It seems as if people are always looking for the next best thing when it comes to health and the environment. Some people now believe that yaks are now a better option for both health and the environment.
Yaks are animals that are typically found in Central Asia. The majority of them are domesticated, but there are wild yaks in the world too. Many ranchers in the US are now starting to breed yaks for their benefits. So what exactly makes yaks so special?
Yaks are members of the bovine family.
A yak is a member of the bovine family, just like buffalo and cows. Because of this, yaks can provide meat, butter, cheese and milk. This means that yaks have the ability to provide all of the same things that cows can provide.
Yak’s milk contains less bad fat.
All milk contains fat, but the milk that comes from yaks has much less bad fat than cow’s milk. This means that any products derived from yak’s milk, such as cheese and butter, will also contain less bad fat, making them the healthier choice.
Yak’s milk contains more good fat.
Along with having less bad fat, yak’s milk also has more good fat than cow’s milk. These good fats, which includes omega-3 fatty acids and CLA, are healthier for your heart. Omega-3 fatty acid is very good at combating heart disease and helps to keep cholesterol levels down.
Yak’s milk contains more essential vitamins and nutrients.
There are tons of amino acids found in yak’s milk, along with very high levels of calcium and vitamin A. In fact, a Chinese study found that yak’s milk contains 15% more of these items than cow’s milk.
Yak’s milk is beneficial to longevity.
There were plenty of studies that show that yak’s milk is more beneficial to bones and bone density than cow’s milk, and yak’s milk can also help control diabetes and better develop muscles.
Yaks are more organic.
Yak herding is a family owned business, and most of these herders raise their yaks naturally. This means that yaks are void of synthetics and harmful chemicals in order to increase their size or produce different types of meat. Instead, since yaks stick to a natural diet and are void of any harmful chemicals, it means that the meat and milk that they produce are more natural and healthier for those who consume it.
Yaks are maintenance free.
Yaks have the ability to live in varying weather conditions. Their long furry coats allow them to survive extremely cold temperatures as well as harsh winds and rains. They also have extremely large lungs, which enables them to be able to breathe at higher altitudes than other animals. And yaks also live simply, feeding on grass and other natural greens. All of this allows yaks to be easy to maintain, which is great on the environment since here is no need to build housing units or barns that use up natural resources.
Marcy Smith is currently living in Northeast Asia where she helps implement organic practices while she attempts to learn pashto.
