GF/CF - do you do goat's milk?

[Ravenlunatic]

So I have been GF/CF for a decade and early on I tried Goats' milk and it didn't work, but now I am doing some research and I am finding that even if you are heavily lactose intolerant or just completely stay away from diary that goats milk apparently can still be tolerated.

Is this true for any of you?

I am asking because I have found a place to get raw goat milk and am willing to retry the whole goat milk thing (even the notion of having goats milk has me giddy with all the possibility). Initially I think I was not so into goat milk to begin with and probably dtried it the week I quite diary (I know so much more now)... But alas, I don't want to go into digestive distress and have migraines for a week so I thought I would ask the success rate of all of you.

[nicole_marie]

I've heard that too. I gave it to my son for a while with OK results (didn't hurt, didn't help), but it was pasteurized. I am going to try it again once we hit baseline with his medical issues. This time I have access to raw as well.

Keep me posted!

ETA: I've also heard that some people can't tolerate goat milk, but do well with kefir. I have no idea if that is valid.

[kjbrown92]

It may depend whether you're cow's milk allergic, lactose intolerant, or milk intolerant, which are 3 different things. We (me, DS, DD2) can't tolerate cow, goat, sheep, or water buffalo dairy. We've tried raw cow dairy as well. We're dairy intolerant.

[scsigrl]

My understanding is that if it is a true allergy, no. The proteins are close enough that it isn't tolerated. If it is an intolerance maybe.

Good luck!

[Koalamom]

subbing.

[dannic]

It depends--if you are GF/CASEIN free, then no. Goats milk is more easily digested, but still contains casein.
My dd is not allergic to dairy, but reacts to certain proteins--gluten, casein, eggs and until recently, soy.

But if you've been off dairy because of an intolerance, then yes, some can tolerate goats milk better.

Just be sure! We actually bought dairy goats assuming that dd would be able to tolerate their milk (doelings). Once they were old enough to milk, we found out otherwise.

I used to tolerate dairy. Then only in small amounts; then only goats milk--now I can't tolerate any of it. Who knows?

[mamafish9]

It's even more complicated, I think. There are several variants of the casein protein. Most cow dairy is A1 casein, especially commercial pasteurized dairy. Some raw dairy from smaller farms, and goat dairy, is A2 casein. Some people can do A2 but not A1. Some people can't do either.

Some people can't do lactose in pasteurized milk, but are OK with raw milk, because it also contains lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose).

Some people actually aren't reacting to milk, they're reacting to the synthetic vitamins added to pasteurized milk.

Some people need the additional help digesting protein that kefiring the milk provides (my son fell in this category).

So, there are lots of ways that raw goat's milk might work even if you react to pasteurized cow's milk. That said, most of the people on this forum, and most of the people who show up asking this question, seem to find out the answer is no, goat's milk doesn't work either. But the only way to know which camp you fall in is to trial it .

[Ravenlunatic]

Thank you all for your insight. I have my hopes up, but know that ultimately the answer may be no goats milk...

I have been doing so much research because, again I have been GF/CF for a decade, but more recently have been following SCD because of recent digestive distress. The diet seems to work wonderfully as I have gotten a handle on my symptoms but actually I am not even following the diet becasue I eat raw veggies and don't cook my food until it is mush... I am not a die hard, I have just cut out all grains and sugar.

The more I read the more I think I have DYSBIOSIS, (sp?) which could be the cause of all of my problems from food allergy to thyroid autoimmunity, to digestive distress. In which case there is a great deal more to the story than just carbohydrate intolerance.

It is all so complicated... so thanks for ALL of your insight. I am going to the farmers market this weekend and will see about the raw goat milk. I have really only just begun my adventures into completely no carbs and detoxing (since maybe early FEB) and so I may opt to wait on the GM until a later date.... we'll see.

I'll keep you posted.