Ever tried camel milk?

Getting milk from a dromedary.

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Hi, it's Tala in London. These days there are so many cow's-milk alternatives that it's hard to keep track — oat, almond, soy… but have you ever tried camel milk? More on that in a moment, but first… Today's must-reads China hits EU dairy imports with hefty duties after probe. My Christmas Iberico ham scare is an omen. Cocoa prices are plunging. Why is chocolate still so expensive? Desert dairy in your supermarket As someone who's lactose-intolerant and forever browsing the dairy aisle for alternatives, I tend to linger a little too long comparing brands and eyeing whatever new "barista blend" has landed that week. But in a recent shop, something unexpected caught my eye: camel milk.  It wasn't that I'd never seen it before. I grew up in Dubai, where it was a completely ordinary sight in supermarkets, just another option next to cow's milk. What surprised me was how far it has traveled since then. Nomadic communities have relied on camel milk for centuries as fuel for their journeys across the deserts of the Middle East, Africa and Mongolia. In Somalia today it's considered a cultural staple, according to Farah Mohamed Omar, a camel herder in the city of Beledweyne, who I spoke to while researching the benefits of getting milk from a dromedary. "I drink camel milk, and so does my family - it is a legacy. I put it in cereal, rice, even maize. It is great for my digestive system," he tells me. But it has come a long way from these origins, now appearing in sleek, camel-branded bottles, neatly lined up in the dairy aisle of western supermarkets. Naturally, I had to try it. So what does it taste like? I found it slightly watery, less creamy than cow's milk, with a nutty and noticeably salty flavor. Curious, I brought some to the office and had my colleagues try it too. The feedback was mixed. Think raised eyebrows, hesitant nods, a few grimaces and a couple of surprising approvals. It's a bit like the British savory spread Marmite — you either love it or really hate it. What's driving its demand? The answer lies in its health benefits. Camel milk contains less lactose than cow's milk, making it easier to digest for people with lactose intolerance (though it's not recommended for those with severe intolerance). It lacks beta-lactoglobulin — the protein in cow's milk that often triggers allergic reactions — which has helped build its reputation as a gentler, more digestible option. There's also growing attention to its potential gut-health benefits. Research from Edith Cowan University found that camel milk contains higher levels of bioactive peptides. These compounds target and reduce certain harmful bacteria in the digestive system, helping to support a more balanced gut environment.  It also offers anti-inflammatory effects due to its antioxidant nutrients, which help support the immune system, according to Giovana Aichinger, a registered dietitian at the Raquel Britzke Nutrition Clinic in London. Camel milk's nutritional profile adds to the appeal. It contains higher levels of iron, and has lower saturated fat content. "Fat is not really a problem. The problem is saturated fat — which is the worst type of fat for our blood vessels, for our health, even for hypertension," says dietitian Mirna Sabbagh.  It also delivers a notable boost in several vitamins and minerals. "The vitamin C is significantly higher — about three times higher than cow's milk," Sabbagh says. "The magnesium is higher, the zinc is higher, the potassium is higher, and the phosphorus is higher," she added. These nutrients play important roles in immunity, energy, muscle function and bone health. However, while the calcium levels are comparable to cow's milk, the vitamin A content is lower in camel's milk — a pattern that's common in other alternatives like goat milk. So, camel milk isn't superior across the board, Sabbagh notes. Not that this is something worrying Omar and his 38 camels too much. — Tala Ahmadi What we're reading How climate change could be blamed for your bad night's sleep, reports the Independent. Doctors admit they feel pressure to overdiagnose mental health issues, according to the Telegraph. There are AI deepfakes of real doctors spreading health misinformation on social media, reports the Guardian. Contact Prognosis Health questions? Have a tip that we should investigate? Contact us at AskPrognosis@bloomberg.net. Follow us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Prognosis newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, sign up here to get it in your inbox. Unsubscribe Bloomberg.com Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 |