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Why Camel Milk could soon become the World’s Most Essential Drink!
Does the mention of the word camel make you think of pack animals that spit and smell and roam the desert.
The idea of pouring camel milk over your cereal or cooking up camel steak might seem strange, but this animal has been a staple of diets in certain communities for thousands of years. Now, camels are on the rise beyond their traditional homelands and their produce is cropping up on shelves around the globe.
"According to the UN, camels already contribute about 8 per cent of total milk production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, market research estimates that the global camel milk trade could exceed $13 billion by the end of the decade, up from $1.3 billion in 2022." “It is pretty rapid growth,” Dr Ariell Ahearn, departmental lecturer in human geography at the University of Oxford, tells BBC Science Focus.
Ahearn explains that in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, camel milk is already commonplace in grocery store refrigerators and that as investors spy a good business opportunity, money is pouring into new farms across the region. “By 2050, it’s possible we’ll have more choice between cow's milk and camel's milk in the UK,” she says.
Indeed, farms are beginning to crop up in the western countries too. The largest farm in the US now spans over 1,000 acres in the hill country of Missouri and hosts over 200 camels.
So, with their rise in popularity all but assured, could camels be the new cows, taking over pastures (or sand dunes?) around the world? Why are we seeing a shift to camels?
There is an important reason to highlight why camels are a part of our future food chain.
"Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise, with habitats across the planet becoming increasingly inhospitable to life. Frankly, cows just aren’t going to cut it in some places in the world where temperatures are expected to soar and pressures on food security are increasing; but camels might."
There are several benefits to using camels in arid climates, explains Ahearn and her colleague Dr Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, a pastoralist, veterinarian and author of Camel Karma: Twenty years among India's camel nomads.
Firstly, camels are designed for harsh conditions. “Cows are fine in Europe in a temperate climate,” Köhler-Rollefson says, “but I mean, where there are camels naturally, it’s obviously better to use camels.”
While Köhler-Rollefson isn’t in favour of setting up super-camel farms akin to the super-dairy farms operating today, she points out, for example, that “one of the arguments that’s been made in favor of it is that camels don’t need air conditioning since they can put up with high temperatures.”
More significantly, camels are just more efficient than cows at turning food and water inputs into meat and dairy outputs – vital in regions where food and water are already scarce.
“If you were to compare one litre of camel milk to one litre of cow milk, you need a lot less feed and water to produce the camel milk,” says Ahearn.
"Research backs this up. A 2022 study published in the journal Nature Food showed that as environmental conditions worsen in Sub-Saharan Africa, replacing cattle populations with camel and goat farms could easily pick up the slack – milk production actually increased in the scenario, with water and food demand decreasing. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions shrank."
A major source of emissions in cattle farming comes from the cows themselves when they burp and fart. Camels are better on that front too, with research in the journal PLOS "One showing that the humped nomads produce significantly less methane – the potent greenhouse gas that traps 28 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide – than ruminants. "
Dairy was essential to the survival of ancient humans in extreme environments
Which vegan milk is best for the environment? Is it time for you to add camels to your diet? At this point, you might be convinced that in some areas of the world, it’s time to give change from cows to camels. But does this mean you’ll end up having camel milk cocoa before bed?
Health Benefits
Whereas climate necessity may warrant a shift away from cows in some parts of the world, the health benefits of consuming camel products might force a shift in places where the climate isn’t the issue.
“Camel milk has a much higher vitamin C and iron content than cow milk; it can be consumed by people who are lactose intolerant; and it usually has a low-fat content,” says Köhler-Rollefson.
Moreover, research suggests it can lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes, and it even contains immune system-boosting ingredients.
As for the meat, compared to beef or lamb, camel meat is leaner, lower in cholesterol and higher in iron – in other words, healthier.
Camels: coming to a farm near you?
Despite the success of a handful of camel farms in the US and Europe, both Ahearn and Köhler-Rollefson remain skeptical about whether they'll completely replace cows across swathes of Western countries.
In other regions where it makes more sense to employ this ancient creature to meet food needs, the pair wants to see a move away from an industrialized model where animals are kept in confined spaces.
Köhler-Rollefson, who owns a camel dairy business herself, says it “defeats the ecological purpose of camels because they have these long legs and they can walk for hours, converting energy from the Sun embedded in drought-resistant desert plants into food for us.”
She hopes that a more free-range, nomadic model of farming will “demonstrate an alternative to industrialized farming that is more environmentally friendly. Camels are a great example of that because they’re so resilient to climate hazards and variability.”
Want to know more about Camel Milk – PureLife Care+
Risk Factors and Causes of Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
Neuropathic Pain and other symptoms of nerve damage can be caused by many things. The damage is caused by the breakdown of the myelin sheath.
Often it is diabetics that suffer from this type of nerve pain due to the high blood sugars of the disease damaging the nerves and it is a major complication of the disease.
However, there are a lot causes for nerve damage, and we have listed them below (alphabetically).
It can sometimes be a combination of reasons. It is an acquired disease.
See the list
Why can't You Eat Grapefruit with some Medications?
This was a mystery to me until I researched and found out why
Read: Grapefruit Interactions with Medications
Vitamin E Enhances Immunity in the Elderly
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that boosts immune function in older adults, helping to fight off infections and improve overall health. Beyond immunity, vitamin E protects against cell damage, promotes heart and brain health, and supports healthy vision.
As you age, your body changes, and so do your defenses against illness. This defense system is known as your immunity, and it's essential for fighting off infections and staying healthy. Unfortunately, immunity tends to weaken with age, making older adults more susceptible to various health problems. But here's the good news: vitamin E, a powerful nutrient found in many foods, helps boost immunity in seniors.
Understanding Immunity
Your immune system is a complex network of cells and organs that work together to protect your body from harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. It has two main parts: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is your body's first line of defense, providing a general response to any invader.
Adaptive immunity is a more specific response, targeting particular invaders that your body has encountered before. One aspect of adaptive immunity is cell-mediated immunity, where specific cells directly attack and destroy infected cells.
As you get older, your immune system doesn't function as effectively as it used to. This decline is due to several factors, including changes in the number and function of immune cells. Consequently, older adults become more vulnerable to infections, chronic diseases and slower healing.
A strong immune system is important for preventing illness, promoting longevity and maintaining a good quality of life. When your immune system is weakened, you're more likely to get sick, and it takes longer to recover. This significantly impacts your daily activities, energy levels and overall well-being.
The food you eat plays a key role in supporting your immune system. A balanced diet provides the necessary building blocks for immune cells and processes. What is a balanced diet?
Micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are particularly important for optimal immune function.2 Vitamin E is one such micronutrient that has garnered attention for its immune-boosting properties, especially in the elderly.
The Power of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. You can find vitamin E in various foods like nuts, seeds and vegetable oils, but I don’t recommend these foods because of their high linoleic acid (LA) content. Beans, another food rich in vitamin E, are also problematic to some people due to their high lectin content.
Good natural vitamin E sources that do not have negative effects on your health include fresh fruits and vegetables, such as pumpkin, asparagus, red bell peppers, tomatoes, kiwi and mango. Grass fed beef or bison, are also excellent sources. Vitamin E is also available in supplement form, though it's always best to try and get nutrients from whole foods first.
One of vitamin E's primary functions is to act as an antioxidant. Think of oxidative stress as a process that causes "rusting" in your body, damaging cells and contributing to aging and disease. Vitamin E acts like a "rust-proofing" agent, neutralizing harmful molecules called free radicals and protecting your cells from damage.3 This antioxidant activity helps maintain a healthy immune system, especially as you age.
Studies have shown that vitamin E enhances immune response, particularly cell-mediated immunity. It does this by improving the function of various immune cells, including T cells, which are essential for fighting infections.4 For example, research has demonstrated that vitamin E increases the proliferation of T cells. This means that vitamin E helps your body produce more of these infection-fighting cells, making your immune system stronger and more responsive.5
In older adults, vitamin E supplementation has been found to increase immune response and protect against infections. Specifically, one study found that vitamin E supplementation significantly enhanced the response of T cells to stimulation.6
This means that the immune systems of the elderly individuals in the study were better equipped to recognize and fight off infections after taking vitamin E supplements. This is particularly important for older adults who often experience a decline in T cell function, making them more susceptible to illnesses.7
While vitamin E is clearly beneficial for immune function, its benefits extend far beyond boosting your defenses against infection. Think of vitamin E as a guardian of your cells, protecting them from damage and helping them function at their best. This is particularly important as you age, because your cells become more vulnerable to wear and tear.8
One of the major culprits behind this cellular damage is oxidative stress. Imagine your cells as apples. When you cut an apple and leave it exposed to air, it starts to turn brown. This browning is caused by oxidation, a process similar to what happens in your body when free radicals damage your cells. Vitamin E acts like a protective layer, preventing the "browning" of your cells and keeping them healthy.9
This protective effect has far-reaching benefits, contributing to the health of various organs and systems in your body.10 For example, vitamin E's antioxidant action helps maintain healthy blood vessels. Think of your blood vessels as a network of pipes that carry blood throughout your body. Just like rust damages pipes and restricts water flow, oxidative stress damages blood vessels and impedes blood circulation.
Vitamin E helps keep these "pipes" clear and functioning smoothly, reducing your risk of heart disease.11 In addition to heart health, vitamin E also protects against cognitive decline. Imagine your brain as a complex computer. As you age, the "wiring" in your brain becomes damaged, leading to memory problems and cognitive decline. Vitamin E helps protect this "wiring," keeping your brain sharp and functioning optimally.12
Furthermore, vitamin E supports eye health. Think of your eyes as cameras that capture images of the world around you. Just like a camera lens becomes cloudy and distorted, the lens in your eye is also damaged by oxidative stress, leading to vision problems. Vitamin E acts like a lens cleaner, protecting your eyes and preserving your vision.13
By protecting cells and promoting their optimal function, vitamin E helps seniors maintain their independence and quality of life as they age. It's like giving your body the tools it needs to stay young at heart and enjoy a vibrant and active life.
Why Many People Don’t Get Enough Vitamin E from Diet Alone
The best way to get your daily dose of vitamin E is through a healthy diet. However, many people don't get enough vitamin E from their diet alone. This is because the typical Western diet is high in LA, an omega-6 fatty acid that increases your body's need for vitamin E. Therefore, taking vitamin E supplements is beneficial for counteracting the effects of oxidative stress.
If you keep your LA intake below 5 grams per day for approximately three years, you might find that you no longer need to take vitamin E supplements regularly, or you may only need them occasionally. And, if you do have a meal high in LA, taking a vitamin E capsule afterward helps protect your body from the effects of that specific meal.
Once your LA levels are lower, you'll only need around 2 milligrams (mg) of vitamin E for every gram of LA you consume. With a recommended daily LA intake of 5 grams or less, this translates to about 10 mg of vitamin E daily, which is a relatively small amount. Since vitamin E is fat-soluble, it's stored in your fat tissue for a period of time, providing ongoing benefits. For best absorption, it's ideal to take vitamin E with a healthy fat source, like coconut oil.
While vitamin E offers numerous health benefits, excessive intake poses some risks. High doses of vitamin E increase your risk of bleeding and interfere with certain medications. Therefore, follow the recommended dosage and talk to your doctor about any interactions with your current medications.14
How to Choose a High-Quality Vitamin E Supplement
When choosing a vitamin E supplement, it's important to select a natural form, as synthetic versions are less effective and may even pose health risks. Synthetic vitamin E is often labeled as "alpha-tocopherol acetate," with the word "acetate" indicating its synthetic nature. Additionally, many synthetic vitamin E supplements are "racemic," meaning they contain both beneficial and ineffective isomers.
Only the "D" isomer provides health benefits, while the "L" isomer does not. Synthetic vitamin E supplements are also typically less potent than natural options.
To ensure you're getting a natural and effective vitamin E supplement, look for "d-alpha-tocopherol" on the label, which indicates the pure and beneficial "D" isomer. Avoid supplements labeled "dl-alpha-tocopherol," as this indicates a synthetic form.
Overall, vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that significantly enhances cell-mediated immunity, especially in older adults. By incorporating healthy vitamin E-rich foods into your diet, you support your immune system, reduce your risk of infections and improve your health. Remember, a strong immune system is one of your best defenses against illness and a key to a long and healthy life.
Good sources of vitamin E include green leafy vegetables, certain fruits like kiwi and mango, and grass fed meats
While food is the best source of vitamin E, many people benefit from a vitamin E supplement due to high linoleic acid intake in the Western diet, which increases your body's need for vitamin E Look for natural vitamin E supplements (d-alpha-tocopherol) with a full spectrum of tocopherols and tocotrienols, free from soy and GE ingredients
Our recommendation is Standard Process Cataplex E
