Have you heard of donkey milk? Even though it sounds strange, this milk has been around for thousands of years. Donkey milk has been used as traditional medicine or as a cosmetic ingredient. Donkey milk is believed to be able to help treat health problems such as arthritis, coughs, and speed up wound healing process. Cleopatra reportedly used donkey milk to keep her skin soft and smooth.

Donkey milk has similar nutritional content to breast milk and cow's milk. Donkey milk contains vitamins, minerals, and protein that are good for the body. The whey protein contained in donkey milk has anti-microbial properties that can prevent the growth of viruses and microbes in the body. In addition, donkey milk also contains a low number of calories thanks to its lower fat content compared to cow's milk. Most calories in donkey milk come from its carbohydrate content in the form of lactose. Therefore, for you with a history of lactose intolerance, donkey milk is not for you.

Thanks to its high nutritional content, donkey milk is believed to have good benefits for the body. Donkey milk is known as an allergen-friendly drink and can help boost the immune system. For those allergic to cow's milk, donkey milk might be the right choice thanks to its much lower casein content. Also, study results show that donkey milk can increase the release of cytokines, proteins that are responsible for stimulating the immune system. Other studies have even shown that donkey milk can help lower blood pressure by increasing blood flow in blood vessels.

Apart from its good health benefits, unfortunately, donkey's milk is very difficult to find. Donkey milk is quite rare and expensive, due to the limited number of donkey farms. Despite this, you can find the benefits of donkey milk in several beauty products. Donkey milk is often used as a basis for making moisturizing creams, soaps and shampoos.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Healthline - Donkey Milk: Benefits, Uses, and Downsides (2020). https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/donkey-milk#benefits, 17 September 2020.