Allergies to cow’s milk are fairly common among adults as well as infants, but a recent article suggests goat’s milk may provide a good alternative to cow's milk.

Many people with conditions such as recurrent ear infections, asthma, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis are allergic to cow’s milk.

The article online at World’s Healthiest Foods, says that people who are allergic to cow’s milk are often not allergic to goat’s milk, although the reason is unclear. Some recent studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory compounds to be present in goat's milk may make it easier to digest than cow’s milk.

The story also suggests that goat's milk may be used as a replacement for cow's milk-based infant formulas for infants who have difficulties with dairy products. However, the article states that “goat’s milk is lacking in several nutrients that are necessary for growing infants, so parents interested in trying goat's milk instead of cow's milk-based formula for their infants should ask their pediatricians or other qualified healthcare practitioners for recipes and ways to add these important and vital nutrients.”

On the other hand, for older children and adults, goat's milk contains calcium as well as many of the other nutrients found in cow's milk. In addition to calcium, goat’s milk also is a good source of protein, phosphorus, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and potassium.  

Riboflavin is a B vitamin important for energy production as well as energy production is protection, and has been shown to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches in people who suffer from them.

Because a cup of goat's milk contains 498.7 mg of potassium and only 121.5 mg of sodium, goat's milk may also help to prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis.

The article also suggests another advantage of goat’s milk is that there is no need to homogenize it like cow’s milk. The fat globules in goat's milk are much smaller than in cow’s milk and will remain suspended in solution unlike cow's milk that tend to separate to the surface.

“While in the United States, we may think of goat's milk as a beverage alternative to cow's milk, in most areas of the world, the opposite is true,” according to the article. "Worldwide, more people drink goat's milk than cow's milk.”

Goat's milk has a slightly sweeter and saltier taste than cow’s milk.