Does Milk Really Do a Body Good?
By Stephen R. Farris
When I was a kid, milk was a staple at our house. While today's generation is used to grabbing a gallon of milk sold in a plastic jug, ours came in what looked like an oversized cardboard milk carton, which essentially it was. It was a big change from the glass bottles milk was sold in and usually delivered at your front or back door at home.
We used milk in the morning for our breakfast cereal, drank it with our lunch and poured a glass of it to drink at dinnertime in the evening. It was used for a variety of cooking, such as pies and other desserts and entrees.
Our parents told us it was good for us. We were even taught that during health class at school when the subject of nutrition and the five food groups came up. However, milk is being challenged more and more these days about its nutritional and health benefits. So is it really good for us? Was what we were taught growing up correct? Let's find out.
Bone Health
Milk contains nutrients such as calcium, Vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus and protein. All of those are essential for producing strong bones and their growth.
Heart Health
Milk produces other dairy products like butter, certain cheeses, yogurt, cottage cheese and cream to name a few, that can easily be found in nearly every refrigerator in the United States. However, most all of these contain saturated fat. In the past, researchers linked full dairy style products with heart disease, due to saturated fats found in them. But new studies are debunking the saturated fat-heart disease relationship. Currently, it's not completely clear there's a connection anymore.
Nutrients
The list of nutrients found in milk is long. Not only can you find Vitamin D in milk, there's Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, potassium and folate. And besides protein, you'll find carbohydrates and fat.
Lactose Intolerance
There are some people who are lactose (another ingredient) intolerant, in which milk causes bloating, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. For those individuals, there are other milk-based products available in the form of soy milk, almond milk, etc., that are lactose-free.
Overall, milk is still a good source for many of the nutrients your body needs, especially calcium. However, if you don't drink milk, then there are other foods and supplements you can incorporate into your diet to get those same nutrients found in milk.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cincinnati, Ohio.