Cow Milk vs Buffalo Milk: The Dairy Showdown Every Indian Needs to Read!
Times Life | June 19, 2025 2:39 AM CST

Cow Milk: The Gentle All-Rounder
Nutritional Profile (per 100ml approx.)
- Calories: 61
- Fat: 3.4g
- Protein: 3.2g
- Calcium: 120mg
- Cholesterol: Low
- Digestibility: Easy
In Ayurveda, cow milk is considered satvik — meaning it promotes purity, calmness, and clarity. It's often recommended during fasting, healing, or spiritual practices.
Ideal for:
- Toddlers and school children
- People with sensitive digestion
- The elderly
- People on weight-loss diets
Nutritional Profile (per 100ml approx.)
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 6.5g
- Protein: 4.5g
- Calcium: 195mg
- Cholesterol: Higher
- Digestibility: Slower
Ayurvedically, buffalo milk is considered tamasic — heavier, sleep-inducing, and grounding. It’s usually not recommended at night or for people with slow metabolism.
Ideal for:
- Growing teenagers
- Bodybuilders or people doing physical labour
- Making sweets or curd (super thick!)
- Gaining healthy weight
- Cow Milk: Lighter, slightly sweet, thin in texture.
- Buffalo Milk: Creamy, heavy, slightly bland. Forms a thick malai layer.
Calories | Lower | Higher |
Fat | Less | More |
Protein | Moderate | Higher |
Cholesterol | Low | High |
Texture | Thin | Thick |
Digestion | Easy | Slow |
Best Time to Consume | Morning/Evening | Afternoon |
Shelf Life | Short | Long (more natural preservatives) |
Indian Household Uses
- Cow Milk: Best for daily drinking, tea, coffee, kids’ milk, ghee.
- Buffalo Milk: Best for curd (dahi), paneer, malai, sweets.
Myth: Buffalo milk is too fatty to be healthy. Truth: It’s rich in healthy fats and protein. Great for people who need high-energy food.
Myth: You can’t make ghee from cow milk. Truth: You can. Cow ghee is lighter and golden, while buffalo ghee is white and heavier.
What Ayurveda Says
- Cow Milk: Enhances Ojas (vital energy), boosts immunity, soothes the nervous system.
- Buffalo Milk: Calms Pitta, promotes sleep, helps people with excess energy to slow down.
Ramesh, 42, Kanpur “I do manual labour, and buffalo milk gives me the strength I need. Also, my lassi has never tasted better!”
Packaged vs Fresh: Does It Matter?

- Fresh milk (from local dairy or farms): More nutrients, better taste.
- Packaged milk: Safer if you don’t know the source, but may be homogenized and lacks full-fat benefits.
So…Which One’s Right for You? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Ask yourself:
- Are you active or sedentary?
- Do you want light or rich milk?
- Do you need energy or ease of digestion?
If you’re physically active, love malai, or want dense nutrients — buffalo milk’s for you.
Better yet? Mix it up. Half cow, half buffalo — that’s what many Indian homes actually do!
Bonus Tip: If you're into spiritual rituals — use cow milk for puja and buffalo milk for prasad. That's how our ancestors maintained the balance of purity and indulgence.
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