What are the health benefits of goat milk kefir?

Goat milk kefir, a fermented dairy product, is associated with antihypertensive, antioxidant and antibacterial activity, according to new research.

With increasing concerns over gut health, many consumers are turning to fermented products such as kefir. The milk-based product, made from lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation, is assumed to have several health benefits because it is a probiotic and contains peptides, which are molecules made up of amino acids.

Published in Food Chemistry, researchers from the University of Cordoba determined the peptides present in goat milk kefir and their quantities according to fermentation time.

They focused on 22 proteins and applied the technique of tandem mass spectrometry to kefir in three fermentation times (12, 24 and 36 h) to detect, in addition to the advantageous compounds, the peaks of concentration depending on fermentation time. Peptide content was highest after 24 hours of fermentation, after which time the concentration began to decrease.

The team also detected 11 beneficial compounds related to antihypertensive, antioxidant and antibacterial activity.

“This is the most comprehensive proteomic analysis of goat milk kefir to date,” the researchers said. They suggested the findings will help further research into its health benefits.

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