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Milk has always been considered a complete food in terms of health and nutrition, in which many essential nutrients like calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium and phosphorus are found in abundance. Since childhood, we are taught that we must drink a glass of milk daily to develop strong bones, muscles and to provide ample energy to the body. Even after growing up, people consume milk with great enthusiasm in the pursuit of fitness and good health. But do you know that the milk which you consider to be the biggest boon for your health, if consumed wrongly, can become poison instead of nectar for your body? Both Ayurveda and modern science confirm that there are certain rules and regulations for drinking milk. If these rules are ignored and milk is consumed with certain things or at the wrong time, it can cause serious harm to the body instead of benefits. In today’s era, where people have become very conscious about their health, it is very important to know what things should be taken special care of before drinking milk and under what circumstances its consumption should be stopped immediately. Let us know in detail about those important things and precautions related to milk which are very important to know for the health of you and your family.
Consuming milk with wrong food combination is dangerous
In Ayurveda, very strict rules have been given regarding food combination, which is called Viruddha diet. Milk is cold in nature, and when it is mixed with things of opposite nature, it can badly affect the digestive system. Often people drink milk immediately after eating sour fruits like orange, lemon, pineapple or sour grapes for breakfast or mix them while making a fruit shake. Doing this can prove to be extremely harmful for health. As soon as milk comes in contact with sour things, it bursts in the stomach, which can cause serious problems like acidity, heaviness in the stomach, indigestion, gas, vomiting and stomach pain. Apart from this, one should never consume milk with fish, meat, eggs or things containing salt. According to Ayurveda, such mismatch increases the risk of developing white spots on the skin i.e. vitiligo, eczema and serious skin diseases. Therefore, always keep in mind that there should be a sufficient gap of at least two to three hours between drinking milk and consuming sour or salty things.
Lactose intolerance and digestive problems
Every person’s body and his digestive power are completely different from each other. The body of many people is not able to easily digest the natural sugar called lactose present in milk, which is called lactose intolerance in medical language. People who have the problem of lactose intolerance, as soon as they consume milk or products made from it, gas starts forming in their stomach, their stomach gets swollen, they feel cramps and sometimes problems like diarrhea or nausea start. Apart from this, people whose digestive system is already weak or who often complain of bloating and constipation should also avoid drinking raw or heavy milk. If you constantly feel stomach discomfort after drinking milk, instead of ignoring it, you should consult your doctor and turn to plant-based alternatives like almond milk, soy milk or oat milk. Ayurveda experts also believe that drinking too much cold or heavy milk at night can increase phlegm and slow down the digestion process, due to which one feels heaviness upon waking up in the morning.
Consumption of milk in case of cold and cough
Due to changed weather and weak immunity, cold, cough and sore throat are common problems. Whenever a person complains of cough, the mucus production in his body increases. According to both Ayurveda and modern medical science, the nature of milk increases phlegm i.e. it is phlegmatic. In such a situation, when a person is already suffering from cold, sinus, bronchitis or asthma and during this time he consumes milk or heavy things made from it, then the phlegm starts accumulating in the throat more. Due to accumulation of phlegm, there may be difficulty in breathing, chest tightness may increase and the disease may take longer time to heal. If you or anyone in your family has the problem of viral infection or cold, then you should consume plain lukewarm water, herbal tea or decoction for a few days and only after you are completely healthy, milk should be included in your diet again with the advice of the doctor.
Drinking milk at the wrong time and causing weight gain
Milk proves beneficial for our health only when it is drunk at the right time and in the right quantity. In today’s busy life, people often drink a big glass full of cold or creamy milk just before sleeping at night and immediately go to bed without any physical activity. By doing this, the body’s calories are not burnt properly and weight starts increasing rapidly. Our body’s metabolism slows down at night, due to which the stomach and intestines have to work very hard to digest heavy milk. Due to this, problems like lack of empty stomach, lethargy and constipation may arise after waking up in the morning. If you like to drink milk at night, then always drink lukewarm and skimmed milk at least one to one and a half hours before sleeping. Drinking milk mixed with a little turmeric or a pinch of cinnamon is considered better for digestion. Apart from this, one should avoid drinking milk immediately after eating food because it, when combined with the food already eaten, creates heaviness in the stomach and dilutes the digestive juices, due to which the food is not digested properly.