10 Surprising Benefits of Drinking Milk that You Probably Weren’t Aware Of

Growing up, we all would have heard this phrase oft-repeated by our mothers, “Drink up your milk; it’s good for you.” Well, they were right! Milk is indeed a powerhouse of nutrients that offers an incredible array of health benefits. Here, in this post, we list out all the benefits that you can enjoy by including milk in your daily diet.

1. It’s Chock-full of Nutrients

It’s no surprise that cow milk is full of nutrients, as it was designed to nourish new-born calves. Here’s what’s in one glass (240 ml) of whole cow milk:

2. It’s an Excellent Source of Protein

A single glass of milk contains around 8 grams of protein. Protein is a vital ingredient for various body functions like – growth and development, cell repair, and immunity system regulation.

Milk is a complete protein as it contains all nine essential amino acids required by your body. Both whey protein and casein are present in milk.

If you are looking to build muscle, and reduce muscle loss that occurs with ageing, then including milk in your daily diet from childhood is a must. Milk is an excellent post-workout drink as it helps in reducing muscle soreness and damage while boosting muscle repair.

3. It builds Strong and Healthy Bones

The calcium, phosphorous, potassium and protein in milk help in building strong and healthy bones. Around 99% of your body’s calcium reserves are stored in your bones and teeth. By including milk in your child’s daily diet, you are helping your body develop strong and healthy bones during the growing up years.

This helps to avoid bone-related diseases like osteoporosis and weak bones, later in life.

4. It helps to Prevent Excess Weight Gain

Yes, contrary to popular belief, drinking milk regularly helps to avoid obesity and excess weight gain. The high-protein content in milk helps you feel full for a longer time, which helps to avoid overeating. Additionally, the conjugated linoleic acids in milk help in fat breakdown, thereby boosting weight loss.

If you are worried about the fat in whole milk, you can switch over to toned milk, which provides you with all the nutritional benefits of milk, without the extra calories.

5. It helps in Skin Health

If you read home remedies for skin, then you would notice that most use milk as a key ingredient. The rich proteins and minerals in milk nourish your skin and help in making it radiant. The lactic acid in milk acts as an exfoliant, and the milk enzymes help to soothe skin irritations. The amino acids help to moisturize your skin, making it appear supple and radiant.

You can either apply milk directly on your face or drink a glass daily, to enjoy the skin benefits of milk.

8. It reduces Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Symptoms

If you suffer from pre-menstrual symptoms like mood swings, irritability, and cramps, include one or two glasses of milk to your daily diet, especially during PMS. Milk relaxes your body and helps to reduce the painful PMS symptoms.

9. It’s a Great Energy Booster

Feeling down? Instead, of reaching for sugary energy drinks, have a glass of milk prepared in your favourite way. It will help you feel revitalised in no time.

10. It’s a Wholesome Food

Milk is a nutritious beverage that is wholesome and filling. Rich in essential nutrients – proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats, and minerals like calcium milk is nourishing. If you are looking to lose weight, then you can replace a meal with low-fat milk or consume it as a snack in-between meals to kill hunger pangs.

Milk is for everyone

Whether you are a child or an adult, including milk in your daily diet offers you several health benefits. When choosing milk brands look for fortified milk brands with extra calcium and vitamin D, for an extra nutrient kick with each glass.