In our nation, where milk drinking is not a common habit, there are many misconceptions and taboos related to milk: you shouldn't drink milk on an empty stomach, you shouldn't drink it with fruit juice, tea, or chocolate... This makes many people anxious before drinking milk, often having to weigh the nutritional benefits against the supposed rules. In fact, many popular beliefs about milk may not have solid scientific basis... Does drinking milk on an empty stomach waste protein?
Some say that drinking milk on an empty stomach causes the protein to be used up as energy. In reality, milk contains about 4.5% lactose, which is a carbohydrate and will be broken down for energy first, thus saving the protein. Additionally, milk contains about 3% fat, which can also provide energy. Therefore, drinking milk on an empty stomach does not lead to a waste of protein. [Food China]
Babies under one year old can drink milk on an empty stomach and absorb nutrients, which proves that the nutrients in milk are very comprehensive and can be fully utilized by the body. Even if the digestibility is slightly reduced, drinking milk on an empty stomach when there's no time for breakfast is still more beneficial to health than not eating anything all morning. Who should not drink milk on an empty stomach?
It should be noted that if you experience bloating or diarrhea after drinking milk, then it is indeed not advisable to drink a large amount of milk on an empty stomach. It's better to eat some starchy food first, then drink milk in small amounts over time. Yogurt would be the best option.
Twenty years ago, experts advised against drinking milk on an empty stomach because back then, people rarely had the opportunity to drink milk. Once weaned from breast milk, they basically had no contact with dairy products. Long-term avoidance of dairy products led to "lactose intolerance" in the human body, causing bloating, diarrhea, and indigestion after drinking milk. If you drink it too quickly, especially on an empty stomach, the symptoms would be even more severe.
Now, times have changed, and so have our eating habits. Many children and young people have been drinking milk, yogurt, and eating ice cream and cheese from a young age, so they are very capable of digesting the lactose in milk. Even if they drink milk on an empty stomach, they don't feel any discomfort. Therefore, the saying "you can't drink milk on an empty stomach" should be revised, or at least qualified, as it cannot be generalized to everyone. A milk-based emergency meal to help prevent diseases
If you have been drinking milk regularly since childhood and don't have issues like "lactose intolerance," then drinking milk on an empty stomach is completely harmless to your health. When you're in a hurry in the morning and don't have time to cook, you might as well quickly drink a glass of milk, or bring a carton to drink on the go. This can keep you from feeling hungry for 1-2 hours and improve your study and work efficiency. Compared to not eating anything at all, a milk breakfast not only provides a considerable amount of nutrients but also helps prevent stomach ailments and gallstones, and can also make you feel more relaxed and calm.