Which milk is better: cow/buffalo/non dairy

Which milk is better to drink

Cow Milk vs Buffalo Milk

Milk is considered as the most healthy and nutritious component of balanced diet. Drinking milk everyday is very important in order to keep our body fit and healthy. Even doctors also recommend milk to fulfill the basic requirements of our body.

It is always the point of discussion to have a choice between cow milk and buffalo milk. Both types of milk have their own positive and negative points. Following are the differences between both milks:

Fats

Consistency of milk depends upon the fat content it contains. Buffalo milk (7%-8%) contains higher fat than cow milk (3%-4%).  That's why buffalo milk is thicker than cow and it takes more time to digest. 

Water

If you want to reduce weight and increase your water intake then you can go for cow milk. In cow milk approximately 90% of water and is best to keep you hydrated.

Protein

Buffalo milk has 10-11 percent more protein than cow milk. That's why buffalo milk is not suitable for infants and older people. For infants and older people, cow milk is recommended.

Cholestrol

Buffalo milk contains a low amount of cholestrol, which makes it exellent choice for people suffering from diseases like PCOD, hypertension, kidney problems and obesity.

Calories

Buffalo milk is higher in protein and fat so it contains more calories. 1 cup of buffalo milk contains 237 kcal calories while cow milk contains 148 kcal calories.

Sleeping

Buffalo is also considered as sleep inducing. If you want to have a sound sleep at night, go for buffalo milk.

Sweets preparation

Buffalo milk is thicker and creamier, so it is good for preparation of khoya, malai, kulfi and ghee.

Where as cow milk is less creamy and thinner, so it is better for sweets like rasgulla, rasmalai and sandesh.

Minerals

Buffalo milk contains more calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium as compared to cow milk which is rich in protein.

Weight phenomenon

Buffalo milk is good for weight gain as it has more fat and calories where as cow milk is good for weight loss as it has less fat and calories.

Persistency

Buffalo milk can be preserved naturally for a longer period due to high peroxidase activity  (enzyme). While cow milk should be consumed within 1-2 days.

Note:

Milk is rich in nutrients as it provides many health benefits being rich in calcium, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats. Because of its vitamin D content and calcium, it maintains steady weight, strong teeth, healthy fat and lower blood pressure.

If you are looking beyond dairy milk for health reasons, then there are some healthier milk alternatives that are available in super markets. These are:

Hemp Milk

It is made from soaked hemp seeds which are high in protein, omega 3 and omega 6 unsaturated fats. These nutrients are higher in hemp milk than other plant milk.

Before buying hemp milk, dont forget to check the sugar content in ingredients. Buy unsweetened milk.

Oat Milk

Oat milk is naturally sweet from oats. It is high in carbs. It contains some soluble fibers which makes oat milk a bit creamier. Thus because of high carbs and fiber, it offers several healthy benefits such as reducing cholestrol levels and keeping you full for a longer time.

Almond Milk

It is made by soaking almonds in water. It is a tasty non dairy milk alternative for people cannot drink dairy milk. If you are on a low carb diet then unsweetened almond milk is a good option as it is much lower in calories and carbs than cow's milk.

Coconut Milk

It is squeezed from the white flesh of a coconut. It has a pleasant flavor. Its consistency is similar to that of cow's milk. However some canned coconut milk tends to be higher in fats. It is good for heart health banefits.

Soy Milk

Nutritionally soy milk is closed to cow's milk. Soyabeans are a rich source of complete proteins. If you want to avoid dairy and want a milk beverage with higher in protein then it is a good option. It also reduce health risks such as cholestrol, blood pressure, breast cancer, etc.

Conclusion

All milks and milk alternatives offer various health advantages. A good strategy is to mix up the types of milk you drink along with the whlle food diet. 

Always remember to check the labels for ingredients like added sugar content or unwanted additives and avoid them.