You may have grown up believing that drinking a glass of cow’s milk each day was excellent for his health. But then, over time, we started hearing more and more about the dangers of the artery-clogging fat content in traditional dairy, and cow’s milk almost fell out of fashion. Meanwhile, plant-based alternatives like almond milk, oat milkY soy milk they’ve suddenly taken over the dairy aisle in grocery stores across the country.
But many dieticians and medical professionals still maintain that cow’s milk provides important health benefits. We spoke with Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook and member of our board of medical expertswho shared four specific reasons why he thinks it’s not necessary to avoid cow’s milk.
Keep reading, and for more take a look The 4 Best Drinking Habits to Reduce Inflammation and Slow Aging.
Although many people are fear of drinking milk Because of its fat content, it’s important to remember that it’s packed with helpful nutrients that you may not get in certain non-dairy milk options.
“When it comes to a nutrient bang for your buck, milk stands out, providing so many nutrients at an affordable price,” says Goodson. “For example, it contains 13 essential nutrients including calcium, vitamin D, potassium, B vitamins, and more. It even contains selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant.”
“Cow’s milk contains one gram of high-quality protein per ounce,” says Goodson. “Protein helps build lean muscle mass, repair muscles after exercise, and helps you feel full faster and stay satisfied longer after eating, and drinking milk is a convenient and inexpensive way to get the protein your body needs.” at meals and snacks.
And if you’re not a fan of just taking a sip from a glass of milk, you can try adding it to a smoothie or make a protein shake.
“Calcium and vitamin D are essential for growth, development and maintenance of bone mineral density as we age. In fact, dairy products, like milk, are the best source of calcium in the American diet, providing about a third of your daily needs.”
To Goodson’s point, a recent report published in nutrients emphasized that cow’s milk is one of the best sources of calcium for older adults to help slow bone loss or osteoporosis.
Finally, if you need a quick, nutrient-rich meal snack after a workoutincorporating cow’s milk can be a great option, according to Goodson.
“Milk and chocolate milk are great post-workout recovery drinks because they both contain carbohydrates to help replenish energy stores, high-quality protein to help repair lean muscle mass, and fluids to help with rehydration,” she says. “Plus, you can drink milk plain, blend it into a smoothie or smoothie bowl, or use it in easy meals like overnight oats.”