User:2600:8806:2109:C200:8822:8696:C22C:4FEE/sandbox

Introduction

Camels are some of the commonest and most useful animals in the arid and semi-arid areas in the world. They form the most versatile and highly dependable animal biomass that people consider useful in these dry parts. Camels are nicknamed ‘the sheep of the desert’ due to their immense contributions to the economy of the desert population. They are common in the Arabian dessert, the arid and semi-arid areas in North, West, and East Africa, and most arid areas in Asia. For centuries, their meat, milk, urine, skin, and dung have been useful for cultural, nutritional, and medical purposes, curing a myriad of diseases. The nutritional contents in camel milk and meat make it a healthy alternative to those from cow, goat, and sheep (Isam, 2009). Many medical and scientific researches have elucidated these benefits, confirming their long-term use by the communities living on the fringes of the harshest places on earth. The knowledge about camels, the nutritional and medical purposes of their meat, milk, and urine are imperative in understanding how to manipulate their potential in everyday life.

Conclusion

The economies of the communities in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa and Asia benefit a lot from the contribution of camels towards people’s livelihood. Camels have proven to be tolerant to the dry conditions in the desert, making them useful as domestic animals. They are useful in transportation, cultural practices such as racing and in production of meat, milk, hides, and urine used for various nutritional and medical purposes. Camel meat is nutritiously superior to beef, mutton and veal because of its low fat and high moisture content, high amount of glycogen and essential amino acids, antioxidants, and low amount of cholesterol. These and other nutritional components contribute to its medical capability in curing and suppressing many ailments such as cancer, corneal opacity, and headaches among others. Camel milk is more nutritious and healthier than cow’s milk. It has immense medical usage and can cure asthma, allergies, anemia, and tuberculosis among other diseases. When mixed with camel urine, which contains low urea, creatinine and mineral salts, it can be useful in suppressing cancer cells.

Therefore, camel milk, meat, and urine, when considered as alternative medicine, will be useful in curing common diseases as they offer a cheaper and more natural solution. Additionally, consumption of camel meat and milk benefits in preventing obesity and contracting lifestyle diseases caused by consuming the fat-laden beef. Therefore, communities and governments in camel producing regions should also collaborate in increasing productivity and raising awareness, to ensure the population accesses a healthier alternative to beef and dairy products. The use of camel milk, though, has raised health concerns due to the threat of organochloride pesticides used in camel producing areas. This requires putting on a lot of care in preventing negative outcomes.