Giving up Milk May Not Be Necessary for Good Health
By Tom Herrin
As young children, we all depended upon milk as the major source of our nutrition. Getting the right amount of nutrients is vital to the growth and development of anyone. Making sure that children get what they need is the primary purpose of the school lunch programs that have been around for more than 75 years. It is designed to ensure that they have milk with every meal. Throughout most of their school years, this was the case. All too often, however, people drank much less milk as they grew older. In many cases, making a point to include milk in your diet may have a really positive effect on health.
Milk Can Be Powerful
In a sense of packing a lot of benefits in a small package, milk may be at or near the top of the list. It has long been known as a source of calcium needed for building strong bones and teeth. It also has plenty of protein, especially ounce-for-ounce. It contains a few other nutrients that can boost health. One of these is potassium which is known to help lower blood pressure due to its ability to help keep blood vessels flexible. Some studies have indicated that drinking milk can help to balance sugars in the blood.
Milk Can Interfere With Good Health
Even though milk can offer so many perks to some, it can be a major source of poor health for others. This is usually due to some kinds of allergic reactions or general intolerance. Quite a few people become ill as a result of consuming the lactose, or sugar in milk. Still others have difficulty digesting one of the proteins. This is called the A1 protein. Still others have trouble with the fat in milk. Drinking milk is certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Milk Need Not Be Excluded
If you have some issues with milk, it doesn't mean you are left out. There are some good alternatives to drinking cows' milk. For years, many people have turned to milk from goats and had success with it. For those with problems with lactose, there is lactose-free milk on the market in many brands. With the information available about proteins, producers are now able to deliver milk with no A1 protein. This is labeled as A2 milk. For those who need another source of calcium, there are things such as almond milk. It is much higher in calcium than other milk and comes in a variety of flavors.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Greenwood, Ind.