amount of minerals akin to zinc, and round 5-10 occasions the quantity of iron. What’s extra it incorporates 3-5 occasions the quantity vitamin C, which is helpful when in desert circumstances the place contemporary fruit and veg could also be sparse 1.
“However it has been reported that camel milk incorporates decrease quantities of fat, protein and carbohydrates compared to cow’s milk. It additionally comes with decrease ranges of vitamin A, E and sure B nutritional vitamins akin to thiamine, riboflavin 1.
“Nonetheless it’s vital to notice that the nutrient composition (together with fatty acids) of camel milk has been discovered to vary from nation to nation and is correlated to the environmental and farming circumstances. Which means it’s at the moment onerous to offer correct measures of the nutrient content material as this may fluctuate from batch to batch.”
Are there further well being advantages that include camel’s milk?
“There may be some preliminary analysis to counsel that camel milk could also be higher tolerated by these with lactose intolerance compared to cow’s milk 2, nonetheless bigger trials have to be carried out earlier than these properties might be confirmed.
“In relation to different well being claims made round camel’s milk akin to ‘stopping diabetes’ and ‘treating autism’, many of the analysis has been carried out on rats and extra analysis must be carried out on people. It’s vital to be aware of sweeping well being claims round camel’s milk as there are at the moment no conclusive research to help these claims, in reality the Meals and Drug Administration instructed one firm to take down their well being claims from their web site to not mislead most people.
“In abstract, camel’s milk is extremely nutritious, however so is cheaper and extra available cow’s milk and even goat’s milk! Lots of the further vitamins present in camel’s milk might be discovered from different meals sources, that are native and simply accessible in Western world.”
