Q: What is the nutritive value of low fat buffalo milk? Is such milk a complete food in itself? What is the quantity one should consume daily to get the maximum benefits? Please suggest.

A:Nutritionally, milk has been defined as the almost perfect food. It provides more essential nutrients in significant amounts than any other single food. Buffalo milk has 11.42% higher protein than cow's milk. Buffalo milk is superior to cows' milk in calcium and phosphorus. It has got valuable amounts of vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin and nicotinic acid but is a poor source of vitamin C and E. It also contains vitamin B12, which is absent in vegetarian food. The important minerals of buffalo milk are calcium, phosphorous, sodium and potassium. It is a poor source of iron. The requirements vary according to the age group. A higher amount is required by children and teenagers, as they tend to reduce their milk consumption and replace it with cola these days. For an adult in general, three glasses of skimmed milk are advised a day and one or more portions of low-fat dahi or paneer.