I still vaguely remember the vision of former Premier Wen Jiabao, who advocated for "a jin of milk a day to strengthen the Chinese people." With today's living conditions, drinking milk is no longer an unattainable luxury. However, we usually see children drinking milk every day. Today, let's outline the benefits of regular milk consumption for women.
What are the benefits of women drinking milk regularly?
1. Preventing Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): Many women now experience PMS. This group needs to drink more milk, as the abundant calcium and vitamins in milk can effectively relieve pain. Women who suffer from menstrual cramps should start drinking milk, but be sure to warm it up first.
2. Improving Skin: Milk has beautifying effects. Regular consumption can make the skin smoother, more moisturized, and more radiant. Milk is rich in pure protein, high-quality fats, minerals, and vitamins, especially B vitamins, which can nourish the skin, making it smooth and tender.
3. Lowering Blood Pressure: Milk is rich in calcium, which helps lower blood pressure, a major cause of stroke. However, many researchers also believe that other components in milk (possibly certain bioactive peptides) may help prevent strokes.
4. Aiding in Weight Loss: Studies show that the rich calcium in milk can help break down body fat. Calcium in milk promotes the production of more fat-burning enzymes, helping to burn fat.
5. Preventing Osteoporosis: Middle-aged women, both before and after menopause, can reduce bone loss and lower their risk of osteoporosis by drinking milk regularly. The calcium in milk is easily absorbed, making it the best source of calcium for the body and the best food for preventing osteoporosis.
6. Calming and Sedating: Milk contains a component that can inhibit excitement and induce drowsiness, acting as a sedative.
7. Preventing Stroke: One study confirmed that drinking more than one glass of milk a day can prevent stroke. Another study showed that regular milk consumption reduces the risk of ischemic stroke. With the same calcium intake, calcium from dairy is more effective at reducing the risk of stroke.
Precautions for Women Drinking Milk
1. Avoid sunlight. Vitamins B and C in fresh milk are quickly destroyed by sunlight. Even weak sunlight for more than 6 hours can halve the amount of vitamin B. Therefore, milk should be stored in colored or opaque containers in a cool place.
2. Not suitable for freezing. When milk is frozen, its fat and proteins separate, and the casein coagulates into a powder-like substance, significantly reducing the taste and making nutrients less absorbable.
3. Not suitable for prolonged high-temperature cooking. When milk proteins are exposed to high heat, they change from a sol to a gel state, causing precipitation and reducing nutritional value.
4. Not suitable for heating in copper vessels. Copper accelerates the destruction of vitamin C and catalyzes chemical reactions in milk, leading to a faster loss of nutrients.
5. Not suitable for drinking with tea. Milk is rich in calcium ions, and the tannins in tea can hinder their absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
When Should Women Drink Milk
1. 1-2 hours after breakfast: Milk has a hypnotic and sedative effect. In the morning, when women are full of energy for study and work, drinking milk can cause drowsiness, which is counterproductive. Therefore, it's best not to drink milk on an empty stomach in the morning. Instead, drink it 1-2 hours after breakfast, as food in the stomach prevents the drawbacks of drinking milk on an empty stomach. Breakfast provides 25% to 30% of the body's total energy needs. A glass of milk for breakfast, along with an egg or bread, can provide sufficient nutrition. When drinking milk in the morning, it's also good to eat starchy foods like steamed buns, rice, bread, biscuits, or pastries. This allows milk to stay in the stomach longer, enabling full enzymatic action with gastric juice, ensuring good digestion and absorption of protein.
2. Around 4 PM: It's better to drink milk before dinner.
3. Before bedtime: Milk contains a biochemical substance called L-tryptophan that induces drowsiness, as well as trace amounts of morphine-like substances, all of which have a sedative and hypnotic effect. L-tryptophan is a primary raw material for the brain to synthesize serotonin, which plays a key role in brain sleep. It can temporarily inhibit brain activity, making one feel sleepy without any side effects. Moreover, milk adheres well to the stomach wall for good absorption, and the calcium in milk can also relieve stress, making it more beneficial for women's sleep. Therefore, drinking milk at night is good for women's rest and sleep.