Dairy products are utilised in varied forms, such as milk, cheese, butter, etc. The nutritional value of milk is great, and it consists of nutrients like protein, fat, lactose and other essential biochemical chemicals. Dairy products are necessary for everyday life. Milk keeps up with the development pace of people and furthermore adds to the guideline of biomechanical frameworks. Let us learn more about it through this article.
Definition of Dairy Products
Dairy items are the products and commodities we acquire from farms that raise buffalo, cows, sheep, and other livestock. Milk and milk products such as butter, cheese, ice cream, sweets, yoghurt, and dried milk are examples of dairy products.
Fresh pasteurised full, low-fat, and skim milk are used in several countries. Large amounts of milk are mostly turned into stable dairy products such as cheese, dried milk, ice cream, and butter around the world. People consume milk from diverse varieties of cows, buffalo, and other animals in various places of the world. For instance, cow’s milk consumption is higher in the world. However, people in southern parts of Asia, including India, China, etc., consume buffalo’s milk, and in Mediterranean countries, goat milk is mainly consumed by people.
Benefits Associated with Dairy Products
Although there are many advantages related to dairy products, their main benefits are mentioned below:
The health benefits of dietary dairy items are numerous, ranging from the development and maintenance of good bones and teeth to the regulation and maintenance of other organs. It is critical to consume adequate amounts of calcium and protein daily, since they are required for body growth and functioning. These can be acquired through dairy products.
A diet rich in protein and calcium is very important for the health of postmenopausal women to strengthen the bones and muscles and reduce the risk factors of fractures.
The absorption of intestinal calcium also increases with the consumption of high protein diets. This enhances our bone mass.
Nutrient Composition of Milk
Even though milk is a liquid, it consists of 12-13 % solid particles and is hence considered food. On the other hand, many ‘solid’ food products contain only 6% solids, such as tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, etc.
Many factors affect the nutrient composition of milk, such as breed, the genetic makeup of cow or buffalo, lactational stage, and disease conditions. There is a difference in the number of nutrients as per the mammals, mainly dependent on the growth rates of species.
Goat milk contains the same amount of nutrients as cow’s milk, but it is different because of various other factors. It is white due to the conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A. The curd prepared from goat milk is easy to digest and generally referred for those who have an allergy to proteins (cow’s milk).
It is rich in nutrients like protein (5.8%) and fat (6.5%). The milk from the reindeer has the highest quantity of nutrients, consisting of 11% protein and 22% fat. This kind of milk is mainly used in the production of cheese and other dairy products.
Components of Milk
The primary components of milk are water, fat, protein, carbohydrate (lactose), and other essential minerals. Moreover, it also has other crucial micronutrients like vitamins, amino acids and trace elements. Milk, the main source of dairy products, has more than 250 chemical particles in it. Some of them are mentioned briefly below:
Fat: Mammary gland of mammals has specialised tissues to produce fat in milk. Milk fat mainly has triglycerides, consisting of three fatty acid chains and a glycerol molecule.
Protein: There are a variety of proteins present in the milk. Proteins enhance the nutritional value of milk and milk products. The main protein present in milk is casein.
Lactose: It is the main carbohydrate present in milk. It is a kind of disaccharide that consists of glucose and galactose molecules. It is an important food source.
Conclusion
Hence, rearing and nurturing animal breeds that have the potential to provide food products such as cows, buffalos, etc., is very important. Dairy products have thus been supported by the food stock system. The main dairy product is milk. It is consumed in different ways across the world. The nutritional value of milk is great, as it consists of nutrients like protein, fat, lactose and other essential biochemical chemicals. Dairy products are important in everyday life.