While cow's milk is overwhelmingly what people think of when they talk about milk, you can also drink goat's milk. You can drink goat milk plain or use it to make cheese, yogurt and ice cream. You can buy goat's milk from specialty stores or direct from a goat farmer.
Calories and Fat
A 1-cup serving of goat milk contains 168 calories, slightly more than 1 cup of cow's milk. Goat milk has 10.1g of fat per serving, again, slightly more than 1 cup of milk from a cow. Limit your fat intake to 20 to 35 percent of your total calories, or 44 to 78g per day. Of the fat in goat milk 6.5g is saturated fat. This type of fat, sometimes referred to as "solid fats," may damage your health if you consume too much, too often. Reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet to less than 10 percent of the calories you consume every day to avoid high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.
Protein and Carbohydrates
Including goat milk in your diet provides you with a good source of protein. Each 1-cup serving of this milk contains 8.7g, or 15.3 to 18.9 percent of the amount recommended for daily consumption. Protein, in addition to serving as a source of energy for your body, helps your body manufacture new cells, as well as repair damaged cells. Getting enough in your diet -- through goat milk and other sources -- is critical during pregnancy, but it is also important during any growth period, such as childhood. You will also take in 10.9g of carbohydrates per serving of goat milk. Consume 130g of carbs every day to meet energy needs.
Vitamins and Minerals
Goat milk serves as a good supply of calcium. Each 1-cup serving provides 33 percent of the daily recommended value of this mineral. One cup of goat milk is also high in phosphorus and riboflavin, containing 27 percent of the phosphorus and 20 percent of the riboflavin your body requires each day. This milk also contains vitamin A and potassium.
Benefits
ScienceDaily reports that University of Granada researchers allege that goat milk is better for you than cow's milk to prevent certain conditions. Research published in 2007 issues of the "International Dairy Journal" and the "Journal of Dairy Science" indicate that when it comes to preventing iron deficiency and softening of the bones, a condition called bone demineralization, goat milk is the superior choice. In addition, goat milk may aid in helping your body to use a variety of minerals. More research is needed to confirm these findings.
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