The Benefits of Drinking Milk May Be Substantial
By Tom Herrin
Probably all of us, at one time, relied heavily on milk for a main source of nutrition. It is that food that we recognize as having the ability to help build strong bones and encourage healthy growth. All school lunch programs have cows' milk on the menu at each meal. When I was in elementary school, we had a milk break every day around mid-morning. As we grew older, some of us may have slowly abandoned milk and substituted other things. Many of us eventually cut out drinking milk completely. Contrary to what we may think, milk can still do a lot of things to support good health even as we get older.
Some Believe Milk Can Suppress Appetite
The jury may still be out for us as to what kind of milk is good for us. While some advocate for drinking skim, others maintain that whole milk has enough positive things that it is best for us to drink it. There is some evidence that milk may keep us from feeling hungry, especially if it contains fat. There is also some indication that milk may help with weight loss. Of course there are those who believe that dairy should be avoided completely, but many see drinking milk as an ideal way to supplement our diets.
Milk May Be the Protein King
When it comes to a good source of protein, dairy is generally at or near the top of the list. Many who are involved in heavy workouts will make a practice of drinking milk almost immediately following their workout. This can help to replace protein lost during the exercise. As we know, protein is a nutrient that is not stored by the body and, therefore, must be replaced often in order for our muscles to be in the best possible condition. We know children need it for growth, but adults need it also if they perform any kind of work that taxes the muscles.
There Are Some Good Milk Substitutes
For those of us who may have problems with dairy, there are other kinds of milk that can generally be used in the same way. One of the most popular substitutes may be almond milk. It is easily stored and comes in several flavors. It is very high in calcium. There was a time when I was low in calcium. I began drinking a glass of almond milk each day, and my levels returned to normal by the time I had my next check.
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