Milk is a complex drink which goes through plenty of processes before it reaches our fridges. However, it’s also a hugely nutritional drink, and a great source of much that you’ll need to stay healthy. But how much do you actually know about the white stuff? Are you clued up on the health benefits of milk?
Let’s take a closer look at why milk is so healthy and beneficial. Specifically, we are going to be focusing on the nutritional facts of cow’s milk!
1. It’s big on protein.
Milk is packed with protein. Not just any protein, of course, but that which is of exceptional quality. For every average glass of milk, you’ll likely get 8g of protein. As so many people struggle to find the right amounts of protein in their daily diets, it makes sense to start the day right with a glass of milk.
2. Milk doesn’t just have one protein type, mind.
There are two main types of protein that you will find in cow’s milk. These are whey and casein. Whey protein is beneficial for improving mood and lowering stress. Casein, meanwhile, may actually help to lower your blood pressure.
3. It’s packed full of wonderful vitamins!
Milk is also full of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is crucial for helping to keep healthy skin and immunity levels high.
4. Much of your milk is H2O.
Believe it or not, around 88% of the milk you are likely to drink is actually water!
5. However, it’s stacked with sugar.
Milk contains a fair amount of sugar. For every 7g of protein, you can generally expect 12g of sugar in return, meaning you’re going to need to keep a close eye on your macros.
6. Most people are allergic to dairy in some way.
Many people are lactose intolerant. In fact, the majority are – around 75% of people are intolerant to the lactose in milk, which can cause unpleasant digestive conditions. However, you may be only mildly lactose intolerant and not even know it!
7. Could milk be really bad for you?
There are studies which suggest that milk consumption could lead to the aggravation of certain cancers. Therefore, while milk can be hugely beneficial to your health in one regard, too much of it could harm your health in the long run.
8. Not necessarily.
Drinking milk can also lower your risk of developing osteoporosis.
Milk is, of course, an incredible source of calcium. Calcium is crucial for building and maintaining strong teeth and bones.
9. Milk is colour-coded.
There are key differences in the colours of milk bottle tops you buy! Skimmed milk, often red-topped, is the lowest in fat, at around 0.3%. Semi-skimmed has around 1.5 to 2% fat content, while whole milk is around 3.5% fat. These figures are based on 100g of milk in each case.
10. You should stay away from raw milk.
Raw milk is not generally advisable to drink. In fact, its sale is hugely regulated in the UK. It is banned outright for sale across Scotland. This is because raw milk does not go through pasteurization, where bacteria will be removed before bottling.
11. What about carton milk?
UHT milk, however, is even more likely to be bacteria-free. That’s because it’s intensively boiled, meaning you’re likely to get much more bacteria out of UHT long-term than a standard bottle of milk.
FAQs about Milk
Is milk really bad for you?
Milk can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, despite its general health benefits otherwise.
Should adults drink milk every day?
Not necessarily, but it’s more important that children drink dairy to help build strong teeth and bones.
Is drinking milk bad for you at night?
It’s unlikely to do any major harm, and some actually believe it can help healthy digestion!
Do you know any interesting milk nutrition facts? Share them in the comments below!