As mammals, one of the key developmental traits that are unique to all mammals is the milk factor and the fact that all mammals require milk for healthy development during the initial few months. And while it is true that all young infants require milk to get key nourishment and vitamins which is necessary for development and growth, some of the food companies started hyping milk and marketing it as an elixir for good health. Recent studies had highlighted the fact that Milk comes with its own pros and cons, here’s to taking a closer look at the same.
Pros of milk:
Milk and bone development: Milk has long been hyped to be necessary for good health and was often tagged as being essential for bone development. The fact remains that milk is indeed healthy, as it contains a wide range of minerals and vitamins – all of which can have a beneficial effect on your overall health. In fact, milk is good for your bones and is extremely rich in calcium which is essential for good bone development and the fact that cow’s milk comes with vitamin D can help prevent you from developing osteoporosis later in life.
Cardiovascular health: Milk, especially cow’s milk is rich in potassium and low in sodium which can help reduce the blood pressure and improve your cardiovascular health in the process. Various studies have indicated that a diet that’s rich in potassium and low on sodium can have a beneficial effect on your cardiovascular health.
Cancer: Although several studies do indicate that a diet that’s rich in Vitamin D can help prevent certain types of cancer, the fact that there is no conclusive proof to claim that milk can prevent cancer effectively. But milk is loaded with vitamins, essential minerals like magnesium, potassium and others – all of these are essential for cellular growth and regeneration.
Muscle building: One of the reasons that most mammalian infants require milk during the initial months is that it can help them to develop fast. So naturally, it holds true that if you were to consume a healthy amount of milk daily, it should help you bulk up. Moreover, milk contains dietary protein which should help your body increase its lean muscle mass, help improve overall muscle tone, muscle repair and growth.
Cons of Milk:
Lactose intolerance: Despite consuming milk during the infant stage, there are a few people who end up developing lactose intolerance. They usually develop this because their bodies are no longer able to produce lactase which is essential for breaking down milk and all dairy products. As a result, such people cannot consume any milk on account of the fact that their body no longer digests milk which can result in gastrointestinal distress.
Allergy: A few people even become hypersensitive to milk which can cause their body to develop severe allergic reactions to drinking the same. On drinking milk or consuming dairy products, they may experience anything from rashes to a slight swelling of the lips. And in a few cases, some of them had to undergo hospitalization due to experiencing an anaphylactic shock on drinking milk. It is always a good idea to consult a doctor and get an allergy panel test done as this can show you whether you are allergic to certain substances like Milk.
Over-consumption of milk: Drinking too much milk because it is hyped to be good for your health can have unintended consequences. For example, if you should end up drinking too much milk, that’s going to increase your potassium intake. An excess of potassium can impact the functioning of your kidney especially when your kidneys have not fully formed yet. Additionally, a diet rich in milk can lead to an over-consumption of calcium which can cause you to experience anything from a kidney stone, constipation, and this can even lead you to experience kidney failure.
These are some of the pros and cons of drinking milk; no one is claiming that drinking milk is dangerous but it can have certain side effects. This is why it makes sense to review both the pros and cons of drinking milk, over prolonged periods of time.