Types of Milk and the Benefits of Drinking Milk for Seniors

Dairy products, especially milk, provide a significant amount of protein and calcium needed by the body. We have often heard about the importance of dairy consumption, and nutritionists believe everyone should include a glass of milk and 200 grams of yogurt in their daily diet. Milk consumption is far more critical in seniors. Various questions include whether to drink low-fat or high-fat milk, drink milk before bed or after waking up, or drink milk cold or seniors pose hot. In today’s article on Living Maples Mag, we will answer all questions regarding the benefits of drinking milk for seniors.

Consumption of dairy products, especially milk, is crucial. That nutritionists recommend that people who are allergic to milk consume yogurt, cheese and curd to provide their body nutrients. But we must never forget that other dairy products can never replace milk, and milk is the best option for the calcium supply of seniors.

Benefits of Drinking Milk for Seniors

Milk and other dairy products are rich in nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and zinc. For this reason, eliminating dairy is equivalent to eliminating a large group of vitamins and minerals the body needs. Doctors even suggest seniors who take calcium and vitamin pills, not neglect milk because medications cannot provide them under the pretext of taking vitamins.

Seniors on a diet should also include milk and yogurt in their diet. Seniors who do not drink milk and dairy products might face severe hair loss, nail vulnerabilities, muscle aches and osteoporosis.

Types of Milk

Suppose you are one of those who take the most available and the coolest milk from the store refrigerator when buying milk. Knowing the various components, fat content, and milk processing methods is helpful. You should choose milk according to your physical condition and body needs.

Lactose-Free Milk

Some seniors are allergic to lactose due to the lactase enzyme’s lack of secretion in the large intestine. If they drink regular milk, people with lactose intolerance experience a burning sensation in their stomach and produce gas in their gut, which is annoying. Lactose-free milk is available to these people not to be deficient in calcium.

Flavoured Milk

Some seniors do not like the smell and taste of natural milk. For this reason, they refuse to drink milk. Flavoured milk with fruit compounds, such as strawberry milk, cantaloupe milk, banana milk, etc., is produced for these seniors. At home, you can mix regular milk with carrots or fruits to enjoy the taste and smell of milk and the vitamins in milk.

Note that it is better not to mix milk with tea or coffee! Tea and coffee alone indeed benefit the body, but their combination with milk prevents the effective absorption of calcium in milk.

• Read More: Pros and Cons of Drinking Coffee for Seniors

Pasteurized, Sterilized and Homogenized Milk

The difference between pasteurized and sterilized milk is in its shelf life. You cannot store pasteurized milk for more than 2 or 3 days because pasteurization has killed pathogenic microbes but did not destroy the spoilage microbes.

Due to the higher sterilization temperature, sterilized milk’s shelf life is longer. You can keep it out of the refrigerator. Still, the critical point is that some of the beneficial substances and vitamins disappear during sterilization.

Homogenized milk is whiter and tastes better. It is also easier to digest. That is why it is a good option for seniors with digestive issues. The only drawback of homogenized milk is that they have a high price due to the process and sensitivity of the production process, and of course, they are susceptible to sunlight.

High-Fat and Low-Fat Milk

It is a misconception that some people think that low-fat milk has less calcium. It is interesting to know that low-fat milk has more calcium. However, it lacks some of the nutrients in the high-fat type. The lower the fat content of milk, the more calcium it contains. Seniors who need more calcium should drink low-fat milk. Low-fat milk also reduces the possibility of osteoporosis in seniors.

The supply of calcium needed by the body through milk leads to control and weight loss, achieving fitness, preventing colon cancer, blood pressure regulation, preventing heart disease, and reducing menopause symptoms. Calcium contributes to the rapid and proper growth of bones, teeth and the growth of hair and nails.

It is essential to know that milk’s fat significantly provides energy and absorbs other vitamins for the elderly. High-fat milk is suitable for children and adults, but seniors should avoid drinking high-fat milk. 

Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men in old age. Therefore, the need to absorb calcium is more important for women. Low-fat milk with more calcium is a better option for women.

The Best Time to Drink Milk for Seniors

Drinking milk an hour and a half after a meal or lunch is best. In this case, there is no interference in the absorption of iron, zinc, and vitamins in food with calcium in milk.

Also, if you are in the habit of drinking milk before going to bed, it is better to drink a glass of milk half an hour before bed. In this case, calcium has enough time to be absorbed and does not interfere with your sleep process. It is essential to point out that milk is among the best foods to help seniors sleep.

In mind milk calcium absorption, it does not matter if you drink milk cold, hot, or lukewarm. The milk temperature does not interfere with the amount and duration of calcium absorption. The choice of milk temperature depends on the taste and desire of the person. Some seniors experience nausea by drinking warm milk and suffer from the mucus in their gastrointestinal tract. Others experience bloating after drinking cold milk. In all these cases, the calcium in the milk returns to normal. Hence, it would be best to determine whether your digestive system is compatible with hot or cold milk.

Final Words

Knowing the necessity of drinking milk and the importance of choosing suitable milk, include drinking milk seriously in your diet. Do not forget that none of the dairy products can replace milk. Hence, enhance your health and life quality by drinking milk.