Does Goat Milk Contain Casein? (Revealed!)

 

The other day I was out with a friend and we were talking about the dietary benefits of different kinds of milk.

He was telling me about the problems associated with casein, a substance in dairy milks than many people are intolerant to.

I’d known about lactose intolerance and the digestive problems associated with that, but I’d never heard of casein.

I’d been milking goats on my homestead for years and had never seen any of the types of issues my friend described as associated with casein.

I was intrigued by the issue so I decided to look into it.

So, does goat’s milk contain casein?

Casein can cause a number of issues even if you are not outright allergic to it.

Cow’s milk contains large quantities of A1 beta-casein, which can cause a lot of dermatological issues like acne, swelling, even rashes and eczema.

Goat’s milk, on the other hand, contains the more easily digested A2 beta-casein.

Let’s take a quick look at what casein is before taking this question any further.

 

What is casein?

Casein, broadly speaking, is a family of related proteins commonly found in mammalian milk.

In cow’s milk, casein makes up about 80% of the proteins present, compared with between 20%-60% in human milk.

The word for casein comes from the Latin caseus, which simply means “cheese.”

It’s a vital part of the cheese making process.

As a food source for those who aren’t allergic, it supplies amino acids and carbohydrates as well as essential minerals like calcium and phosphorous.

In the case of an allergy, some people lack the ability to break the protein down which can result in inflammation of many kinds like acne, eczema and even swelling.

Recent research has made steps towards making this protein more accessible for those allergic.

It is virtually universal practice in the modern dairy industry to put milk through a heating process called pasteurization before it reaches store shelves.

This process eliminates some bacteria and overall helps to make mass produced milk safer, but in fact, heat-treated milk has been shown to be more allergenic than non-treated milk, at least in infants.

 

How much casein is in goat’s milk?

As I mentioned earlier, there are two primary types of casein: A1 and A2.

A1 has been shown to be the protein that causes the greatest issue, and is in found in high concentrations in cow’s milk.

Indeed, A1 beta-casein has been linked to all sorts of conditions like type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and digestive trouble.

It is certainly the main culprit in the outbreaks of acne that many suffer when drinking cow’s milk.

Goat’s milk, on the other hand, contains primarily A2 beta casein.

It is separated in terms of chemical structure by only one amino acid, and is generally considered to be much less allergenic.

Studies have found that consumption of A1 beta-casein led to great digestive discomfort, higher concentrations of inflammation, and even longer gastrointestinal transit times.

So, it is not really the amount of casein that’s the problem, but rather the type.

Compare the overall protein quantity of cow’s and goat’s milk.

In 1 cup of cow’s milk, you’ll find about 8 grams of protein.

In the same amount of goat’s milk, you’ll find closer to 9 grams.

Goat’s milk is actually higher in protein than whole cow’s milk, but if you remember 80% of that cow’s milk is A1 casein, whereas in goat’s milk it’s A2 casein.

So, the quantity is not the problem but the type of casein.

 

Is goat’s milk inflammatory?

Casein intolerance has been linked to outbreaks of inflammation on the skin.

Drinking cow’s milk for those with a casein intolerance could well lead to any of the skin problems mentioned here.

But if goat’s milk does not contain the problem variety of casein, is it still likely to be an inflammatory?

The fact is, lactose intolerance alone can cause outbreaks of inflammation as well.

It isn’t just casein, although this is usually the main factor.

If you have experience inflammation outbreaks in the past when drinking cow’s milk, introduce goat’s milk slowly into your diet and see how your skin reacts.

If you have no reaction, you may be casein intolerant; if your skin does flare up, you may be lactose intolerant.

Interestingly, taking it out of your food and putting it into your skincare routine could undo the inflammatory effects.

It has in recent years become famed for its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects when formulated properly, but the important distinction here is you aren’t eating it.

Finding a goat’s milk skin care product could be the solution you need to your skin troubles.

So, goat’s milk can have both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects, when taken in different forms.

If you’ve had inflammation problems in the past with cow’s milk and want to try goat’s milk now, just be careful, introduce it slowly and see how you react.

Casein can be a very problematic substance for many people, then.

If you are only having problems with the casein, causing issues like inflammation and rashes, then there’s a good chance goat’s milk will be a much better option for you.

The casein in goat’s milk causes much less havoc than the casein contained in cow’s milk.

Still, though, it’s always best to take a cautious approach, and if you find you’re still having problems with goat’s milk, think about a non-dairy alternative.