What is milk? - First food, Colostrum

  After reading this article, you earn some knowledge about milk

Milk and Dairy products play an important role in our daily diet. It provides all the nutrients which requires for our body. Everyday we consume milk and dairy produces but have u ever think why should we include milk and its products in our diet? What's the need for it? 
  
Well, you may think milk provides nutrition and it is good for bones and teeth. Yeah that's correct.  Actually, milk is a complete food which means it contains all the nutrients that are required for our body.  It contains proteins,  vitamins, calcium, potassium, minerals, etc.,
 
Milk is the first food ever we have tasted and tried. Yeah now I'm gonna ask you two simple questions. Lets see how could you answer up. What is milk and why milk is recommended as first food?
 
So, lets see the correct/ actual answer for these questions;

First we discuss about WHAT IS MILK?

Many of you have an idea like milk is a white liquid, lacteal secretion of mammal which is rich in nutrition. If you also have this idea, yeah you’re correct but still you need to know more about milk. Here is  the actual definition of milk, “Milk is a whole, clean, fresh, lacteal secretion obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy milch animals which are properly fed and kept excluding that milk which is obtained 15 days before / 5 days after calving or such period is necessary to tender the milk practically colostrum free and containing the minimum prescribed percentage of milk fat and SNF (solid not fat).”

Now we discuss, WHY MILK IS RECOMMENDED AS FIRST FOOD?

The answer for this is simple,

 1. EASILY DIGESTABLE
Breast milk is packed with nutrition which young ones needs and it includes easy to digest protein because little ones born before their digestive systems are fully developed. So until their digestive system is being fully developed, milk is recommended as a food for infants.  

2. BOOST UP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
New-born babies immune system is not strong as adult’s immune system and their frail body is incapable of fighting diseases and illness. Milk of mammals have COLOSTRUM  which contains antibodies and helps to protect the newborn’s from diseases.
 
COLOSTRUM:

• first form of milk also known as “first milk” / “beestings”
• contains antibodies which protect the newborn’s from diseases
• it has high concentration protein and fat than milk
• camel milk and human milk has lower fat concentration
• it contains immune cells such as IgA, IgG, IgM these components adopt the immune system.

 

COW MILK NOT RECOMMENDED WHY?

Cow milk is not recommended for infants before 12 months of age. As cow milk contains too much of protein and minerals which can not be handled by infant’s kidney and cause intestinal bleeding.

 

INTERESTING FACT 

Drinking milk increase the level of appetite reducing hormone while reducing the hunger hormone “GHRELIN”.