A new generation of functional dairy powerhouses
By Eamonn McKay
Look out for next (white) wave in superfoods! A new generation of functional dairy powerhouses now offers unique options to enhance your health and wellness regimen. Some of these dynamic dairy choices are rediscovered from times past, others invigorated by modern science, and all packed full of nutritional goodness.
Organic and grass-fed dairy products are established trends in dairy. As well, here are a few more health-enhancing dairy products to look for when cruising the aisles.
GHEE
The era of “low-fat” has come and gone, and health-conscious consumers are increasingly seeking high-quality nutritional oils to supercharge their diets.
Ghee occupies a unique space in this category. Unlike most unrefined cooking oils, this ancient Ayurvedic butter oil is incredibly resistant to rancidity and packs a very high smoke point (450 °F), making it well-suited to an endless list of high-heat applications, from baking to buttered coffee.
Ghee is also one of the best sources of gut-loving butyric acid, as well as naturally-occurring healthy trans-fats. In contrast to the noxious industrially-produced trans-fats found in hydrogenated oils and margarines, naturally-occurring rumenic and vaccenic trans-fats found in ghee have demonstrated promising cognitive, cardio-protective and cancer-protective benefits.
Driven by low-carb and ketogenic lifestyles movements, ghee is trending upwards with no signs of slowing down .
COLOSTRUM
Colostrum, the “first-milk” newborn calves receive after birth, is a serum rich in immune-fortifying proteins and growth factors. When dehydrated, colostrum is transformed into a dairy superfood boasting benefits for digestive, skin and oral health.
Colostrum is chock full of immunoglobulins, proteins which confer serious gut-protection against bacterial infection and traveller’s diarrhea, can help heal damaged gut lining and decrease intestinal permeability (“leakiness”) caused by NSAID use. With a roster of benefits running this deep, colostrum is a promising ingredient in the fight against inflammatory digestive and gut conditions.
Colostrum is also rich in lactoferrin, an immune-bolstering, anti-viral super-protein that could factor into the next generation of natural acne remedies. A handful of studies have already demonstrated lactoferrin’s protective effects against acne and other skin diseases.
Rounding out colostrum’s unique nutritional resume are lysozyme and lactoperoxidase, enzymes that fortify our saliva against gum disease-causing bacteria and dry mouth. Look to colostrum lozenges to help harness these oral benefits.
FERMENTED DAIRY PROTEINS
What happens when one of the hottest health trends collides with the world of milk proteins? You get fermented [dairy] protein powders like Greek yogurt protein and fermented goat protein, offering whole-food, digestion-friendly alternatives to whey.
Greek Yogurt Protein is pre-digested by the same bacterial cultures used in yogurt manufacturing, packed with calcium and vitamin D, and offers a complete spectrum of amino acids.
Fermented Goat Protein is a naturally grass-fed product thanks to year-round pasturing of the goats that produce it. It’s also lacto-fermented with probiotic cultures and naturally low in A1 casein, qualifying it as a less allergenic alternative to cow-based protein supplements.
Look for these dairy dynamos to help you ride the next “white wave” of health and wellness this year!
