Milk is healthier

Milk is rich in protein not really calcium, certain vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and essential fats. The milk protein also accelerates calcium excretion from the blood through the kidneys

It is an age old belief that consuming fresh milk every day is excellent for the bones and teeth. This is a fact that has not been proved wrong but has been highly argued over. Milk is considered the purest drink that is consumed by the gods and humans alike in India. It is had in large quantities during Indian religious ‘fasts’ or ‘upvas’ the practice of upvas means getting closer to god.

The controversy, especially by the vegan group, that believes strongly in absolutely no animal products includes milk and its products also. The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine has time and again researched and documented that milk is an excellent source of protein and calcium, it is believed that when milk is not a part of the diet, several diseases can be easily reversed or at least retarded to a certain extent.

Definitely, arthritis, asthma, heart and thyroid patients have benefited on a vegan diet. I too was very fascinated with the vegan diet and I have myself experimented with it and felt better. I have also tried it with a lot of my clients at my health centre and there was such a vast retardation and reversal in their diseases that I strongly recommend being a vegan at many times. However, being a vegan was causing low immunity and weakness in me and my clients, so I decided to research it further. It led me to read Gandhiji’s experimentation with food. He cut out milk and dairy products completely to be a pure vegetarian for 6 years. In 1917, as a result of his own ignorance, he was reduced to a mere skeleton and severe dysentery. He then added goat’s milk to his diet and began feeling much better. It led me to learn that if you deprive yourself of milk, you need to supplement your diet with vitamin B12 and D3.

Simply put, milk is rich in protein not really calcium, certain vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and essential fats. The milk protein also accelerates calcium excretion from the blood through the kidneys.

Milk and milk by-products like ghee, butter, yogurt, paneer, buttermilk, cream, and cheese, when mixed with grains, vegetables, forms the basis for many hundreds of wonderful nutritious preparations, that both delight the palate and provide the mainstay for an all round healthy diet. It is always best not to have it plain.

Milk by itself, is healthier top have when had with turmeric, saffron, honey, in the form of a ‘kada’ with herds and spices or the good old Indian chai—all of the above without sugar.

Cow’s milk is healthier than buffalo’s milk and if milk is organic, it is even superior, although it is extremely difficult to get in India. Maybe if the demand rises, it will soon become available. Also, always choose skimmed or zero fat milk over full fat milk. It is healthier for children as well.

When purchasing tetra packed milk, make sure to check the "sell-by" date to ensure your milk is fresh. If you cannot finish the milk by the "sell-by" date, either look for a different carton or buy a smaller container. Keeping track of your typical milk consumption can decrease waste and spoilage by helping you plan how much and how often to purchase milk and other dairy products.

The trick to keep your milk fresh is to quickly transfer it into the refrigerator as soon as you get home from the supermarket. A frequently asked question is whether one can drink milk after the date on the carton? The answer is yes. With proper refrigeration, milk should last five-seven days after its "sell-by" date.

(The writer is a Mumbai-based nutritionist, obesity and health consultant)