Medycyna Wet. 62 (5), 516-519, 2006
full text
| Milewski S. |
| Health-promoting properties of sheep products |
| Sheep are unique, friendly animals, and sheep products find many uses due to their exceptional value. The most popular sheep product is wool. Sheep wool has particular physicochemical properties, including those of hygroscope and thermoregulation and acts as a natural insulator, providing instant and superior comfort. In addition, it counterbalances the undesirable effects of positive ionization caused by synthetics. Sheep wool has the status of a human-ecological product. Another sheep-specific product is lanolin which has natural moisturizing and occlusive properties making it a perfect carrier of active substances used in cosmetics and drugs. Lamb is highly appreciated for its unique dietary value and is considered to be a luxury meat, of high nutritional value and exceptional sensory properties as well as a rich source of minerals and vitamins. A product that has recently gained wide recognition is sheep colostrum. It contains a proline-rich polypeptide complex, which improves the treatment of Alzheimers disease. Sheep milk is a valuable food product and a raw material for products of exceptional nutritional and taste properties as well as being a healthier alternative to cow milk, since it contains higher concentrations of dry matter, fat, amino acids, minerals and vitamins. The valuable health-promoting properties of lamb and sheep milk suggest that sheep can be a source of functional foods. This thesis is confirmed by the fact that they have a favorable fatty acid profile - polyunsaturated n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in particular, as well as high levels of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), carnitine and orotic acids. |
| Keywords: sheep, quality products |