Beneficial properties of milk for children: contraindications, benefits and harm. Dairy products: benefit or harm to a child's health? Is it good for children to drink milk?

Olga Moiseenko
Is milk good for children?

Now many modern parents are thinking, Is milk good for their children?? And I also thought about this question. Does it really contain those essential substances for growth and development that are so necessary? children?

Many nutritionists are sure that there is no food product that could compete with milk. It contains fatty acid, amino acids, milk sugar, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, various enzymes - a great variety of everything useful! For a newborn baby breastfeeding milk- This is the only and complete food created by nature itself. Drinking a glass milk, a three-year-old child receives half the daily calcium requirement!

Research objectives:

1 Conduct a survey of parents;

2 Find out the chemical composition milk;

3 Identify how it affects milk on a child's body;

4 Find out how the disadvantage affects (or lack of) milk on the child's body.

Chemical composition milk

Study milk showed the presence of more than 50 elements in it. They share on:

Macroelements Microelements

calcium iron

magnesium copper

potassium zinc

sodium manganese

phosphorus cobalt

molybdenum sulfur

aluminum salts

citrates phosphates chlorides tin

A survey was conducted, during which it was revealed that 88.2% of respondents believe milk useful product . It strengthens bones and teeth, it contains many vitamins. And only 12.8% think milk harmful product , since it is powder, or they consider healthy goat milk.

An experiment was also carried out: 1 part of the children were given 500 ml daily in their diet for three months. milk(in the form of porridge, milk, their indicators (mental, physical development) improved, the frequency of colds decreased (medicinal product based on milk"Narin", "Biolact", increased immunity. The condition of children's nails and teeth has improved.

Those children who did not receive milk lacked calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and trace elements. As a result, the immune system is burned, the formation and activity of vital enzymes, vitamins and hormones is disrupted, and selenium deficiency causes slow growth. It was found that selenium is the most important antioxidant. That is, almost all vital functions of the body were affected.

The RAMP Institute of Nutrition has developed recommended consumption standards dairy products per person per year – 392 kg (in terms of milk)

Whole milk – 116kg;

Butter – 6.1 kg;

Sour cream – 6.5 kg;

Cottage cheese – 8.8 kg;

Cheese – 6.1 kg;

Ice cream – 8 kg.

Consumption of basic food products in the Russian Federation (per capita per year/kg) To maintain normal functioning of the body, the diet of a child and adolescent should include 50% milk and dairy products.

Indicator 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Milk and dairy products 387 347 282 294 281 254 233 230 220

In terms of milk

Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Milk, kg 214 214 219 227 231 233 235 239 242 243

Currently, there is a whole discussion on this topic. So American pediatricians doubt the need "lean on milk» . They refute the well-known thesis about the benefits of cow milk milk for small children - than bigger baby will drink milk in the first seven years of life, the stronger his bones will be. They base their conclusions on the results of a survey of 37 children over seven years old. In 27 cases, there was no connection between an increase in the amount of drinking milk and the strength of the bones was not traced. Research has shown that exercise is much more important for strong bones than increasing your calcium intake. In order for a child to have healthy, strong bones, physical exercise plus up to 1300 mg of calcium per day is necessary.

Russian scientists believe that there is no food product that could compete with milk. This is a treasure trove useful substances. So milk is a source of calcium, 97% of which is absorbed by the human body. Milk is good for you for colds, since its protein is digested more easily than other protein foods, it is from it that the immunoglobulins necessary to fight viral infection are formed. In addition, this property helps those children who play sports and want to build muscles. Milk helps against insomnia, as it has a calming effect on the nervous system (especially warm milk is good for you with honey 1 hour before bedtime). Milk is good for children with problems with the gastrointestinal tract (helps reduce gastric acidity)- a remedy for heartburn. Healthy it is used for gastritis with high acidity and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. Milk is rich in vitamins, it healthy in the fight against excess weight, disorders of the immune and endocrine systems. Milk It helps well with severe headaches and migraines.

Through research, I came to the conclusion that milk belongs to the most healthy foods, as it has all the properties necessary for the growth and development of the body.

Cow's milk has become much more widespread than the milk of other animals. It is present on the table of every family almost every day in its pure form or as food products made from it (cottage cheese, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt or kefir). The high demand for cow's milk everywhere is facilitated by the ease and availability of its production and significant volumes of industrial production.

The large amount of calcium in milk determines its important role in the formation and strengthening of bone tissue. Vitamin D present here improves the absorption of calcium and promotes its deposition in bones and dentin. Thus, drinking cow's milk effectively prevents the development of rickets and osteoporosis.

Regular consumption of cow's milk during childhood is especially important. It is in early and transitional age that the strength of the skeleton is laid and maximum bone mass accumulates, which will determine the predisposition to fractures throughout life. A direct relationship has been proven between the intake of calcium from milk and its deposition in the skeletal system of adolescents, and the inverse relationship with the incidence of fractures.

At an early age, cow's milk, as a rule, is well absorbed, promotes growth and development, strengthens the immune system, improves memory and mood. The ability to digest milk decreases with age, but completely eliminating traditional foods from an older person's diet can be detrimental to their health. In this case, it is recommended to consume milk diluted or skimmed.

Milk is a product that is traditionally prescribed for the rehabilitation of people employed in hazardous industries, and is also used in medical, dietary and baby food. It helps with anemia, kidney disease, work disorders nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and tuberculosis. Milk with honey is a widely known drink that relieves stress and makes it easier to fall asleep.

The complex beneficial effect of milk on the cardiovascular system is ensured by its high potassium content and the ability to slightly lower blood pressure. Linoleic acid in its composition eliminates excess weight, which also facilitates the work of the heart. The antitumor activity of milk has also been confirmed, as well as its ability to increase life expectancy.

Cow's milk during pregnancy

Lack of calcium intake during gestation inevitably affects the condition of the bones and teeth of the expectant mother. Cow's milk can largely solve the issue of deficiency of this mineral, and it also promotes its full absorption. Lactose, found in abundance in milk, helps the body process calcium and also serves as an excellent source of energy.

Milk gently cleanses the body of a pregnant woman, removing poisons and salts from it heavy metals, radioactive compounds. For residents of large industrial cities, this feature of the product is especially important. In addition, some vitamins in its composition have pronounced antioxidant activity and protect cells from harmful environmental influences.

In the absence of contraindications and individual intolerance to cow's milk in mother and baby, it can balance the diet of a pregnant or lactating woman, enrich it with nutrients and vitamins. This product also serves as a safe effective means to relieve heartburn, which often accompanies the second half of pregnancy.

Warning: If a woman previously had difficulty drinking cow's milk, then during pregnancy it is better to completely abandon it and not conduct risky experiments.

When is drinking cow's milk dangerous?

The main protein in cow's milk, casein, is the strongest allergen. When incompletely digested, it is able to enter the blood and act as an antigen, causing a powerful immune response. The result of such a shake-up can be not only the development of intolerance to all dairy products, but also type I diabetes.

People prone to allergies should exercise caution when consuming cow's milk and may benefit from asking your doctor for advice regarding your diet. The presence of a pathological reaction to it means the complete exclusion of all dairy products from the diet.

Video: Who should not drink milk. Discussion in the program “Live Healthy”

The milk sugar, lactose, is rarely fully processed in the adult body. Lactase deficiency can develop in varying degrees: not to cause discomfort or lead to complete intolerance to dairy products. It most often manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

• diarrhea, loose stools;
• nausea, vomiting;
• flatulence, bloating;
• cramps and pain in the stomach;
• heartburn.

Cow's milk also harms the body if galactose metabolism is impaired. This substance is formed during the breakdown of milk sugar along with glucose and can become a serious risk factor for the development of cataracts and arthritis. Galactosemia is a hereditary disease and requires complete exclusion of milk from the diet.

Rules for choosing and drinking cow's milk

Usually, first of all, it is customary to pay attention to the naturalness and safety of food, which, of course, will be true in relation to cow's milk. The ideal option is to purchase it from a private farmstead from neat and clean owners, whose cow is regularly examined by a veterinarian. This is the only way to find whole milk; the industrially produced product is normalized for drinking, the content of proteins and fats in it is artificially regulated.

You should choose milk that has had as little contact with air as possible, because in this case the milk fats are partially oxidized. To obtain information on this matter, it is permissible to ask the farmer a little about how milking occurs on his farm; it will also be useful to find out his method (machine or manual).

The freshness of the product is of great importance: fresh whole milk contains a maximum of beneficial nutrients and lysozyme, which inhibits the development of putrefactive microorganisms. After 2 hours it loses its activity, so raw milk must be boiled or pasteurized. The easiest way to perform instant pasteurization is to heat the drink to almost 90°C and immediately turn off the stove.

Pasteurization almost does not change the taste of milk, but it destroys pathogens of dangerous diseases, including tuberculosis and brucellosis. Heat-resistant lactic acid microorganisms do not die, and beneficial nutrients are also preserved. Pasteurized milk can turn sour, so it remains quite suitable for making yogurt, cottage cheese or cheese.

Processing milk under the influence of high temperatures almost completely destroys pathogenic microflora and bacterial spores, but also causes physical and chemical changes in the composition. Among these methods, the most popular are boiling, sterilization and ultra-pasteurization. They destroy lactic acid bacteria, which prevent the appearance of toxic compounds, and milk fats, depriving the product of most of its beneficial properties.

Any heat treatment reduces the acidity of the drink, frees it from gases dissolved in it and increases shelf life. Of the types of milk available for purchase in the store, it is preferable to choose pasteurized milk, as it will bring more benefits to the human body than others. The shelf life of such milk is short, up to 7-14 days, depending on the packaging method.

Warning: Reconstituted milk should be avoided as it has low nutritional value and may contain oxidized cholesterol, which depresses the heart and blood vessels, and foreign additives (chalk, sugar, starch or flour).

Video: A story about the features of cow's milk in the program “From Morning to Evening”

Storing cow's milk

The shelf life of milk depends on how it is processed, packaging and temperature. Raw milk is stored at 1-2°C for two days, at 3-4°C for about a day and a half, at 4-6°C for a day, at 6-8°C for 18 hours, and at 8-10°C for only 12 hours. .

Useful tips for storing milk:

1. At the store, it is better to put milk last in the grocery cart to avoid it being kept warm for a long time. When you return home, you should immediately place it in the refrigerator.
2. In the refrigerator, it is optimal to store milk at a temperature of 0-4°C, do not use the door for this.
3. Opened milk can be consumed within 3 days, kept closed and separated from foods with a strong odor.
4. Best used for storing milk original packaging, glass or ceramic containers.
5. Avoid exposing the product to light as it destroys riboflavin and vitamin D.
6. Freezing milk allows you to preserve its nutritional and taste properties for a long time; you need to defrost such milk in the refrigerator.

Advice: Frozen cow's milk tends to separate when thawed. In this case, just beat it with a blender to return it to its normal appearance.

Compatibility of milk with other foods

Cow's milk is an independent food product. In order for it to be absorbed better, you need to drink it on an empty stomach, without mixing with other food, in small sips and with a slight linger in the mouth. Do not take cold milk: low temperature complicates the digestion process. After a glass of milk, it is useful to refrain from eating for some time (1-1.5 hours).

It is acceptable to consume milk with some types of fruits, berries and vegetables. It softens the effects of caffeine, so it is useful to add it a little to tea or coffee. Milk also goes well with cottage cheese.

Composition of the product

The composition of cow's milk is rich and varied, it includes proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, mineral salts, vitamins and hormones. A complete set of amino acids completely covers the needs of the human body, and milk fat is one of the most nutritious and healthy. The energy value of raw whole milk is low - only 65 kcal, so dairy diets are widespread and effective.

Nutritional value of cow's milk (per 100 g of product)

Vitamins	% of daily value	Minerals	% of daily value
B1, thiamine
B2, riboflavin
B5, pantothenic acid
B6, pyridoxine		Molybdenum
B9, folate
B12, cobalamin
PP, niacin

Video: E. Malysheva about the dangers of milk

It would seem, what questions may arise about the introduction of cow's milk into the diet of children?

Milk is a product that they are accustomed to receiving from birth, what other difficulties are there? In fact, there are many difficulties.

Let's take a closer look at what age you can give your child cow's milk and dairy products, how to treat “children’s” curds, yoghurts, milk?

Milk: good or bad?

Milk for children is not always an unchangeable benefit, as we are accustomed to believe, believing the admonitions of our grandmothers, they say, it contains strength and health.

First of all, let's learn one simple rule: mother's milk is intended for feeding the young of a given species: women's milk for children, cow's milk for calves, goat's milk for kids. Different types of milk have a different composition from ours, adapted by nature, just for specific babies.

Therefore, complementary foods such as cow's milk for children under one year of age increasingly cause allergies and more and more pediatricians are inclined to introduce it later into the child's diet.

• Cow's milk contains much more protein than human milk. And this is an additional burden on small kidneys and gastrointestinal organs;
• And keep in mind that most of this protein is casein, which is quite difficult for a child to digest;
• Complementary feeding in the form of cow's milk can cause diarrhea, regurgitation, bloating, because its fats are very different from the polyunsaturated fats of human milk, which are necessary for the proper development of the child's brain and entire nervous system;
• Cow's milk contains much less iron (there's a risk of anemia) and much more calcium and phosphorus;

• Cows often receive hormones and antibiotics through their feed. Think about the fact that all this “charm” partially ends up in milk.

Therefore, ideally, it should be tested, from a “familiar” cow, when you are sure that the owners do not feed her such “seasonings”.

So can children have cow's milk? Can. Question: in what form and when?

When can you give your baby cow's milk?

So, at what age can children use cow's milk as complementary foods? It depends on the type of complementary food itself.

1. With the so-called pedagogical complementary feeding, products appear in the baby’s diet when he shows interest in adult food (after about six months), in order to introduce the baby to new food (read the article: Pedagogical complementary feeding >>>);

In this approach to nutrition, there are no strict deadlines for introducing foods. If the whole family eats porridge with milk, then the child is given 1 microdose of porridge and then the reaction is assessed.

1. During pediatric feeding New Product administered according to age.

• Cow's milk, like other products, in this case is introduced into complementary foods, with the goal of gradually replacing breast milk or formula with food from the common table;
• From how many months can a child be given cow's milk as complementary food in this case? Not earlier than 1 year. Until then, the priority should be breast milk (or an adapted formula).

1. Fermented milk products can be given as complementary foods from an earlier age:

• cottage cheese – from 7 months;
• kefir, fermented baked milk, yoghurts - after 8 - 9 months.

We are talking about natural yogurt, without sugar, dyes, preservatives, or flavors. But complementary feeding from ready-made dairy products from baby food stores is best left until 1.5-2 years.

Attention! So, let’s remember: the age when a child can be given cow’s milk is a year, fermented milk products are 8-9 months. Store-bought dairy products – 1.5-2 years.

Watch the online course to figure out when and in what order to introduce foods into your child’s diet and how to maintain a good appetite for your baby. Follow the link: ABC of complementary feeding: safe introduction of complementary feeding to an infant >>>

Yes, and also regarding fat content. Don't believe it if you see "skim milk with vitamin D" on the label. This is pure fiction.

The fact is that this vitamin dissolves only in fats and is absorbed along with them. Similarly, a low-fat product cannot contain vitamin A.

Cow protein intolerance is not a death sentence

Can children use milk as complementary food in this case? Of course not! You wouldn’t feed your baby eggs, knowing that he has a terrible allergy to them, would you?

Intolerance is not an allergic reaction, but an inability to absorb some food. But it has the most unpleasant symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal tract:

1. Flatulence;
2. Intestinal colic;
3. Spasms;
4. Diarrhea (read the article on the topic: Diarrhea in infants >>>)
5. Epigastric pain, etc.

By the way, a child may well have an allergy to milk. In this case, of course, you can’t give it either.

But what complementary foods can be used to compensate for the lack of calcium in a growing body? I understand that this is the first thing you thought of.

• Don't worry, milk doesn't contain any substances that can't be replenished with other foods. For example, similar vitamins and amino acids are found in meat. Increase the portion of complementary meat in your baby’s diet and the problem is solved;

• But you will probably argue: milk is calcium! So, there are many other products that contain no less calcium (and it is often even better absorbed from them);

For example, this is parsley, spinach, cabbage and cauliflower, broccoli, sesame.

• One more question: what to do with an afternoon snack if the baby is not allowed cottage cheese and yogurt? Replace them with any other light snack: fruits or vegetables.

Remember: vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, eggs, cereals, cereals - all this may well constitute a balanced diet for a child, even if there is no milk in it.

By the way! If a child has an allergy or intolerance to cow protein, it is advisable that he receive breast milk or at least formula for at least 2 years. This will help balance the digestive system and the baby’s diet.

Portion size matters

Well, we discussed the benefits and harms of cow's milk, we also sorted out allergies and age. It remains to talk about how much milk a child can be given if there are no contraindications.

So, I’ll give you a clear picture of the norms of dairy products for babies before and after one year:

But what about porridge? Can children have porridge with milk, since it is a hearty and healthy dish?

If a child has intolerance to cow's milk protein, then milk porridges are excluded from the child's diet. In all other cases, porridge with milk can be given to the child.

The question of age is again very conditional and depends on how the child’s body reacts to milk.

By the way! Even if you have a reaction to cow's milk, you can successfully start using coconut milk, which nutritionists consider safer and healthier for any person.

At 2 years old, you can give as much milk as the child wants. With a healthy appetite, the child will not drink more than his body requires.

Finally, a few useful tips on the topic of complementary feeding:

1. Pasteurized milk also does not need to be boiled - it has already been thermally processed;
2. If your baby stubbornly refuses to be fed cow's milk, don't insist;

• Firstly, forced infusion will never benefit digestion and the body as a whole;
• Secondly, very often children intuitively avoid those foods that are harmful to them (cause pain, allergies).

1. Choose milk with a fat content of up to 3.2%. More is extra fat. Well, less - I already said: it cannot contain any vitamins D or A, which is also not very useful;
2. Try not to feed your baby cottage cheese and kefir outdoors in the summer - pathogenic flora develops in them quite quickly in the heat, which can lead to infection, for example, with E. coli.

I hope the knowledge gained today will help you correctly introduce milk into your baby’s diet in order to avoid many unnecessary problems.

All adults and children, with rare exceptions, know the common and cheerful saying - “Drink milk, children, you will be healthy!”... However, nowadays, thanks to many scientific studies, the positive overtones of this statement have faded significantly - it turns out that not all adults And milk is really good for children. Moreover, in some cases, milk is not only not healthy, but also dangerous to health! So can children have milk or not?

Dozens of generations have grown up in the belief that animal milk is one of the “cornerstones” of human nutrition, in other words, one of the most important and healthy products in the diet of not only adults, but also children almost from birth. However, in our time, many black spots have appeared on the white reputation of milk...

Can children have milk? Age matters!

It turns out that each human age has its own special relationship with cow’s milk (and by the way, not only cow’s milk, but also goat’s, sheep’s, camel’s, etc.). And these relationships are regulated primarily by the ability of our digestive system to efficiently digest this very milk.

The bottom line is that milk contains a special milk sugar - lactose (in the precise language of scientists, lactose is a carbohydrate of the disaccharide group). To break down lactose, a person needs a sufficient amount of a special enzyme - lactase.

When a baby is born, the production of the lactase enzyme in his body is extremely high - this is how nature “thought out” so that the child could receive maximum benefits and nutrients from his mother’s breast milk.

But with age, the activity of production of the lactase enzyme in the human body greatly decreases (by the age of 10-15, in some adolescents it practically disappears).

This is why modern medicine does not encourage the consumption of milk (not fermented milk products, but the milk itself!) by adults. Nowadays, doctors agree that drinking milk does more harm to human health than good...

And here a reasonable question arises: if in a newborn baby and an infant up to one year old, the production of the lactase enzyme is maximum for his entire future life, does this mean that it is healthier for babies, if it is impossible, to feed “live” cow’s milk rather than from a can?

It turns out - no! Drinking cow's milk is not only not good for the health of young children, but moreover, it is fraught with a lot of dangers. Which ones?

Is milk allowed for children under one year of age?

Fortunately or unfortunately, but in the minds large quantity adults (especially those living in rural areas) in last years There is a stereotype that if a young mother does not have her own milk, the baby can and should be fed not with formula from a can, but with diluted village cow or goat milk. Like, it’s more economical, and “closer” to nature, and it’s healthier for the growth and development of a child - after all, this is how people have acted since time immemorial!..

But in fact, the consumption of milk from farm animals by infants (that is, children under one year old) carries a huge risk for children's health!

For example, one of the main problems of using cow's milk (or goat, mare, reindeer - it doesn't matter) in the nutrition of children in the first year of life - in almost 100% of cases.

How does this happen? The fact is that rickets, as is widely known, occurs against the background of a systematic lack of vitamin D. But even if the baby is, in fact, given additionally this invaluable vitamin D from birth, but at the same time feed him cow’s milk (which, by the way, itself is a generous source of vitamin D), then any efforts to prevent rickets will be in vain - the phosphorus contained in milk, alas, will become the culprit of constant and total loss of calcium and that same vitamin D.

The table below of the composition of human breast milk and cow's milk clearly illustrates which of them is the undisputed champion in calcium and phosphorus content.

If a baby consumes cow's milk under one year of age, he receives almost 5 times more calcium than he needs, and phosphorus - almost 7 times more than normal. And if excess calcium is eliminated from the baby’s body without problems, then in order to remove significant excess phosphorus, the kidneys have to use both calcium and vitamin D. Thus, the more milk the baby consumes, the more acute the deficiency of vitamin D and calcium his body experiences.

So it turns out: if a child up to one year old eats cow's milk (even as complementary foods), he does not receive the calcium he needs, but on the contrary, he loses it constantly and in large quantities.

And along with calcium, it also loses invaluable vitamin D, against the background of which deficiency the baby inevitably develops rickets. As for infant formulas, all of them, without exception, are deliberately removed from all excess phosphorus - they are, by definition, healthier for feeding infants than whole cow's (or goat's) milk.

And only when children outgrow the age of 1 year, only then do their kidneys mature so much that they are able to remove excess phosphorus without depriving the body of the calcium and vitamin D it needs. And, accordingly, cow’s milk (as well as goat’s and any other milk of animal origin) From harmful products in the children's menu it turns into a useful and important product.

The second serious problem that arises when feeding infants with cow's milk is. As can be seen from the table, in women's breast milk The iron content is slightly higher than in cow's milk. But even the iron that is still present in the milk of cows, goats, sheep and other farm animals is not absorbed by the child’s body at all - therefore, the development of anemia when fed with cow’s milk is almost guaranteed.

Milk in the diet of children after one year

However, the taboo on drinking milk in a child’s life is a temporary phenomenon. Already when the baby passes the one-year mark, his kidneys become a fully formed and mature organ, electrolyte metabolism is normalized and excess phosphorus in milk no longer becomes so scary for him.

And starting from the age of one year, it is quite possible to introduce whole cow’s or goat’s milk into a child’s diet. And if in the period from 1 to 3 years its quantity should be regulated - the daily norm fits into approximately 2-4 glasses of whole milk - then after 3 years the child is free to drink as much milk per day as he wants.

Strictly speaking, for children, whole cow's milk is not a vital and essential food product - the child can get all the benefits it contains from other products.

Therefore, doctors insist that drinking milk is determined only by the baby’s preferences: if he loves milk, and if he does not experience any discomfort after drinking it, then let him drink for his health! And if he doesn’t like it, or worse, feels bad from milk, then your first parental concern is to convince your grandmother that children can grow up healthy, strong and happy even without milk...

So, let’s briefly repeat which children can enjoy milk completely uncontrollably, which should drink it under the supervision of their parents, and which should be completely deprived of this product in their diet:

• Children from 0 to 1 year: milk is dangerous to their health and is not recommended even in small quantities (since the risk of developing rickets and anemia is extremely high);
• Children from 1 to 3 years: milk can be included in children's menu, but it is better to give it to a child in limited quantities (2-3 glasses per day);
• Children from 3 years to 13 years: at this age, milk can be consumed according to the principle “as much as he wants, let him drink as much”;
• Children over 13 years old: after 12-13 years in the human body, the production of the lactase enzyme begins to gradually fade away, and therefore modern doctors insist on extremely moderate consumption of whole milk and the transition to exclusively fermented milk products, in which the fermentation processes have already “worked” to break down milk sugar.

Modern doctors believe that after the age of 15, in approximately 65% ​​of the world's inhabitants, the production of the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar decreases to negligible levels. Which could potentially cause all sorts of problems and diseases in the gastrointestinal tract. This is why drinking whole milk adolescence(and then in adulthood) is considered in terms of modern medicine unwanted.

Useful facts about milk for children and more

In conclusion, here are a few little-known facts regarding cow's milk and its consumption, especially by children:

• 1 When boiled, milk retains all proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as well as calcium, phosphorus and other minerals. However, harmful bacteria are killed and vitamins are destroyed (which, to be fair, have never been the main benefit of milk). So if you doubt the origin of milk (especially if you bought it at the market, in the “private sector”, etc.), be sure to boil it before giving it to your child.
• 2 It is advisable not to give a child aged 1 to 4-5 years milk whose fat content exceeds 3%.
• 3 Physiologically, the human body can easily live its entire life without whole milk, while maintaining both health and activity. In other words, there are no substances in animal milk that are essential for humans.
• 4 If, then immediately after recovery, milk should be completely excluded from his diet for about 2-3 weeks. The fact is that for some time the rotavirus in the human body “turns off” the production of the lactose enzyme - the same one that breaks down milk sugar lactase. In other words, if a child after suffering from rotavirus is fed dairy products (including breast milk!), this is guaranteed to add several digestive ailments to him in the form of indigestion, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, etc.
• 5 Several years ago, one of the most respected medical research centers in the world - Harvard Medical School - officially excluded whole milk of animal origin from the list of products beneficial to human health. Studies have accumulated confirming that regular and excessive consumption of milk has a positive effect on the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the occurrence of diabetes and even cancer. However, even doctors from the prestigious Harvard School explained that moderate and periodic consumption of milk is completely acceptable and safe. It's about namely that milk has long been mistakenly considered one of essential products for human life, health and longevity, and today it has lost this privileged status, as well as its place in daily diet adults and children.

Thank you

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Introduction

Milk– this is unique natural product, which a person becomes familiar with from the first hours of life, receiving mother’s milk.

At an older age, milk becomes a frequently consumed product for many children and adults. Everyone is familiar with the types of milk: cow, goat, camel, mare, deer, etc. But there is also milk of plant origin: coconut, soy, rice...

Let's try to understand and clarify the data on the benefits and harms of milk.

The benefits and harms of cow's milk

Since childhood, we all hear about the health benefits of cow's milk. And a number of arguments are given for this. IN Lately More and more material has appeared with facts about the dangers of cow's milk. Let's try to analyze what prevails: benefit or harm?
1. Milk contains a lot of calcium. But this calcium is not absorbed by the body. Milk protein (casein) significantly increases the acidity of gastric contents. The enzyme for breaking down casein ceases to be produced from about 10 years of age, and the body uses calcium to neutralize the acid. There is not enough calcium in milk, so the body extracts calcium from the bones. Therefore, drinking milk not only does not prevent osteoporosis (loss of bone tissue due to loss of minerals, including calcium), but contributes to its development. This is confirmed by statistics: in countries with low milk consumption, the percentage of patients with osteoporosis is much lower than in countries with high milk consumption.
2. It is believed that the benefits of milk are improved digestion. But milk increases the acidity of gastric juice, and thereby creates the threat of erosions and ulcers.
3. Commercials try to convince people that drinking milk is good for the body. But the body itself convinces us of the opposite: milk is poison for it. After all, the body gets rid of poisons through secretions: saliva, sweat, phlegm, nasal discharge. People who drink milk may notice excessive sweating, phlegm buildup, and nasal congestion in the morning. If you don't consume dairy products for a week, all this goes away.
4. Many studies confirm that milk is the cause of some types of cancer (breast, prostate, testicular cancer). Some scientists attribute this to the carcinogenic properties of milk sugar or lactose. And others - the influence of the hormone estrogen contained in milk. After all, many cows whose milk is used in the dairy industry are pregnant. In addition, many cows develop leukemia (blood cancer).
5. Even according to official statistics, 5% of cows have mastitis, which means pus gets into the milk. Drinking milk with pus cannot be beneficial.
6. The content of growth hormone in cow's milk is significantly higher than in women's breast milk. In addition, dairy producers often use the introduction of hormonal drugs to cows to increase the size of the udder and increase milk yield. Growth hormone in adults, and especially in older people, can also cause cancer.
7. Some cows with therapeutic purpose antibiotics are administered, which also enter the milk. The consumption of such milk contributes to a decrease in immunity and the development of resistance to antibiotics.
8. The calming effect of milk is explained by the action of opiates, which are formed from the milk protein casein during digestion.
9. In the human body, with age, the production of the enzyme lactase, necessary for the absorption of milk sugar, or lactose, gradually decreases. This is what causes milk intolerance, which is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea.
10. The statement that lactose promotes the development of lactobacilli in the intestines, which prevent putrefactive processes, is also not entirely true. Unprocessed lactose serves as a breeding ground for putrefactive bacteria rather than fighting them.
11. Milk proteins can cause an allergic reaction to milk. Milk is a fairly strong allergen. This allergy can manifest itself as skin rashes, itchy skin, difficulty breathing, sore throat, swelling of the eyelids and lips, and nasal congestion.
12. The benefits of drinking milk for colds are questionable, since milk increases the production of mucus from the nose, i.e. further aggravates the patient's discomfort.

Preservatives added to milk, or “aseptic packaging” (impregnated with disinfectants or antibiotics) for long-term storage of milk also cause significant harm to the body.

From what is written above, it is clear that for an adult, milk is more harmful than a useful product. However, everyone must decide for themselves: to drink milk or give it up.

The benefits and harms of goat milk

Goat milk is a healthy food product for adults and children.

Goat's milk contains more calcium than cow's milk, therefore it helps strengthen hair and nails; protects teeth from destruction. It is goat's milk that should be drunk for bone fractures. Calcium is also necessary for nursing mothers to ensure good lactation. Goat milk contains an abundance of manganese, iodine, phosphorus, molybdenum, copper, fluorine, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and these trace elements are important for the nervous system, of cardio-vascular system, thyroid gland . And although there is less iron than in cow's milk, goat's milk is better absorbed, and the body receives a sufficient amount of iron.

Goat milk increases performance and improves memory. It is recommended to drink it for depression, neuroses, stressful situations, and insomnia.

Lysozyme, which is part of goat milk, reduces the content of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, so it is recommended for use for stomach ulcers and frequent heartburn.

When consuming goat's milk, favorable soil is created for the development of normal microflora in the intestines - it has a positive effect in cases of dysbacteriosis and immunodeficiency.

Goat milk does not contain the protein fraction that is found in cow milk and causes allergies, so goat milk can be consumed without any fear even by allergy sufferers.

It also contains cobalt, which is part of vitamin B 12, and the vitamin is involved in hematopoiesis and metabolism - which means goat milk protects against anemia (anemia).

Those who consume goat's milk are not at risk of vitamin deficiency - after all, it contains a whole arsenal of vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, C, D, E, H, PP. It helps the body recover after surgery and illnesses.

The therapeutic effect of milk is also obtained for colds and bronchitis.

People who constantly eat fast food should include goat's milk in their diet to normalize digestion and prevent gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Goat milk has virtually no harm to the body. Goat's milk should be consumed with caution in case of blood thickening (it increases hemoglobin) and in case of pancreatitis (a disease of the pancreas) - its fat content is 4.4%, and these fats can aggravate the process. The fats contained in milk are completely absorbed in the body, so you should refrain from consuming it if overweight bodies.

Some people report intolerance to goat's milk, but this is most often due to the smell or taste of the milk. However, both taste and smell depend on the feed and conditions of keeping and caring for the goat. At good conditions When a goat is kept, its milk does not have any specific smell or taste.

It is most effective to consume fresh milk, but without heat treatment it can only be drunk when you are sure that the goat is healthy and kept in good conditions.

Goat's milk stays fresh at room temperature for 3 days, and in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

The benefits of goat's milk, its advantages in comparison with cow's milk, how to choose the right one, whether it needs to be boiled before drinking - video

The benefits of milk for children

Breast milk

Breast milk is the best type of feeding for a newborn baby, because it allows the baby to adapt to life outside the womb.

Modern pediatrics recommends breastfeeding at least until 6 months of age as the only type of food, and from 6 months to one year, breastfeeding is maintained with the introduction of complementary foods in accordance with the child’s age. After one year, you can breastfeed for as long as the child wants, but breast milk will only supplement adequate nutrition appropriate for the age. WHO (World Health Organization) recommends breastfeeding your baby for at least 2 years.

Advantages breastfeeding obvious, proven by many years of experience and scientific research:

• It protects the child from infections, because... breast milk contains antibodies to some pathogens infectious diseases, special protective cells (macrophages, lymphocytes), interferon (protective protein against viruses) and lysozyme (enzyme that destroys bacterial cells). In addition, mother's milk is pure product, free from germs.
• The acidic reaction of breast milk is favorable for the growth of lactobacilli (beneficial microorganisms) in the baby's intestines.
• There is less mortality among breastfed infants.
• Breast milk stimulates the development of all senses in the baby.
• Breast milk contains less microelements (potassium, sodium, chlorine) compared to milk of animal origin, and this makes it easier to create homeostasis (maintaining a constant environment in the body).

Breastfeeding is prohibited if the mother is HIV-infected, is a carrier of the hepatitis B virus, or is receiving opiates or certain drugs. medications(coordinate with your doctor).

Cow's milk

If you compare cow's milk and mother's milk, the difference in the content of calcium and phosphorus draws attention: calcium in cow's milk is 120 mg, and in women's milk - 25 mg, phosphorus, respectively, 95 mg and 13 mg. This means that with cow’s milk, almost 6 times more calcium and phosphorus than required enter the baby’s intestines. Most calcium is excreted from the body in feces. But much more phosphorus is absorbed from the intestines than the child’s body needs. A child’s kidneys cannot remove “extra” phosphorus without calcium. This means that the baby does not receive calcium from cow's milk, but excretes it. Therefore, no matter how much vitamin D is given to a child fed cow's milk, he will develop rickets.

After a year, the kidneys begin to “ripen”, electrolyte metabolism improves, and cow’s milk ceases to be a dangerous product.

Therefore, if breastfeeding is not possible for any reason, then it is preferable to give the baby formula rather than milk of animal origin.

Cow's milk can be given to a child after 3 years of age, when he still has a sufficient amount of the lactase enzyme in his body to digest it, to break down the milk sugar (lactose) contained in milk. With age, lactase activity decreases, and after 15 years it is practically absent.

In addition, it is to lactose in cow's milk that children often develop allergies.

Goat milk

Goat's milk is closest in composition to mother's milk. The protein and fat molecules in it are smaller than in cow milk, so it is absorbed faster. Proteins are mainly beta-casein (as in breast milk). It contains practically no lactose, so it does not cause allergies in children.

Despite this, if breastfeeding is not possible, it is not recommended to replace it with goat milk due to the high fat content of the milk. Infants do not yet produce lipase (an enzyme that breaks down fats).

Is milk good or bad for men?

Not only children, but also adults love to drink milk. Many men drink it in large quantities, especially those who lead an active lifestyle.

Recently, data have emerged on some aspects of the harmful effects of milk on the body of men.

For example, the higher the fat content of the milk, the more cholesterol it contains, which forms cholesterol plaques in the vessels that impede the blood supply to the organs. Atherosclerosis developed in this way leads to stroke, myocardial infarction and impotence. In this regard, after 40 years of age, it is better for men to consume skim milk.

Many studies confirm the connection between milk consumption and the incidence of prostate and testicular cancer. Some scientists explain this by saying that the milk protein casein and the milk sugar lactose are carcinogenic (the ability to cause cancer). Other scientists link cancer to exposure to hormones in cow's milk. Hormones get into milk, firstly, due to the fact that producers administer hormonal drugs to cows to increase milk yield, and secondly, milk from pregnant cows is used.

These data are confirmed by statistics: in countries where milk consumption has increased, the incidence of cancer increases proportionately.

Adverse effects on male body It’s not just cow’s milk that has this effect. Consumption of large amounts of soy milk causes signs of feminization in men (the appearance of features characteristic of female body). Soy milk helps reduce sperm concentration in men.

Coconut milk has no contraindications for consumption by men, except for intolerance to the coconut itself and intolerance to fructose. Apparently, this is the only thing men should drink. Especially after 40 years.

The benefits and harms of baked milk

Baked (or stewed) milk has been prepared from whole milk for a long time. To do this, milk is first boiled and then simmered for a long time at a temperature slightly below 100 o C. At the same time, the milk acquires a pleasant aroma, creamy color, and a crispy, tasty crust forms on the surface. After cooling, the milk can be consumed.

You can buy baked milk in the store, or you can make it yourself. You can cook it in the oven, in a slow cooker, and even in a saucepan on the stove.

Baked milk can not only be drunk, but also used in culinary recipes. You can make fermented baked milk based on baked milk. Porridges, soups and jelly cooked with baked milk acquire an unusual pleasant aroma. To get a delicious cocktail, you can mix baked milk with fruit juices.

Baked milk contains all the same substances as whole pasteurized or fresh milk: microelements (calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium and others), proteins, lactose, vitamins (A, B, C, E, D, PP and beta-carotene). Vitamin C, however, with heat treatment is destroyed, and very little of it remains. When simmering in milk, the amount of water decreases significantly, but the content of fat (up to 6%), calcium, iron and vitamin A increases.

Proponents of the beneficial effects of milk on the body recommend consuming baked milk for children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, intestines, and diabetes. They consider baked milk a source of microelements, proteins and vitamins.

Baked milk is an easily digestible, high-calorie product. The calorie content of baked milk is 67-84 kcal per 100 g, it is absorbed better than boiled or steamed milk. It can satisfy hunger. A drink with less calories can be obtained by preparing it from skim milk.

Baked milk is contraindicated only for persons with lactose intolerance and allergy to milk.

Powdered milk - benefits and harms

Powdered milk is obtained by condensing and then drying fresh cow's milk in special apparatus. For use, the powder is diluted in warm water (ratio 1: 3).

Powdered milk is in great demand in winter in those areas where whole fresh milk is supplied in insufficient quantities.

Today, manufacturers prepare whole milk powder, instant milk and skim milk powder.

Whole milk powder contains 26% protein, 25% fat, 37% lactose, 10% minerals, 4% moisture; its calorie content is 549.3 kcal.

Skimmed milk powder contains 36% protein, 1% fat, 52% lactose, 6% minerals, 5% moisture; its calorie content is 373 kcal.

It has been analytically proven that the difference between whole fresh milk and milk prepared from dry powder is insignificant. It contains the same vitamin composition and the same microelements. Powdered milk contains 20 essential amino acids. The amount of cholesterol in dry and fresh milk is approximately the same. 100 g of milk prepared from dry powder covers the daily requirement of vitamin B 12, so it is recommended to use it for anemia (anemia).

Some scientists recommend drinking reconstituted milk (made from powdered milk) in the morning or evening, without eating other foods. You can add honey, sugar, cardamom, fennel to reconstituted milk - this will have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. It can be used to prepare confectionery and bakery products.

Powdered milk can only cause harm to people with lactase deficiency in the body.

Milk prepared in violation of technological standards for its production will also cause significant harm. Some manufacturers add low-quality vegetable fat rather than milk fat; This disorder can only be detected in the laboratory. Therefore, when purchasing, preference should be given to brands from well-known large manufacturers.

Condensed milk - benefits and harms

This sweet delicacy is probably known to everyone. Condensed milk is prepared from cow's whole fresh milk by heat treatment.

100 g of this high-calorie product contains saturated fatty acids (8.5 g), proteins (7.2 g), carbohydrates (56 g), vitamins important for the body (B 2, B 3, B 6, B 9, PP , B 12, E) and trace elements (phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, sulfur, etc.).

When preparing condensed milk, a temperature of 60 o C is used, which allows you to preserve the maximum amount of microelements and vitamins contained in whole milk. The beneficial properties of vitamins and microelements are preserved throughout the year. Therefore, condensed milk can replace whole fresh milk and provide the body with the necessary nutrients.

The calorie content of condensed milk is 328 kcal per 100 g of product. Compared to whole milk, condensed milk is not only higher in calories, but also easier to digest.

Therefore, diabetics and overweight individuals should avoid its use. By eating 1 can of condensed milk, you can get 1200 calories, but nutritionists advise those who intend to lose weight to gain no more than 1400 calories per day. Therefore, it is recommended to consume only 1-2 tsp. condensed milk per day, using it instead of sugar.

Condensed milk is added to ice cream, cakes, pastries, cookies and candies. It can also be added to coffee and tea.

Proponents of the positive effect of milk on the body recommend consuming 1-2 tablespoons of condensed milk, supposedly to strengthen the immune system. In their opinion, the vitamins and minerals contained in milk contribute to a faster recovery of strength after physical and mental stress.

Nowadays, manufacturers often, unfortunately, violate production technology, deviate from GOST, and add cheap vegetable oil, dyes, preservatives, sweeteners, or powdered milk is used for preparation. Sugar substitutes and a dye (titanium dioxide E 171), which is commonly used in the manufacture of rubber, paper and varnishes, can be used.

Of course, such surrogates can cause significant harm to the body, rather than benefit. The name on the label should only be: “Whole condensed milk with sugar” and contain 34% protein and 8.5% fat. Any deviations in the name and composition indicate that it is a surrogate.

Therefore, when purchasing condensed milk, you need to carefully study the label.

Tea and coffee with milk - healthy or not?

The British have a well-known tradition of drinking tea with milk. Many people in other countries love this tasty and high-calorie drink. There are also people who like to drink coffee only with the addition of milk.

Scientists also have different opinions about the benefits and harms of these tasty drinks for the body.

Some researchers believe that only milk can neutralize the stimulating effect of caffeine contained in tea and coffee on the cardiovascular system. And they emphasize that this is especially important for people who drink tea and coffee in large quantities. This is also important for people with high blood pressure who find it difficult to give up drinking coffee - they can try drinking it with milk. Caffeine helps flush calcium out of the body. This means that less calcium will be washed out when drinking tea (coffee) with milk, which is important for older people.

The advantage of coffee with skim milk (no sugar) can be seen in the fact that it can be consumed when trying to lose weight. After all, the energy value of 50 ml of skim milk will give only 13-16 kcal! The drink will make your diet more enjoyable.

German scientists, on the contrary, argue that tea with milk not only does not benefit the body, but only causes harm. Milk in this drink sharply reduces (by 80%) the amount of antioxidants. And, as you know, antioxidants help remove toxins from the body and prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This means that it is milk that turns tea from a healing drink into a harmful one.

Opponents of the German scientists dispute their conclusions, based on the fact that only 16 people participated in the study, i.e. research is not reliable.

However, there are other facts. Animal protein casein, found in milk, high temperature tea decomposes, the drink loses some of its beneficial properties. And if the tea is green, then the milk protein combines with theaflamin and forms a substance that is difficult to digest. The fats contained in milk dissolve faster at the high temperature of tea and are absorbed faster.

The neutralizing effect of milk on caffeine deprives tea (and coffee) of the vasodilating effect on blood vessels. The expected invigorating effect of another cup of tea (coffee) also disappears. In addition, coffee tannin, when combined with milk proteins, forms a substance that has a harmful effect on the liver. People with lactase intolerance and people with an allergic reaction to milk or coffee should avoid drinking such drinks.

Scientists continue to study the benefits and harms of these drinks. In the meantime, generally healthy people can afford to use them.

The benefits of milk with honey

Many people, on their own or on the recommendation of a doctor, use honey with milk for colds and coughs (1 tablespoon of honey per glass of warm milk). If a cold is accompanied by a rise in temperature, then they try to use linden honey. Only the milk should be warm, not hot, because... Honey loses its healing properties when exposed to strong heating and boiling.

It is not recommended to give this drink to children under one and a half years old. And for older children, you can reduce the dose of honey. It is better to drink the prepared drink at night, because it also has a calming and mild hypnotic effect.

The effectiveness of this treatment has been proven by many years of experience. What is the secret of its impact? Honey contains many microelements and helps improve immunity. Proteins are needed to produce antibodies against viruses. And milk proteins are absorbed better than from any other food.

This drink should not be consumed if you are allergic to honey or milk, or for people with lactase deficiency.

The benefits of mare's milk

Mare's milk is widespread in eastern countries as a medicinal dietary product. The popularity of mare's milk is quite high both in Russia and in other countries.

This is a white (with a bluish tint) liquid with a somewhat tart-sweet taste. Mare's milk differs in composition from other types of milk of animal origin: it contains 2 times less lactose and proteins. It contains less fat than cow's milk. But this fat has more low temperature melting and smaller fat molecules, making it easily digestible.

Protein contains 2.2 g, carbohydrates - 5.8 g, fat - 1 g in 100 ml of milk.

But the main and important difference between mare’s milk is that it is rich in linolenic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids. These acids inhibit the development of tuberculosis bacteria.

The composition of this milk is close to women's milk, and it is absorbed even faster than women's milk. Therefore, mare's milk can become a natural substitute for human milk and is used in infant formula.

About forty biologically significant components are contained in the milk of mares. These are vitamins (A, E, C, B 1, B 2), microelements (potassium, zinc, sodium, copper, cobalt, iodine, phosphorus, iron, aluminum, calcium, etc.). The calorie content of this milk is 41 kcal. It improves immunity and tissue respiration.

Mare's milk is a healing drink. It helps slow the growth of malignant tumors, improves tissue regeneration and blood circulation, increases male potency, prevents colds, and increases hemoglobin. It improves immunity and tissue respiration, and even slows down the aging of the body.

The results of the product's effects on respiratory diseases are unique. This miracle drink is indicated for tuberculosis, pleurisy (in remission), chronic pneumonia and bronchitis.

The benefit of mare's milk is that an even more valuable medicinal and dietary product, kumiss, is obtained from it through fermentation.

Contraindications for drinking mare's milk are increased acidity of gastric contents and allergies. Many people cannot drink mares’ milk simply because of the specific smell, but this does not cause harm to the body.

The benefits and harms of soy milk

There are many useful natural substitutes for cow's milk. Among existing species Plant milk is closest to cow's milk in terms of taste, soy milk. It contains 0.8 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 0.3 g of fat; its calorie content is only 34 kcal.

This milk is obtained from soybeans. It has a sweetish, quite pleasant taste and a slight specific smell. You can use it to make tofu cheese, cottage cheese and kefir.

Soy milk contains valuable proteins and amino acids, minerals and vitamins, and a large amount of plant fiber. The content of vitamin E in soy milk is close to the daily requirement for humans, and this vitamin is associated with the body’s anti-cancer protection. Therefore, people who include soy milk in their diet are less likely to suffer from cancer. The content of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 is slightly lower - they improve the function of the nervous system. Soy milk is completely lactose-free, so it is used in infant formula for babies with an allergic reaction to milk of animal origin. Soy milk contains calcium in small quantities, so manufacturers additionally fortify the milk with calcium.

The low calorie content of soy milk allows us to recommend its use for obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension and coronary artery disease. The easy digestibility of this product makes it possible to use it as a dietary food for peptic ulcers and chronic cholecystitis.

Soy milk is popular and in demand in East Asia, North and South America, southern European countries and some African countries. In Japan and China it is preferred over cow's milk.

And yet, some scientists also point out the negative qualities of this product. Phytic acid contained in soy milk in significant quantities helps magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron interact with each other. And this interferes with the absorption of these minerals.

Soy milk contains phytoestrogens - a plant analogue of female sex hormones. Therefore, drinking soy milk may help menopausal women alleviate menopausal symptoms. However, it is not recommended to consume soy milk for persons with an increased risk of developing hormone-dependent tumors (estrogen dependent). These individuals include people with a family history of prostate cancer and uterine cancer.

Some scientists associate excessive consumption of soy milk with suppression (especially in children) of the endocrine system and the development of thyroid disease.

Despite the fact that soy milk is a very healthy product, its effect on the human body still requires study. Serious debate among scientists about its effect on the body has been going on for many years.

Soy milk: composition, benefits, advantages - video

Benefits of coconut milk

Coconut milk is a white, sweet liquid. It is artificially made from the flesh of the coconut, as opposed to coconut water and coconut juice, which are formed naturally in the cavity of the fruit.

Depending on the manufacturing technology (first or second pressing), it can be very thick or liquid, like white water.

In Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippine Islands, dishes made with coconut milk are popular. Europeans also love it; in France it is called Asian cream due to the large amount of fat in the thick milk.

Thick coconut milk is used in the preparation of sauces for meat and fish dishes, desserts and sweets. Liquid – for fruit and non-alcoholic cocktails, soups, added to salads and main courses.

Coconut milk has a rich, delicate taste. It includes vegetable fats and oils - 14.9 g, carbohydrates - 2.7 g, proteins - 1.8 g. Milk contains vitamins B, A, E, ascorbic acid, manganese, copper and iron.

Despite the fat and calorie content of coconut milk (150-200 kcal per 100 g), its fatty acids and oils are well absorbed and do not contribute to weight gain. That is why nutritionists recommend it to obese patients. The drink causes quick saturation; one glass of milk is enough to provide the body with nutrients. And its pleasant taste makes it easy to include coconut milk in the diet of any patient.

Coconut milk is recommended to be consumed for vitamin deficiency and chronic fatigue, to improve immunity, for nervous disorders and depression. It improves memory and concentration. Lauric acid contained in milk has an antiviral effect.

Coconut milk, when consumed regularly, reduces the development of cardiovascular diseases; it does not contain cholesterol.

Enzymes and plant fiber from coconut milk improve digestion. It is digested better than cow's milk. And its antibacterial effect restores normal intestinal microflora and improves the healing of gastrointestinal ulcers. It is recommended to drink for gastritis and Crohn's disease.

Due to the manganese content in milk, the drink helps normalize blood sugar levels. The presence of antioxidants and magnesium helps reduce inflammation in the joints, relieve muscle tension and joint pain.

Coconut milk provides the body with phosphates, so necessary for bones. The calcium content of coconut milk is significantly higher than that of cow, goat or almond milk.

The optimal level of vitamin C in the drink is involved in the prevention of colds, and the high concentration of iron increases hemoglobin.

It is recommended to use the drink for urological problems.

If you are allergic to the animal protein of cow's milk, it can be successfully replaced with coconut milk. It does not cause allergies and can be consumed by children.

Coconut milk is also successfully used in cosmetology: it improves skin tone, moisturizes it, and improves hair condition. Milk also helps with psoriasis, eczema, and stretch marks.

There is currently no known harm from drinking coconut milk. This nutritious drink can undoubtedly have a significant positive impact on your health.

Coconut milk can only be harmful to people with fructose or coconut intolerance. Potential Harm lies not even in the milk itself, but in preservatives and stabilizers. For example, guar gum is difficult to digest and toxic to the body, and is often added to milk preservation. Therefore, it is better to purchase natural coconut milk rather than canned milk, although it has a shorter shelf life.

Conclusion

Summarizing all of the above about different types of milk of animal and plant origin, we can conclude that milk is a nutritious and important drink for health. However, one cannot ignore its negative impact on the body. Every person has the right to choose, weighing for himself all the pros and cons in relation to this product, beloved by many. Before use, you should consult a specialist.