The Skinny on Milk: Drink Up

There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding milk and milk production over the past several years. We’ve heard everything from drink more, to drink less, to drink none at all.

Rbgh, or bovine growth hormone, has been linked to negative health effects in both cows and humans, although studies have proved inconclusive as to what those effects truly are.

But that doesn’t mean you should stop drinking milk — there are plenty of options in the marketplace that are hormone free. Your body needs the nutrients found in milk and other dairy sources, so give organic milk or rbgh-free milk a spot on the refrigerator shelf.

Here are a few reasons you should be drinking more milk:

1. Calcium. Most Americans don’t get nearly enough calcium. Only 10% of women get the recommended daily allowance of three servings. If for no other reason, drink milk to avoid osteoporosis later in life.

2. Vitamin D. You need this valuable nutrient to help you absorb calcium and it’s another one of the nutrients that women need most.

3. Vitamin A in milk keeps your immune system healthy and your vision strong.

4. Other valuable nutrients in milk help lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol and reduce the risk of certain cancers.

5. Milk has also been linked to weight loss and an increased ability to burn fat. To get the full weight-loss benefits of milk, be sure to drink at least three servings a day. (Calcium supplements have not been shown to provide the same weight-loss aid as drinking milk.)

According to an article on Web MD…

“If you compare a dairy-rich versus a dairy-poor diet you can nearly double the rate of weight and fat loss with the same level of calorie restriction,” says researcher Michael Zemel, PhD, professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

6. Chocolate milk is being touted as the new sports drink. Several new studies have shown it to be more effective than sports drinks when used for recovery. The mix of carbohydrates and protein fuel muscles and helps rebuild what you break down while exercising. Drink a tall glass of chocolate milk within 30 minutes of an intense workout for maximum benefit.