Healthy Benefits from the Camel Milk - Literature review Example

Scientific Literacy Camels are animals known to survive in the arid and semi-arid areas of the world. Such areas include those around the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, and Jordan. They are domestic animals kept by the pastoral communities who move from place to place in search of pasture. The animals have adaptive features that enable them to survive in the arid areas, where there is limited water and little vegetation cover. The regions are mainly desert areas with sand dune formation. Plants that survive in these regions include the cactus that are succulent in nature and can store a lot of water in the stem. Some of the adaptive feature that enables the camel to survive the harsh environmental conditions includes the large hump; it helps the animal to store water at any time. These features enable the animal to go for a long time without water while in the desert. Another feature is the presence of the curved, large hooves that help them to move in the sandy desert. They also have a thick skin cover that helps in conserving water in the body. The skin controls the evaporation of water from the skin, thereby regulating water in the body. Camel milk is proved to be of health benefits to people in various ways including prevention and treatment of diabetes. It contains a lot of iron, insulin, and vitamin C as compared to cow’s milk. The insulin content in the milk helps in the treatment of diabetes (Albert, pg.17). The milk helps in prevention of autism in children. This is a disorder caused by the underdevelopment of nerves. Children suffering from this condition have difficulties in communication and social interaction (Kenya Camel Association, pg.23-45). Children with autism incur interpretation problems, as they are unable to comprehend social cues. Camel milk however, prevents this condition in them. Camel milk is important in preventing allergies and strengthening immunity. It lacks allergens, which makes it good for consumption by allergic people. It is both anti-viral and anti-bacterial preventing diseases, and thus enhances their immune systems (Shaban, pg. 67).It is important in the production of cosmetics. Camel milk contains alpha-hydroxyl acid which is a natural component used by manufacturers to make soap. The soap improves the human skin by making it soft. Other products such as yoghurt also give the same results (Albert, pg. 89).Camel milk works wonders to most people due to its nutritional value. Its effects are shown by the results experienced by those who take it. In most cases, it is of help to people as it gives positive solutions to health problems (Samantar, pg.234). Therefore, people should embrace the use of camel milk to come up with solutions to health problems. This paper seeks to discuss the health benefits of camel milk in relation to the various diseases whose prevention involves the use of camel milk. The discussion will also cover the, economic benefits of the milk to humans. For a long time, people prefer the cow milk to camel milk. However, research shows that camel milk is vital in prevention of diseases such as Autism in children and diabetes. Camels possess high immune systems that reflect to their. Therefore their milk compare closely to that of human. The milk contains ten times more iron and three times vitamin C. This feature makes the milk an important medicinal value that can cure the diseases that I highlighted earlier in the discussion. Low fat camel milk contains minerals and vitamins that prevent the human immune systems against diseases. The strong immune system that the camel milk constitutes helps in fighting diseases. Allegedly, the small size of the antibodies found in camel milk can easily target and penetrate foreign disease-causing organisms, also known as antigens, and destroy them using the immune system. People suffering from autoimmune system disorder, such as multiple sclerosis, have immune systems that attack their own body tissues. Traditionally, treatments for autoimmune disorders are considered to suppress the immune system. However, researchers suggest that camel milk benefits these disorders by boosting the immune system. According to a research conducted about the camel milk in India, they state that an observations of over five-year period shows that camel milk can control or even heal autoimmune disorders, but there is no scientific evidence to prove the competence of camel milk in the treatment of autoimmune diseases (Bikaner Diabetes Care Research Center, pgs. 12-15) . It also has insulin that is important in the treatment of diabetics (Albert, pgs.17). According to research, each liter of camel milk contains a quart of insulin, making it a potential treatment option for diabetics. The doctors conducting research in this field suggest that patients suffering from diabetes should consume camel milk. According to a study on the impact of camel milk on diabetic patients by a research firm in India, they observed the effects of camel milk on diabetes. Researchers ascertained that consuming camel milk considerably reduced insulin doses required to maintain long-term blood sugar levels control. According to lead researcher, taking 300 ml of fresh camel milk daily improves the lives of diabetics due to the presence of a protein, which is insulin in nature that is absorbed rapidly into the body. However, Agrawal asserts that the use of insulin is the most effective treatment for diabetes (Bikaner Diabetes Care Research Center, Pg45 -53). While these results can give some hopes to the allergic children, there is still need for more scientific studies to prove the effectiveness of camel milk for the treatment of diabetes. Camel milk does not have two vital allergens found in cow milk. On the other hand, it contains immune system components that might be of benefit to children allergic to milk and other foods. According to an article written in the December 2005, an edition of the “Israel Medical Association Journal” it examined the effects of camel milk on nine children with serious milk and other food allergies. After they failed to respond to direct treatments, the participants consumed camel milk with the direction of the researchers. Improvement reports indicated that all the nine children fully recuperated from their allergies with. In fact, according to the researchers the results were remarkable when compared with traditional treatments of the same. Antigens in camel milk were believed to play an important role in reducing allergic symptoms (Israel Medical Association Journal, pgs. 23-27). However, there is need for additional scientific research, to prove sufficiently the effectiveness of camel milk in treating allergies. This research suggests that camel milk is better than cow milk in dealing with allergies in children. It is therefore advisable for the mothers to give their children camel milk because of the helpfulness it has in treating allergies compared to cow milk. Some people who advocate for the consumption of camel milk believe that it can be helpful to people suffering from autism. As stated earlier in the paper, Autism is a disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate. The child also is poor in social interaction (Kenya Camel Association, pgs. 23-45). According to an article published in 2005, an edition of the “International Journal of Human Development” observed the effects of camel milk consumption, compared to cow milk on people suffering from autism. Researchers discovered that after a 3-year-old female participant drank camel milk for 40 days, her autism symptoms died out. A teenager also recovered after 28 days of taking the milk. Though the milk is believed to be beneficial, insufficient scientific evidence are available to prove its effectiveness in the treatment of autism (International Journal of Human Development, pgs. 30-35). Apart from the health benefits of consuming camel milk, it also has economic benefits. The product is a raw material in manufacturing beauty product such as soaps. Camel milk contains a substance known as alpha hydroxyl acid that is used in making soaps (Albert, 89). The soap softens and moisturizes rough skin. This type of soap is of medicinal value to people with rough skins. The benefits of camel milk therefore, are beneficial to the owners because of the nutritional values of the milk and the economic values too. In conclusion, camel milk is important in the treatment of diseases. Diseases such as autism affect a big number of populations. Diabetes is a condition that many people go through. In fact, it kills many people in a year. Many people also have allergic reactions to foods of different kinds. Therefore, there should be extensive research on camel milk to come up with treatment of these conditions. The government should take part by providing resources to the research firms to deliver in the fight against diseases. Work cited Agrawal, RP, S Jain, S Shah, a Chopra, and V Agarwal. "Effect of Camel Milk on Glycemic Control and Insulin Requirement in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: 2-Years Randomized Controlled Trial." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 65.9 (2011): 1048-52. Print. Albert Carl. The Old World camel as productive farm animal: camel milk production, processing, marketing with special reference to Rajasthan (India) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Marburg: Tectum, 2006. Print Kenya Camel Association – KCA. “Strategic Plan for Isiolo Holding Ground.” (2006): 23-45.Print. Samantar Said. Camel milk supply to Mogadishu, Somalia. Mogadishu, Somalia: Somalia Academy of Sciences and Arts, 1987.Print Shaban Mohamed. Camel milk and diabetes: effect of camel milk on diabetes mellitus. Saarbrucken, Germany: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, 2012. Print Universitas Forum: International Journal on Human Development and International Cooperation. Rome: Universitas Programme of the KIP Initiative, 2008. Internet resource. Read More