Milk and its products -Erakina

Millions of people all over the world rely on a variety of dairy products and dishes to keep their diets balanced and enjoyable. There are endless ways to enjoy dairy in your everyday life, whether it’s in your overnight oats with milk or yogurt, or on your tacos with cheese.

 Various fresh dairy products on a wooden shelf

Milk and its products 

Milk is a widely used beverage that is necessary in the diets of many millions of people throughout the world because it contains critical macro- and micronutrients. Dairy products are a diverse group of nutrient-dense meals and beverages prepared from or containing milk.

Sometimes called dairy goods or milk products, they are food products derived from (or containing) milk.The cow, water buffalo, nanny goat, and ewe are the most frequent dairy animals. Dairy products are consumed to varying degrees around the world. Lactose intolerance, veganism, or other health reasons or beliefs may force some people to forgo some or all dairy products.

Milk is manufactured in many grades after homogenization or pasteurisation, standardisation of the lipid content, and probable addition of the bacteria Streptococcus lactis and Leuconostoc citrovorum. Based on the type of product generated, milk can be divided into numerous categories, including cream, butter, cheese, newborn formula, and yogurt.

The fat content of milk varies. Whole milk products contain fat, but skim milk contains none.

Milk is used in a variety of confectioneries. Condensed milk is milk that has been concentrated by evaporation and sweetened to speed up the process and extend the shelf life of an opened can.

Cream

The cream is a dairy product made from the higher-fat layer of milk that is skimmed off before homogenization.The cream is used in a variety of cuisines, including ice cream, a variety of sauces, soups, stews, puddings, and various custard bases, as well as cakes. Ice cream sundaes, milkshakes, lassis, eggnog, sweet pies, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches all have whipped cream as a topping. In Indian curries, such as masala dishes, the cream is also added.

Black coffee with whipped cream in glass cups and spilled coffee beans

Butter

Churned cream’s fat and protein components are converted into butter. 

Yogurt

Yogurt is a dairy product made from the fermentation of milk by bacteria. The most common milk used to produce yogurt is cow’s milk.

High angle view of three glasses of homemade yogurt with granola, berry fruits and chocolate shot on a rustic wooden table;

Cheese

Cheese is a dairy product formed by coagulating casein, a milk protein, into various flavours, textures, and shapes. It is made out of proteins and fat from milk, commonly from cows, buffaloes, goats, or sheep.

Ice cream

Ice cream is a sweetened frozen treat that is frequently consumed as a snack or dessert. It’s made with milk or cream and flavoured with a sweetener, such as sugar or a substitute, as well as a spice, such as chocolate or vanilla, or fruit, such as strawberries or peaches.

An ice cream composition of various flavours

Milk and its products have numerous health benefits: 

• Milk and its derivatives play a vital role in overall health and well-being. Milk is a must-have food since milk is plentiful, affordable, and nutrient-dense, with high levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

• Products derived from milk Nutrition are complete in the sense that it contains all of the required amino acids and fatty acids that promote muscle growth in youngsters.

• Milk protein is particularly high in the amino acid lysine, making it an excellent addition to cereal grains, nuts, and seeds.

• Lactose makes up nearly all of the carbs in milk. However, following fermentation, much of it is transformed into easily digestible lactic acid, as in yogurt, cheeses, and buttermilk.

• Dairy products, which are made from milk, are a natural source of calcium. Calcium enables normal tooth formation; influences the function of cardiac cells, neurons, and muscles; promotes bone growth; and may help to avoid osteoporosis, colorectal cancer, and hypercholesterolemia.

• All B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, pyridoxine, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, magnesium, and zinc are found in abundance in all dairy products.

• Dairy products are high in magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, in addition to calcium.

• Vitamins A and beta-carotene are abundant in natural grass-fed cow’s milk. The pigment that gives milk its yellow colour, which is more evident in butter, is beta-carotene.

Simran Jain 

9 June 2022