Many people have the habit of drinking a glass of milk for breakfast and before bed, always finishing the entire glass in one go. Is this a good way to drink milk? Will it affect nutrient absorption? Experts say that drinking milk should be done slowly, not "gulped down".
Don't just focus on speed when drinking milk
When eating, we emphasize "chewing slowly," and the same principle applies to drinking milk. Drinking too quickly can burden the digestive system. Lactase cannot reach the required levels in the body in such a short time, leading to stress-induced lactose intolerance, which may cause diarrhea and affect the rate of digestion and absorption. This means that for those who don't like milk, forcing themselves to drink it quickly for its nutritional value may lead to a waste of nutrients.
Experts point out that while some people are accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle of eating and drinking quickly and have strong digestive tolerance, able to drink large quantities of milk without discomfort, from a long-term health perspective, milk should also be sipped slowly. The practice of chugging a large glass or bottle at once is not recommended.
Pay attention to temperature when adding sugar
It's a common belief among many parents that unsweetened milk is not easily digested by children. However, experts state that adding sugar is to increase the calories supplied by carbohydrates, but it must be done in moderation—generally 5-8 grams of sugar per 100 ml of milk. If too much sugar is added, it is more harmful than beneficial for a child's growth and development. Excess sugar entering a baby's body can cause water retention, making muscles and subcutaneous tissues soft and weak. Such a baby may appear plump but have poor physical resistance, a condition medically known as a "pasty" physique. Excess sugar stored in the body can also become a risk factor for certain diseases, such as cavities, myopia, and arteriosclerosis.
Additionally, it's best to use sucrose when sweetening milk. When sucrose enters the digestive tract, it is broken down by digestive fluids into glucose, which is then absorbed by the body. There is no need for parents to specially buy glucose for their children. Glucose has a low sweetness level, so using too much of it can easily exceed the recommended amount, and children might refuse to drink it because it's not sweet enough.
So, when should you add the sugar? Some parents mix sugar with milk and heat them together. This causes lysine in the milk to react with sugar at high temperatures (80°C-100°C), producing a harmful substance called glycosylated lysine. This substance is not absorbed by the body and is harmful to health, especially for children. Therefore, you should first let the boiled milk cool to lukewarm (40°C-50°C) before adding the sugar to dissolve it.