Buyer protection
Contents
Only your treatment team can assess whether donkey milk is suitable for you during chemotherapy. Donkey milk is a food, not a medicine, and is not part of the treatment. This post is intended to help you prepare well for a conversation with your doctor or a nutritionist: with objective facts about its composition and with specific questions you can ask.
Why this question belongs in the doctor's consultation
Chemotherapy is a very personal situation. Medications, treatment plans, accompanying circumstances, and pre-existing conditions differ for everyone. That is why there is no universal answer as to which foods are suitable during this time.
Your treatment team knows your situation. It can assess whether certain foods, food groups, or preparation methods are currently suitable for you or not. An online shop or a blog post cannot do that. We therefore do not want to give you a recommendation, but rather send you into the conversation well-informed.
We also deliberately refrain from including personal testimonials, product recommendations, and prices in this post. Individual experiences cannot be generalized to other people. And on such a serious topic, it should only be about objective information.
The most important facts about donkey milk
So that you can provide specific information during the consultation, here are the typical values. They vary depending on the animal and the season and should therefore be understood as guidelines.
| Per 100 ml (approx.) | Donkey milk | For comparison: cow's milk |
|---|---|---|
| Lactose | 6–7 g | around 4.7 g |
| Fat | 0.3–1.8 g (mostly under 1 g) | depending on the variety |
| Protein | 1.5–1.9 g | – |
| Energy | 35–45 kcal | – |
| Calcium | 60–90 mg | – |
Also important: Donkey milk contains milk protein and lactose. It is therefore a completely normal dairy product in terms of allergen labeling. You will always find the ingredients and allergens on the label.
Questions you can ask
Write down what is important to you before the appointment. These questions can serve as a starting point:
- Are milk and dairy products currently suitable for my diet? Sometimes there are special recommendations during certain phases of treatment.
- Are there foods or food groups that I should be particularly careful with right now? Also specifically ask about dairy products and their method of production.
- Is the lactose content relevant for me? With about 6–7 g per 100 ml, donkey milk tends to have more lactose than cow's milk, which has around 4.7 g.
- Are there any indications about taking my medication together with milk? For some medications, this is stated in the package insert.
- If dairy products are generally suitable: In what quantity? This prevents a single food from taking up too much space.
- Who can advise me further on nutrition? Many clinics arrange oncological nutritional counseling.
What you can take to the appointment
- The label or a photo of it – with ingredients, allergens, and nutritional values according to the label.
- A short note on how you would like to use donkey milk, for example plain, in a warm drink, or as an ingredient.
- The information that donkey milk is stored frozen at −18 °C and thawed slowly in the refrigerator at 2–7 °C. For everything else, the instructions on the label apply.
If your treatment team advises against dairy products, this naturally also applies to donkey milk.
If you are supporting someone
Relatives often want to do something good during this time. This is understandable. Nevertheless: foods should not become beacons of hope. Make sure that the affected person decides for themselves and that dietary questions are coordinated with the treatment team. Pressure or well-intentioned advice from the internet rarely makes an already difficult time any easier.
Often, it is already a great relief to accompany appointments, write down questions, or be practically available in everyday life. Many clinics and cancer counseling centers also offer their own consultation options for relatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is donkey milk a support during chemotherapy?
Donkey milk is a food. It is neither part of the treatment nor a remedy for side effects. You clarify with your treatment team whether it fits into your diet.
Is donkey milk considered low in lactose?
No, that is a common misconception. With about 6–7 g of lactose per 100 ml, it tends to contain more milk sugar than cow's milk with around 4.7 g.
Can I drink donkey milk together with my medication?
Only your doctor or your pharmacy can answer that. In addition, read the package insert of your medication.
Where can I find further objective information?
Donkey milk is primarily studied scientifically for its composition. Our page Donkey Milk in Research offers a general overview.
Donkey milk is a food and not a medicine. For health questions, please contact your doctor.
