Milk: useful properties and contraindications

The benefits and harms of milk worry many - the product is constantly present in almost every refrigerator. To understand what effect the drink has on health, you need to study its characteristics and internal composition.

Chemical composition and calorie content of cow's milk

The benefits and harms to the body of cow's milk are explained by its rich composition. A natural product contains a lot of valuable substances, namely:

• more than 50 chemical elements, including iron and potassium, sulfur and phosphorus, copper and chlorine, magnesium;
• calcium, there is a lot of it in cow's milk, and the digestibility is above 90%;
• vitamins A, E, H and C;
• vitamins B1, B6 and B2;
• vitamins PP and D;
• important amino acids are tryptophan, lysine and methionine.

The calorie content of a useful product depends on the degree of fat content. If we consider milk 2.5%, which is in the greatest demand, then it contains 52 kcal per 100 ml.

How is cow's milk useful?

The benefits of milk for an adult's body are very diverse. With regular use, milk:

• reduces the level of acidity in the stomach and helps with some types of gastritis and ulcers;
• eliminates heartburn;
• improves the quality of sleep and improves mood, as it promotes the production of serotonin;
• strengthens joints, teeth and nails due to its very high calcium content;
• helps with all types of colds, and also serves as an excellent prevention of viral and infectious diseases;
• has a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart and blood vessels, therefore it is beneficial as a prevention of heart disease;
• well quenches thirst and helps to get rid of edema, drinking milk is good for kidney health.

It should be noted the cleansing properties of healthy milk, it removes from the body not only toxins, but also heavy metals and pesticides. That is why people employed in hazardous work receive a useful product from their employer for free.

For women

The product is the basis for proper nutrition, as it contains many vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it will be useful to include it in the diet for all women interested in losing weight and well-being. The properties of the product can be especially beneficial during the period of gestation, milk will strengthen the woman's skeletal system and have a beneficial effect on the fetus.

The benefits of milk after 40 for women are clearly manifested in the cosmetic field. The beneficial properties of the product are actively used in home masks for the face and body, milk effectively softens and rejuvenates the skin, allowing it to maintain its beauty and youth longer.

For men

The benefits of milk for men are mainly due to the high content of amino acids in this product.The drink contains casein protein, which is easily digested and is responsible for building muscle tissue - it is useful for athletes interested in muscle growth.

For children

Despite the fact that the first time after birth, children eat exclusively milk, only mother's milk brings benefits to the body of babies. Cow's milk has a different composition and properties, so babies will do more harm than good.

It is recommended to introduce the product into the children's diet no earlier than 10-12 months, and in small quantities. The properties of the drink can be most beneficial for a child at 3-4 years old - it is during this period that the developing body especially needs calcium and phosphorus.

For the elderly

Milk is of great benefit in old age, calcium in the product strengthens bones and thus prevents the development of arthrosis and osteoporosis. True, the benefits of milk after 50 years will be if you give preference to low-fat varieties - an increased amount of fat can lead to the opposite result and make bones more fragile.

Also, the benefit of the product for the elderly is expressed in the positive effect of the product on the nervous system - the properties of milk help get rid of insomnia.

Features of the use of cow's milk

The health benefits and harms of milk may differ for certain ailments or special conditions of the body. In order not to accidentally harm yourself, you should study the properties of a useful product more carefully and learn the rules for its use.

During pregnancy

During the period of gestation, the benefits of homemade milk for the expectant mother will be especially great. During pregnancy, many women suffer from a lack of calcium, and milk effectively compensates for the deficiency of this particular element. The properties of milk and the fetus will not harm, the product will take part in the formation of bone and muscle tissues.

At the same time, pregnant women are advised to use a healthy drink with caution so as not to harm the intestines and stomach, in small sips and not immediately after eating. It is worth completely abandoning the product in case of intolerance to the drink and with acute intestinal ailments, in this case the properties of milk will only cause harm.

When breastfeeding

During lactation, it is better to refrain from drinking milk. Although the drink remains beneficial to the mother, it is highly likely to cause a negative reaction in the infant. Since cow's milk is very different in composition and properties from mother's milk, the product often harms babies and leads to the appearance of an allergic rash or intestinal disorders.

When losing weight

Milk for breakfast is beneficial for losing weight, first of all, the product is not high in calories, but it dampens the feeling of hunger well. The benefit of milk lies in the fact that the properties of the drink contribute to the elimination of toxins and the normalization of metabolic processes.

The drink is present in many diets, both complex and based on one product. You can combine healthy milk with eggs, cereals and cottage cheese products, with vegetable and fruit delicacies. Of course, for a dietary meal, you should choose a drink with a low fat content.

With diabetes mellitus

The benefits of milk for the human body are clearly manifested in type 2 diabetes mellitus. The drink contains a lot of potassium - an extremely important element in this disease. Milk will benefit the liver, it will help eliminate toxins and prevent the development of concomitant ailments in diabetes.

The benefits of pasteurized milk and fresh product will be in demand, however, you need to consume the drink in moderation, no more than a couple of glasses a day.

With pancreatitis

In case of acute inflammation of the pancreas, store milk, like homemade milk, will rather harm. It will irritate the diseased organ and intensify the exacerbation. But during remission, you can use milk - the properties of the product will make up for the lack of vitamins and minerals in the body.

Therefore, it is better to choose a non-fat sterilized product - it is less likely to cause harm.

With gastritis

Milk may be beneficial for the stomach, even for chronic gastritis. If the acidity is increased, then you need to choose natural whole milk for consumption. But with low acidity, it is better to choose skim milk and not overuse the product. The drink will bring the greatest benefit if you add it to porridge or tea.

Traditional medicine recipes with milk

The beneficial properties of cow's milk are highly regarded in folk health recipes. Basically, a nutritious drink is used to treat colds, milk has a strengthening effect and eliminates inflammation.

With a cold

During any cold ailments, the classic recipe is warm milk with honey - add 1-2 small spoons of treats to a cup of drink. The benefits of milk for colds is that the product softens irritated mucous throats, eliminates weakness and intoxication of the body, and restores strength.

From cough

There will be benefits from milk before bedtime for a cold cough - a home remedy will help relieve unpleasant symptoms on the first day. To soften a cough, you need to use a slightly improved classic recipe. Not only a spoonful of honey is added to a glass of milk, but a pinch of baking soda is added and the warm drink is drunk in small sips.

As a useful additive, you can use not only soda, but a couple of black peppercorns or a teaspoon of cinnamon. All of these components will have a good anti-inflammatory effect.

With angina

Milk is the most famous folk remedy for sore throat with angina. The following recipe brings a good effect - a glass of milk is boiled, then slightly cooled and a small spoonful of butter or natural honey is stirred in it.

There will be benefits from milk on an empty stomach in the morning, in the afternoon before meals and in the evening just before bedtime. If you drink the remedy three times a day, sore throat will quickly recede. To avoid harm to a sore throat, milk should be drunk in small, neat sips.

With laryngitis

A glass of milk at night will be beneficial for laryngitis. Pour half a glass of oatmeal with 500 ml of milk, darken the product over low heat for about an hour, and then remove from the stove and add a couple of tablespoons of butter.

The cooled and filtered milk is taken shortly before bedtime, only 100 ml.

For bronchitis

With bronchitis, the beneficial properties of milk and sage have a good effect - add a large spoonful of dry sage leaves to a cup of drink. The agent is brought to a boil, cooled to room temperature and drunk in small sips twice a day. If the taste of the drink seems too bitter, you can add a little honey to the milk.

With chronic rhinitis

One of the best cold remedies is milk combined with onions. For half a glass of warm milk, add a small spoonful of onions, grated into gruel, and stir thoroughly.

Several times a day, the product needs to be instilled with a couple of drops in each nostril. Onions will quickly eliminate bacteria and infection, and milk will prevent irritation of the mucous membranes.

Can I drink milk with a hangover?

Milk from a hangover will be beneficial, its cleansing properties will help relieve symptoms of intoxication. In addition, the drink will reduce the burden on the liver and prevent the severe consequences of alcoholic libations. It is better to use the product warm, and the greatest benefit will be from milk on an empty stomach.

It is recommended to drink only a few sips every hour, until the unpleasant symptoms subside. Excess milk after alcohol poisoning can be harmful and cause diarrhea and nausea.

Is fresh milk good for you?

Of great benefit is milk from a cow that has not undergone any processing; it contains the most proteins, fats and other valuable elements. During pasteurization and sterilization, some of them are inevitably lost, which makes the properties of the product poorer.

At the same time, the benefits and harms of fresh milk are closely related to each other. The raw product is an ideal breeding ground for helminths and other harmful microorganisms. You can drink fresh milk only if the quality of the healthy product is beyond doubt.

Benefits of cow's milk at night

Milk contains a number of amino acids that have a sedative effect on the nervous system. Therefore, in the evening, the properties of the product will be beneficial for those who suffer from insomnia - milk will help you fall asleep quickly and soundly. In addition, drinking milk at night is beneficial for colds.

But the benefits and harms of milk at night accompany each other. Since the product is quite nutritious, it takes a long time to digest - the stomach and intestines continue to work before going to bed. This can be harmful, and you should not drink milk before bed on a regular basis.

The harm of cow's milk and contraindications

For all its useful properties, milk can be very harmful. First of all, in many people it causes an allergic reaction - lactose intolerance manifests itself in the form of nausea and diarrhea after drinking milk. In this case, the product should be completely abandoned, it will only cause harm.

Healthy milk has other contraindications, namely:

• obesity;
• stones of phosphate origin in the kidneys;
• tendency to deposit calcium salts in the joints;
• acute pancreatitis and stomach ulcer;
• infectious food poisoning.

With increased caution, you need to take a healthy drink after 50 years. If you drink too much milk, its properties can be harmful and lead to the development of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis.

Rules for choosing cow's milk

Choosing high-quality healthy milk in a store or on the market is quite simple - you need to pay attention to a few points.

• Milk fat... The higher it is, the more high-calorie product, and nutritional value plays an important role not only in losing weight, but also in some diseases.
• Processing method... In stores, milk is sold mainly pasteurized and sterilized - it is better to give preference to the first option, since it retains more useful properties.
• Composition and name... High-quality healthy milk should not contain unnecessary chemical components, flavors and dyes. In addition, the name of the product should be exactly one word - "milk". If the price tag says “milk drink”, “milk” or “milk product”, it means that the content of milk itself in the product is insignificant.

Fresh milk can only be bought from trusted and reliable suppliers who can guarantee the sanitary safety of a healthy product.

How and how long can cow's milk be stored

The steamed cow product has a short shelf life - only up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Store-bought milk, subjected to pasteurization, is stored a little longer - up to 5 days after opening the package.

Sterilized milk can be stored for the longest time, since there are simply no live bacteria in it, it retains its valuable properties for up to 1.5 months. True, the benefits of such milk are significantly reduced.

You need to store a healthy product exclusively in the refrigerator, and not on the door, but on one of the shelves where the temperature is stable.

Compatibility of cow's milk with other products

Natural milk is best combined with cereals, durum pasta and flour products - the joint use of products does not harm. It is better not to use fresh milk with vegetables and fruits, most often it provokes flatulence and diarrhea, an unpleasant feeling of heaviness in the stomach.

Milk is often added to coffee or tea, and here its benefits become ambiguous. On the one hand, in hot drinks the product loses most of its valuable properties. vitamins are destroyed by high temperatures. But on the other hand, even heated milk can neutralize the effect of caffeine, which means that adding it to coffee and strong tea will be useful in case of a tendency to hypertension or heart ailments.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of milk depend mainly on how well the body tolerates lactose. If you are not allergic to milk, then with proper use it will benefit and strengthen the body.