There is no doubt that milk is highly nutritious. It is an excellent source of calcium, which is necessary for stronger bones and teeth. Doctors recommend drinking milk every day in order to stay healthy and fit. But when you have to make a choice between cow and buffalo milk, which one is better? Well, both types of milk have their own positives and negatives.
- Fat: Fat content actually is responsible for the consistency of the milk. Cow milk contains a lower amount of fat as compared to buffalo milk. Hence buffalo milk is thicker than cow milk. Cow milk has 3-4 percent of fat, while buffalo milk has about 7-8 percent. Buffalo milk is heavy, so it takes time to digest and keeps your stomach filled for a longer period of time.
- Water: Water is necessary for every individual. If you want to increase your water intake then go for cow milk. Approximately 90 percent of cow milk is water and is excellent to keep you hydrated.
- Protein: Buffalo milk contains 10-11 percent more protein than cow milk. It is more heat resistant. Buffalo milk is not recommended for infants and older people due to high content of protein.
- Cholesterol: Cholesterol level is different in both types of milk. Buffalo milk contains low amount of cholesterol, which makes it an excellent choice for people suffering from diseases like PCOD, hypertension, kidney problems, and obesity.
- Calorie: It is obvious that buffalo milk contains more calories as it is high in protein and fat. 1 cup of buffalo milk contains 237 calories, while 1 cup of cow milk contains 148 calories.
- Shelf life: As Buffalo milk has a high peroxides activity,it can be preserved for a longer period of time as compared to cow milk which is a kind of enzyme. Cow milk should be consumed within 1-2 days.
- Colour: Cow milk is yellowish-white in colour, while buffalo milk is creamy white. In buffalo milk beta- carotene pigment gets converted to colorless Vitamin- A, which makes it less yellowish than cow milk. This takes place in cow milk as well, but in less quantity.
- Nutrition: Buffalo milk is rich in calcium and good source of minerals like magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. Cow milk is rich in variety of minerals, vitamins, proteins and calcium.
- Production: A cow produces around 15 to 20 liters of milk, whereas a buffalo yields anywhere between 7 to 11 liters of milk per day.
- Consumers & producers: India is the top producer of buffalo milk followed by Pakistan, China and Italy. India is the top producer and consumer of both cow and buffalo milk. Western countries consume mostly cow milk.
- Intolerance: Many people who are lactose intolerant or have an intolerance and mild allergy to cow’s milk find that drinking buffalo milk helps and alleviates any problems, such as psoriasis; that were rooted in their dietary allergies. Some people also report better tolerance of cow milk when the protein is A2 rather than A1. Milk contains β-casein proteins; depending upon the cow breed which is either of mostly A1 or A2 type.
- Other major difference: If you want to have a sound sleep at night, go for buffalo milk as it is considered sleep-inducing.Buffalo milk is good for the preparation of khoya, dahi, paneer, kheer, payasam, malai, kulfi, and ghee. Cow milk is better for making sweets as it is less creamy and thick.
- Both the types of milk are good for health and have their own health benefits. So, what to consume depends on your preference. Just make sure that milk is part of your daily diet.
