For generations, cow milk has been the go-to choice for infant and child nutrition. But long before it became the standard, another kind of milk was cherished for its remarkable nutritional benefits: goat milk. In fact, dating as far back as 2,000 years ago, this nutritionally rich milk was once the preferred source of milk over cow milk because of its nutritional goodness. Cleopatra, after all, bathed in it for good reason.
Fast forward several hundred years, and this ancient wisdom is catching up. A newly published research paper – reviewed by a multi-disciplinary expert advisory group – confirms that goat milk is superior to cow milk when it comes to infant and toddler nutrition. Here’s a little more on what it found:
- Supports a healthy gut: The naturally occurring oligosaccharides (probiotics) in goat milk help nurture a gut microbiome similar to breastfed babies.
- Strengthens the gut barrier: More beneficial bacteria and less harmful gut bacteria leads to a stronger gut barrier, helping nutrient absorption and immunity.
- Easier to digest: Unlike cow milk, goat milk is digested in a similar fashion to breast milk, perfect for tiny tummies.
- Anti-inflammatory: With anti-inflammatory properties similar to breast milk, the prebiotic and probiotic benefits of goat milk may help reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases later in life.
- Relieves constipation: Is your little one constipated on cow? Consider switching to goat milk.
But long before this research was released, one mum discovered these beautiful benefits during her own feeding journey. After struggling with breastfeeding and her son’s serious intolerance to conventional formulas, single mom Elke Pascoe began to question what was actually in them. She soon discovered a long list of preservatives, fillers and chemically extracted oils, realizing there must be a better, more natural way to give children the nutrition they need – one that was rooted in simplicity and natural goodness.
“Both my children, Olive and Freddie, were lactose intolerant,” Elke explains. “The formulas we used to supplement their milk feeds caused skin and digestive issues.” She tried everything – cow’s milk, organic cow’s milk, hypoallergenic variants – but nothing helped. It wasn’t until she began using goat milk that things started to improve.
And so, she reclaimed something special – something the world once knew and loved: goat milk. Eight years on, Elke now uses LittleOak’s Natural Goat Milk Toddler Drink to feed her 18-month-old, Hugh. “When nature gives you an amazing ingredient like goat milk, the less you do to it the better,” she says. “This became our guiding star – to keep our range as close to nature as possible, free from synthetic additives and chemical processing.”
Sometimes, looking forward means looking back. In goat milk, Elke discovered not just a beautiful, nourishing ingredient but a time-honored solution that parents around the world are beginning to rediscover.
LittleOak happy gut smoothie
Ingredients
- 200mls of pre-mixed LittleOak Toddler Drink
- 1/2 small banana
- 3 medium strawberries
- 1 date
Instructions
Add all ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a suitable bottle or pouch and enjoy. Appropriate for 12 months plus.
