What happens if you don't drink milk at all? (2023)

What happens if you don't drink milk at all?

Milk provides energy plus many essential nutrients including protein, calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients are needed to grow healthy bones and teeth. Children can get protein from other foods but if your child does not drink milk, they may not be getting enough calcium and vitamin D.

“While it's not necessary to avoid milk, it's also not necessary that we drink milk, either,” says Virtanen. “It can be replaced with other products – there's no single dietary component or food that's absolutely necessary to our health.”

The bottom line is no, dairy products are not a nutritional requirement for humans. We can get all of the nutrients for optimal health from a high-quality diet that limits or contains no dairy.

What You Need to Know. Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk products. This condition often runs in families and can affect both children and adults. Lactose intolerance is most common in Asian Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans and Native Americans.

Milk is an important source of fats, protein, calcium, and vitamins A and D, and children of any age as well as adults can continue to drink it for the rest of their lives if they wish.

Studies have shown that adults cannot survive by just drinking milk alone. However the opposite is true for babies as their only source of food in the early months is milk, especially human milk. In fact, research has shown that for adults, drinking too much milk can do more harm than good.

The bottom line. If you aren't lactose-intolerant or allergic to dairy, it's totally OK to enjoy a regular glass of milk each day. From improving bone health to helping mitigate cognitive decline, drinking milk and incorporating other dairy items into your diet can come with some health benefits.

There's no reason for adults to drink cow's milk unless they like it, according to Vasanti Malik of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

It's packed with important nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, potassium and vitamin D. Plus, it's an excellent source of protein. Drinking milk and dairy products may prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures and even help you maintain a healthy weight.

“Drinking milk is a great way to meet needs for nine essential nutrients, including: phosphorus, B12, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, and protein. Most non-dairy milks contain only 2-4 nutrients and generally lack protein; they may also have added sugars if sweetened.

Why do we need drink milk?

Milk is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus which are necessary for the development and maintenance of strong, healthy bones and teeth. These reduce the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life. Milk promotes bone health.

And so, cutting it out can make you nutrient-deficiency if you don't begin to substitute other foods into your diet. "When you stop eating dairy, you might find that your immune system becomes considerably weaker," Harju-Westman explained to Cosmopolitan. "This may because you are lacking the important vitamin B12.

There are several studies that suggest that drinking milk every day can cut down the risk of developing chronic diseases. All you need to do is consume it in moderation. A glass of milk in a day is an ideal choice. In light of the study, it is for the best to avoid drinking more than 2 glasses of milk in a day.

Lactose Intolerance

According to a 2017 estimate, approximately 36 percent of Americans can't digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. Not everyone will experience the full range of symptoms, but lactose intolerance often causes bloating, discomfort, and stomach pain.

You should know that the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends a combination of solid foods and breastmilk or formula for children under 12 months. Only after 1 year do they suggest introducing whole cow's milk.

Whether you're 7 or 77, drinking milk at any age is important for good health. Milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which older adults tend to need more of, to maintain bone strength, preserve muscle strength, and prevent osteoporosis. For some seniors, milk means more than nutrition.

While there are no set recommendations, most research suggests that as long as it's been stored properly, unopened milk generally stays good for 5–7 days past its listed date, while opened milk lasts at least 2–3 days past this date (3, 8 , 9).

You don't need to worry if you accidentally ingest a small sip of spoiled milk, but avoid drinking it in large — or even moderate — quantities. Drinking spoiled milk can cause digestive distress, such as vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.

Scientific evidence suggests that warm milk before bed may help you sleep. In a study of people staying in a hospital's heart unit, those who drank warm milk and honey for three days noticed improvements in sleep⁴.

Does milk make you sleepy?

Drinking warm milk before bed may help you relax, but there is no evidence that milk makes you sleepy. The drowsiness some people experience may be more from the warmth of the milk or a full stomach than the physical effect of any compound in milk.

Certain compounds in milk — specifically tryptophan and melatonin — may help you fall asleep. Tryptophan is an amino acid found in a variety of protein-containing foods. It plays an important role in the production of the neurotransmitter known as serotonin ( 6 ).

The recommendation for milk, cheese, yoghurt and/or alternatives for women is: 2.5 serves/day for women 19-50 years of age; and, 4 serves/day for women 50 years of age and over.

When light hits the tiny micelle particles it causes the light to refract and scatter. This causes milk to reflect all light wavelengths and absorb none, making it appear white.

Milk consists of nourishing and moisturising properties. It helps in maintaining the health of your skin. It also helps in treating most of your skin concerns. That's why most skincare brands use milk as one of the ingredients in their products.

Absolutely, yes. Drinking milk makes your teeth stronger and protects tooth enamel. It also strengthens your jaw bone, which can help you keep your natural teeth longer, and fights tooth decay.

Milk contains lactic acid that deep cleanses pores and removes acne-causing bacteria that get accumulated on the surface of the skin during the day. Using milk to cleanse the skin or as a face mask can help treat acne as well as reduce inflammation associated with pimples to give you clear and smooth skin.

Proteins and lipids in milk work to strengthen hair, while the calcium promotes hair growth and aids in preventing hair loss. Milk also contains other hair-friendly nutrients like Vitamins A, B6, biotin and potassium, all of which work to keep hair soft and shiny.

Now, scientists have found some of the oldest evidence yet for dairy drinking: People in modern Kenya and Sudan were ingesting milk products beginning at least 6000 years ago. That's before humans evolved the "milk gene," suggesting we were drinking the liquid before we had the genetic tools to properly digest it.

Through analyzing degraded fats on unearthed potshards, scientists have discovered that Neolithic farmers in Britain and Northern Europe may have been among the first to begin milking cattle for human consumption. The dairying activities of these European farmers may have begun as early as 6,000 years ago.

What was milked first?

Milk's Humble Beginnings

Dairy got its start in what is now Turkey in about 8,000 BCE, and for reasons of food safety in the days before refrigeration, the first milk from animals was turned into yogurt, cheese, and butter. Then Mother Nature stepped in and changed everything.

Milk consumption is recommended by many nutritional guidelines for meeting daily requirements for calcium, animal proteins and vitamin B12 intake. In the United-States, the national dietary guidelines recommend that adults should drink three cups or 732 mL/d of milk [1].

Dairy – Dairy is a very common food allergy, but even those who aren't allergic to it are often sensitive. If you're one of these individuals, you might experience some brain fog or headaches when you eat dairy products. This happens because dairy affects the central nervous system.

Drinking three to four glasses of milk would meet your calcium needs. For men, 1,000 milligrams between age 19 and 70 and 1,200 milligrams thereafter provides the calcium needed.

Some older adults wonder if they need milk anymore. Experts note that cow's milk — which is rich in protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals — can be a beneficial part of an older adult's diet, but some non-dairy milk products are also healthy options.

General guidelines for how much milk a child each should drink are: 2 – 3 cups per day for children 12-24 months; and 2 – 2½ cups per day for children 2–5 years old. For children over 5 years old, the daily recommendations are 2½ cups to age 8, and then 3 cups for ages 9-18.

The AAP recommends toddlers 12 to 24 months consume 2–3 cups (16–24 ounces) of whole milk per day and children ages 2 to 5 years drink 2–2.5 cups (16–20 ounces) of low fat or skim milk per day.

For 3-4-years-olds, 16-20 ounces of milk (or yogurt) is recommended per day, drinking only up to 6 ounces at a time.