Benefits of Milk

Health benefits of milk include good bone health, smooth skin, strong immune system, prevention of illnesses such as hypertension, dental decay, dehydration, respiratory problems, obesity, osteoporosis and even some forms of cancer. The beneficial health nutrients obtained from milk are mandatory for human body and help in prevention of chronic ailments.

Milk is a part of almost every individual in the world. Have you ever given to thought to what health benefits milk can give? It is a complete health drink and contains almost all nutrients except for iron and vitamin C. It is a good source of energy as it has milk sugar lactose.

The nutritional value of milk has always influenced people all over the world to include it in diet. Addition of milk in your daily diet can also help in achieving a well-balanced diet. Milk is an ideal source of nutrients such as vitamin A & B, calcium, carbohydrate, phosphorous, magnesium, protein, zinc and riboflavin.

Many animals do provide us with this vital health substance, but cow’s milk is considered the best wholesome supplement for children as well as adults. Milk of other animal’s: buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, reindeer and yak. Milk of horse and donkey is also consumed by humans, though this is rare. It has been said that today ghee is found nowhere, curd is never seen, and milk is not affordable to even man.

The health benefits of milk can be achieved from milk directly or its products such as cheese, butter, curd, clarified butter or ghee, dairy whitener, ice cream, cottage cheese or paneer, flavored milk, milk sweets etc.

Milk deficiency can cause severe anemia, osteoporosis and other related illnesses. Milk consumption is very essential to maintain good health and doing normal activities. It is the best source of calcium for all age groups.

Now a day, the thin layer over the milk is removed through a machine and the remaining milk is known as separate milk, which contains high amount of minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.

The cow’s milk is very much beneficial then any other milk. Buffalo’s milk is less beneficial and produces cough in one who consumes it. Buffalo’s milk is heavy to digest due to more amount of fat presence, whereas, cow’s milk is easy to digest due to less presence of fat. But buffalo’s milk is sweeter, heavy, brings more sleep, increase in appetite and is cooler than cow’s milk.

Goat’ milk is sweet, cool, cough depressant. Goat are small in size, eats spicy things, drinks less water and works a lot, so there milk is very useful in many diseases. Goat’ milk is very good for children as it s easy to digest then cow’s milk.

·         Milk is the best source of calcium supply to our body. Calcium protects the body from major chronic ailments such as cancerous chemicals, bone loss, arthritic condition, migraine headaches, pre-menstrual syndrome, and obesity in children and aids in losing unwanted fats.

·         As mentioned above, milk is rich in calcium, which is very essential for growth and proper development of strong bone structure. Bone disorders such as osteoporosis can be prevented with daily intake of adequate quantity of milk. Children deprived of cow milk have an increased chance of bone fractures when injured. The calcium present also prevents migraine and eases pre-menstrual syndrome.

·         Encouraging children and youngsters to drink milk would give them excellent dental health, as milk protects the enamel surface against acidic substances. Drinking milk for energy and health would dissuade children from consuming soft drinks, thus reducing the risk of decayed teeth and weak gums.

·         Fluids are an integral part of human body. The body needs to be replenished with liquids at regular intervals. It is very essential for growing children and they must drink at least six to eight glasses of fluid every day. Milk contains a good quantity of water molecules and is considered the best fluid for rehydration.

·         Have you heard of Cleopatra, the Queen of Nile? She was considered one of the most beautiful women of all times. Well you will be surprised if I tell you that Cleopatra used to have a milk bath daily! She used to mix honey and milk and take a bath daily enabling her maintain soft and beautiful skin. Since thousands of years, milk is known to benefit our skin by helping us maintain a fair and smooth complexion. Hence, even today milk and milk products are used in a number of cosmetic preparations. Milk is also good for dry skin. If you have dry skins apply milk on your face (and other body parts), leave it for about 15 minutes and then wash it. The milk solids nourish and smoothen your skin. The lactic acid present in milk is known to aid in removing the dead skin cells, thereby rejuvenating your skin.

·         According to medical research, drinking milk considerably improves our intakes of vital minerals and vitamins. A man who consumes a carton of whole milk doubles his chances of fulfilling calcium requirement per day, whereas, another person consuming a can of fizzy or carbonated drink may in reality lower his calcium levels by one third percent.

·         Consumption of milk products can also help in reducing acidity

·         It contains a whole lot of vitamins and minerals to keep you fit, healthy and strong. A glassful of milk contains vitamin A & B for good eyesight and increasing RBC count, carbohydrates for vitality and energy, potassium for proper nerve function, magnesium for muscular function, phosphorous for energy release, protein for body repair and growth.

·         The fat in milk harbors the fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and D. Vitamin A is very important for the immune system and therefore helps prevent poor vision and blindness.

·         The potassium content in milk protects the heart and helps to maintain blood pressure and also for proper nerve transmission.

·         It can also help to ease constipation if isabgol is added to warm milk.

·         The amounts of calcium and phosphorous in milk and dairy products are also beneficial for the development and maintenance of healthy teeth. The most abundant protein in milk is casein and is protective as it forms a thin film on the enamel surface which prevents loss of calcium and phosphate from the enamel when the teeth are exposed to acids in the mouth. In fact, dentists recommend that milk is the only safe drink to have between meals (except for water) as it has been shown not to cause tooth decay even in conditions perfect for damaging teeth!

·         Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that people who consume milk and dairy foods are likely to be slimmer than those who do not. Studies have also shown that consumption of milk and dairy foods as part of a calorie controlled diet is associated with increased weight loss, particularly form the abdomen. This is particularly beneficial since excess fat around the trunk region of the body is associated with greater risks to health.

·         Studies suggest that regular consumption of low fat dairy products can help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, which has been a longstanding problem in adults, and is becoming increasingly common in children and adolescents. It is thought that this effect may be due to the combined effects of many beneficial nutrients found within dairy foods including calcium and magnesium, or the fact that dairy foods have a low glycaemic index, which helps to control blood sugar levels.

·         There is considerable evidence to suggest that milk has a protective effect on risk of both colorectal and breast cancer with increased intakes. Calcium and a naturally occurring fat in dairy products known as Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) have been suggested as protective components in colon cancer.

·         In order to remain adequately hydrated, it is recommended that we consume 6-8 cups of fluid each day. If we become dehydrated, it can result in poor concentration and memory function and leave you feeling irritable and unwell. Milk is an excellent choice of fluid as it not only re-hydrates the body, but provides a host of beneficial nutrients and protects the teeth at the same time! Re-hydration after exercise is particularly important to replace lost fluids, and a recent study in the USA found that chocolate milk helped the body to recover after exhausting exercise!

·         Casein protein is slow absorbing protein. So, a glass of milk before you sleep supplies your muscles with protein all through the night, for repair and growth activity.

·         Chocolate milk is fine after an intense workout as the simple carbohydrates supply much needed glycogen to your muscle, but otherwise, it can make you gain weight due to its sugar content

·         Two other players in raw milk's antibiotic protein/enzyme arsenal are lysozyme and lactoperoxidase. Lysozyme can actually break apart cell walls of certain undesirable bacteria, while lactoperoxidase teams up with other substances to help knock out unwanted microbes too.

·         The immunoglobulin’s, an extremely complex class of milk proteins also known as antibodies, provide resistance to many viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins and may help reduce the severity of asthma symptoms. Studies have shown significant loss of these important disease fighters when milk is heated to normal processing temperatures.

·         The milk which is obtained in the morning is more heavy to digest and gives cooling sensation, whereas, the evening milk is light to digest and is useful to treat cough.

·         The milk drank in morning is useful for digestion, and is healthy. The milk which is drunk in afternoon is helpful to give strength, but may increase cough. The milk which is drunk in night gives power to increase in memory, strength to old age persons, and even this is beneficial for keeping your body healthy.

·         Drinking hot milk is useful in treating cough.

·         Drinking cool milk which is boiled before is useful in treating digestion problem.

·         Drinking cow’s milk by adding rock candy in boiling milk can treat cold.

·         Drinking hot milk along with ghee and sugar makes the body strong and healthy.

·         Eating sweet made of milk along with sugar and camphor treats sinusitis very well.