With so many self-proclaimed health gurus unleashed onto the internet, it can be difficult to determine what’s good and what’s bad for your body. In the case of milk, it’s generally believed that the drink has extreme benefits for our bodies, but oftentimes these benefits overshadow the underlying truth. In adults, milk can lead to some pretty terrifying health risks further on in life. So what exactly are the benefits and drawbacks of drinking cow’s milk on a daily basis?
You might lose weight
Drinking milk regularly can cause quick weight loss when combined with daily exercise and a healthy diet. Milk contains fats and cholesterol, so drinking it alone won’t magically burn your fat away. Just keep your milk intake within reason and you should see favorable results.
You can gain muscles
If you’re into heavy lifting dedicated to muscle building, then milk can be your best friend. Cow’s milk contains one gram of protein per ounce so it’s a preferable source of manufactured protein powders. Milk also helps make you stay fuller for longer so you won’t be tempted to overeat.
Your bones will get stronger
We all learned in grade school that milk is loaded with the calcium. The mineral is found in other foods, but milk is the easiest way to deliver calcium to our bodies. You’ll need 10 cups of spinach to get the same calcium content as in one 8 oz. cup of milk.
You will have better skin complexion
The various nutrients in milk give your skin a lovely glow and keep it looking young. Vitamin A radiates the skin, calcium and vitamin D combat melanoma, lactic acid gives you a fair complexion, and the protein helps in collagen production.
Your body gets sufficient nutrients
Milk contains very few calories compared to the various beneficial nutrients available in a single serving. Milk also keeps you fuller for longer so it will ultimately cause you to eat less. Eating less means you’re consuming far fewer calories than you would regularly.
You’ll have reduced stress
A glass of warm milk in the evening can help reduce muscle tension. Additionally, milk can benefit symptoms of PMS in women. If you need an energy boost, a glass of milk in the morning can be a good pick-me-up for that morning commute to work.
Your body will be better at fighting diseases
The various nutrients, minerals, and adequate fat content could help fight against certain diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The consumption of milk and dairy products also greatly reduces the risk of hip fractures. However, dairy products were found to give more substantial results.
Your body will become resistant to antibiotics
It’s common practice for large-scale farms to pump antibiotics into cows raised for milk. This could potentially create a greater resistance to antibiotics in bacteria. Ultimately, humans suffer from this practice since the antibiotics we take become less effective against bacteria.
You’ll have more stomach cramps and digestive problems
Drinking milk on a regular basis can lead to bloating and the embarrassing symptoms associated with the condition. However, a more serious effect of milk consumption is an imbalance of the gut microbe which can lead to an assortment of digestive problems and even migraines.
Your risk of skin cancer increases
Studies show that drinking milk every day can significantly increase the risk of contracting prostate cancer in men and ovarian cancer in women. The type of milk we consume also plays a factor; dairy from cows injected with growth hormones may cause breast cancer.
You’ll have more acne breakouts
Milk contains an abundance of IGF-1 – a growth hormone meant to help cow calves and not humans. This hormone is known to be pro-inflammatory and is a cause of acne breakouts. Furthermore, dairy products cause the liver to produce even more IGF-1, leading to perpetual battles with the skin condition.
You might get Type 1 Diabetes
The theory that milk plays a significant role in triggering Type 1 Diabetes is found to be true. Children who drink cow’s milk at an early age have an increased risk of contracting the disease. Children below three years should refrain from drinking milk from sources treated with growth hormones.
Your body will burn less fat
If you’re watching your weight, pay close attention to the nutrition labels on milk cartons. Whole milk has 23% of our RDA (recommended daily allowance) for saturated fat. 1 percent milk is hardly better, providing 8% of our RDA. This is even before taking our food consumption into account. Exercise and proper diet are necessary to combat milk’s high saturated fat content.
Your cholesterol levels will rise
Milk and dairy lovers out there, beware. If you think drinking a large amount of milk is good for you, you may need to get your cholesterol checked. A quart of 1 percent milk contains one-third of your cholesterol RDA.
Your bones won’t be affected
Drinking milk alone won’t optimally increase the strength and density of bones. Our bones are made of both calcium and magnesium, so you need balance out your milk intake with magnesium to enjoy the full effects of bone growth and strength.
Foodworld
