8 health benefits of milk that will make you never want to skip the drink

A GLASS of milk is often considered as a whole meal, due to the fact that it contains nine essential nutrients. We’re sure your mother and grandmother’s narrated lists of the health benefits a glass milk possesses while forcing you to empty yours. And we’re here to tell you that the wise women of your life were right. It’s time to consider cutting back on those cups of coffee and maybe replacing them with just plain ol’ milk.

If you think, by ‘ health benefits’ we’re only going to talk about how it’s going to internally strengthen you, then you’re only partially right. Milk has various properties to help beautify you as well. After all, it’s not without any reason that the gods bathe in this elixir. From your skin to your hair, milk can help you with most woes. If you don’t like milk straight-up, any of its by-products like buttermilk and yogurt also exhibit similar health benefits. So keep on reading, because after knowing about the goodness milk possesses, you’re never going to skip out on it.

1. MILK IS A GREAT SOURCE OF CALCIUM

Calcium doesn’t just protect your bones from being brittle. Calcium also plays a big role in literally making your heart pump by allowing your muscles to contract, a study by Havard suggested. It enables blood to clot, preventing you from bleeding out to death every time you cut yourself. It strengthens your bones and plays a key role in the health of your teeth, nails as well as hair.

Pro-Tip: In a glass of milk (250 ml), you are consuming about 285mg calcium, which meets over 20 per cent of your daily requirement of the mineral, as per the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s website.

2. MILK REDUCES THE RISK OF OBESITY

Weight watchers, this one is for you. A cup of milk can give you the feeling of being full. Moreover, it even satisfies your various cravings by simply adding anything from chocolate powder to fruits. Just be sure to not add excessive sugar and you’ve found yourself the healthiest drink you can consume. What’s more, it costs nothing close to the expensive diet stuff people usually invest in.

Pro-Tip: Adding two-three cups of milk to your daily diet can help you not just prevent obesity but actually control your weight.

3. MILK HELPS MAKE YOUR TEETH HEALTHY

Most of the calcium in our body comes from our bones and teeth. And for the latter, there is nothing better than milk, be it to make it stronger or to prevent damage. Reposts suggest that drinking a cup of milk a couple of times a day could help prevent cavities and tooth decay. However, it should be noted, the calcium in milk can only be absorbed by your body when vitamin D is around. So make sure that the milk you drink is fortified with it by your manufacturer.

Pro-Tip: Milk and dairy products not only contain calcium and phosphorus, but also proteins called caseins. These, when combined together, form a protective film on the enamel. This coating helps prevent your teeth from decay caused by common bacterial acids.

4. MILK CAN HELP PREVENT HEARTBURN

Various foods in our diet are usually more acidic and spicy in nature than we expect or are used to. These, then, become the culprits of harrowing acidity and stomach woes. To avoid being in these kinds of sticky situations, it’s advised to have a glass of milk after a meal that has smoke smoking out of your ears. Studies suggest milk has a cooling effect that coats the stomach lining and oesophagus against heartburn.

Pro-Tip: Capsaicin, an oily chemical compound, commonly found in chilli peppers bind a receptor in the tongue and creates a burning sensation. Since oil and water don’t mix, the latter doesn’t help. However, capsaicin is fatsoluble and hence helps with the burn.

5. MILK HELPS YOUR SKIN GLOW

While drinking milk isn’t always a favourable option, it usually is the combining agent in creating several home-made skin masks that help your skin achieve a glow like no other. In fact, in colonial times, Indian royalty was bathed in milk during special occasions. It’s said to have purify properties and packs in a lot of natural moisturisers, as per a report in the Times Of India. Moreover, reports also suggest that milk has a lightening effect on the skin.

6. MILK CAN HELP FIGHT DISEASES

As mentioned before, calcium literally helps your heart pump by giving your muscles the ability to contract. With that in mind, a glass of milk can keep fatal diseases like high blood pressure and the possibility of having a stroke at bay. Moreover, lactose in the milk helps your liver reduce the production of bad cholesterol. This not only helps improve your vision but helps your body fight certain types of cancers.

Pro-Tip: Adding turmeric powder to milk can literally help you get rid of everything from a cough to a viral infection, while also boosting your immunity.

7. MILK CAN HELP FIGHT DEPRESSION

Adequate levels of vitamin D maintain the production of serotonin, a hormone associated with mood, appetite and sleep. A 2020 research has found that sometimes the feeling of depression can be linked back to a deficiency of vitamin D in the body. Milk is fortified with vitamin D boosters by manufacturers and can help aid in getting out of a low mood.

Pro-Tip: There is no better way to get vitamin D and pump those serotonin hormones than stepping out in the morning sun. However, as we battle the pandemic, better to up your intake of vitamin D-rich foods like fish, milk and tofu.

8. MILK HAS HAIR HYDRATING PROPERTIES

Earlier we told you how to make a great skincare mask using milk. However, the natural moisturisers in milk can help your hair a great deal as well. This ingredient works like magic for especially those troubled with dry and dull hair. It can help completely rejuvenate your mane, while also adding a layer of sheen, as per several reports.

Taken from https://www.femina.in/