Milk – Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?

Milk is the first food known to all mammals. It is a complete food for those first 4 months, enabling the body to double its body weigh. As we know, newborns are as raw a form of life as can be, vulnerable in every way. If milk can sustain life at its most indefensible stage then why is it so maligned for adulthood?

Those who term it Mr Hyde cite symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, flatulence, abdominal pain, eczema,  mucus producing, clogged arteries etc as reasons to avoid milk.

 There is truth in these arguments. Those individuals who lack the enzyme to digest the sugar in milk do exhibit stomach-related symptoms. An allergy to the various proteins in milk does cause a wide range of symptoms including eczema and excessive mucus production. Milk fat is saturated in nature, thus to be avoided by those with elevated cholesterol levels and heart issues.

For a completely opposite view, Indian food values are  based on Ayurveda which terms milk as Ojas i.e. it brings strength, immunity, happiness and contentment.  In a predominantly vegetarian diet, milk is a concentrated protein source.  It is a complete food containing almost all required nutrients. It is the mainstay during a routine Fast which is a ritual in many Indian households.

With such opposing views how does a lay person separate  the wheat from the chaff?

Here are some guidelines to solve the dilemma.

• If a person has no known allergies to milk and has consumed it without any side effects, then there is no need to stop consuming it unless otherwise specified (e.g. a specific health situation.) 2-3 glasses for children and 1-2 glasses for adults is a safe amount to consume in a day.

• If the problem is an intolerance to milk sugar i.e. lactose intolerance, then yogurt, cheese and paneer can be substituted for milk.

• Ayurveda lays down some rules for the consumption of milk to gain its optimum benefits. Avoid cold milk, add a pinch of turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon or ginger while heating to reduce any mucus-causing side effect.

• Use skim milk to reduce the negative effects of the saturated fat in the case of adults. However for  children, a certain amount of saturated fat is required for their development and milk fat is the best source of it.

• During Fasts, foods permitted are predominantly pure carbohydrates. Milk adds the required protein.

• For those who consume other sources of animal protein such as fish, poultry, meat etc milk is not of paramount importance in the diet but for those who do not, it very much is especially for Vitamin B12.

Remember its all about evaluating for one’s own self what suits you and what does not.