Homo sapiens and milk: a valuable food in the past and in the future

Abstract

Milk is a food with a very high biological value, essential in the early stages of life, and has been used to produce ricotta and other cheeses in the Mediterranean area for at least for the last 6,000 years. From a nutritional point of view, in addition to a high water content, milk also contains glucids, proteins of a high biological quality, lipids, vitamins and minerals in highly absorbable forms. In terms of evolution, cholesterol also plays an important role in the activation and propagation of the hedgehog signaling cascade, which is responsible for the differentiation and development of the central nervous system. Finally, the authors analyze its potential as a vector of alimentary supplements, making this food fundamental for human nutrition and the future of Homo sapiens.