Table of ContentsCompare milk with these other dairy How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEWThere's something affectionate about milk - maybe it's because milk is a gift from mother cow to baby. Maybe it's because cows are gentle animals? Either way, it's natural that milk would sweeten a person's heart. Dairy farms themselves are a symbol of wholesomeness. Milk's nurturing qualities make it the food equivalent of a security blankie.. Milk is part of daily life. We put milk in tea and coffee. We give it to babies. We use dairy to make everything from whip cream to ice cream to cheese to pudding. Milk, however, has been a topic of controversy for many years. Should we actually be drinking milk, or is only for babies? What's the difference between organic and grass fed? Is low fat or full fat the right option? With so much confusion around milk, this article will guide you through the "need to know" info. It will share the Ayurvedic perspective on the benefits of milk. It will also teach you how to get the most from milk, from what milk to choose right down to how to prepare it. Nourishing & Strengthening BalmIf you're feeling weak or depleted, milk can nurse you back to strength. One client shared with us that they "felt grounded and strong on the days drinking milk." Milk is anabolic and promotes tissue growth. Ayurveda recommends it for weak or deficient individuals.Most of us have grown up watching ads about the benefits of milk, "It does a body good!" As children, we were told that the calcium in milk would lead to strong bones and teeth. But milk is so much more than calcium. Milk is a nourishing and strengthening food that contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to grow a baby! Although dairy products tend to be high in calcium, the calcium is bonded to fats and may be more difficult to absorb than calcium content of bitter, leafy green vegetables such as turnip greens. Ayurvedically, you can protect your bone tissue by prevention of gas & bloating. Gas & bloating creates acidifies the blood, which has the net effect of leaching minerals from the bones. According to Ayurveda, dairy products are high in ojas, meaning it nourishes the very essence of high quality tissue. Foods that are high in ojas are used in many tonic formulas and aphrodisiacs. Unfortunately, this means that dairy products can cause weight gain. So those who are trying to slim down should limit their consumption of dairy. Soothe Nerves & Sleep SoundlyA glass of milk conjures calm and content. Its rich, creamy and heavy qualities pacify Vata dosha, helping you stay grounded when you feel scattered. "I found the cow milk to be very satisfying it made me feel grounded and happy. It was very comforting," a client noted. Another said it's "like a balm to my frayed emotions." Another describes it, "Heavy, cold, thick."Milk provides a sense of stability and hearty nourishment. It helps keep you feeling calm and content, and allows you to relax into a night of deep sleep. Handed down over generations, a warm glass of milk before bed is a traditional home remedy to induce sleep. "My mind was eased and had fewer thoughts before bed. I normally get distracted with thoughts before bed," a client shared. Ayurveda strengthens this sleepy effect with a pinch of nutmeg or ashwagandha. Both herbs have a mild sedative that induce restful sleep. Another Ayurvedic tradition is to have a warm mug of homemadegarlic milk before you hit the hay. Garlic milk may sound unappetizing, but trust us when we say this creamy bedtime tonic works a charm. Cooling When Hot & IrritatedMilk's cool qualities soothes burning sensations. The sweet taste, which is abundant in milk, is cooling and anti-inflammatory. That's why a glass of milk is a traditional remedy for a stomach ulcer. Good quality milk also contains high levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid known for its anti-inflammatory properties.The fats and sugars in milk lovingly coat and soothe irritated tissues. They do so by building a layer of mucus that protects the lining of the stomach wall from harsh stomach acids. A client described it as tasting "like a sweet treat, and makes me feel heavy, pleasant, and cool." Its richness has such a comforting quality. Another client said how it reminded them of dessert. "It comforting quality in its creaminess, almost like a pudding," they said. Milk can also increase inflammation in some clients, especially in those who have a yeast infection, or are allergic or intolerant to dairy products. Unless needed for strength, do not drink sweet or mucus forming foods when there are yeast or other parasites in the GI tract. Soothing for Lungs, But Can Increase CongestionMilk is a soothing tonic for the lungs, particularly if the respiratory tract is dry or inflamed. The sweet, cold, heavy and gooey qualities of milk are mucus promoting. This can either soothe dry lungs, or aggravate congestion, depending on whether your blood is deficient (Vata) or excessively rich (Kapha).One client noted an adverse reaction to milk. They said it increased congestion with thick mucus filling their sinuses and throat. Another shared, "I felt tired [after drinking milk]. I also noticed I had a lot of mucus in my throat and my sinuses felt stuffy." How to find a happy medium? Ayurveda has a few tricks up its sleeve! Adding certain herbs and spices that support the lungs and combat mucus production will help you enjoy milk without the unwanted flow of mucus! Aromatic cardamom is Ayurveda's top mucus destroying spice. It's also an antispasmodic and bronchodilator, allowing you to breathe easy. A warming lung tonic, pungent pippali helps easy the digestion of heavy milk. It also tonifies the lungs. If you want to use something you already have in the cupboard, add some heating honey and hot ginger. The lungs thrive when warm! Lactose Intolerance vs Dairy AllergyA lactose intolerance is the inability to break down a type of natural sugar found in milk called lactose. A person becomes lactose intolerant when they stop small making enough of the enzyme required to break down the lactose. This enzyme is called lactase. Babies produce a lot of lactase but then production wanes if a person stops drinking milk as they get older.Approximately 65% of the world's population is unable to efficiently digest lactose, the main sugar found in milk, after infancy. This generally causes gas, bloating and digestive discomfort. A number of studies have been conducted into whether humans should continue drinking milk after infancy. Some object philosophically, "Milk is for babies. Is it natural for an adult to eat foods intended for babies?" A number of clients in the Joyful Belly clinic come to us with signs of lactose intolerance. They report feeling "gassy and bloated" after drinking milk. Some even report getting painful cramps. One client shared that their "intestines were gurgling more than usual" and that they felt a "mild discomfort in that area" until they had a bowel movement. A milk allergy is quite different to a lactose intolerance. This allergy occurs when the body perceives milk as a harmful invader and initiates an immune response. Symptoms may include a rash or hives. In some individuals, the reaction can be severe, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the lips and face. If you have any of these symptoms, an intolerance or allergy test can help confirm your suspicions. Milk, like most sweet foods, can provoke candida in your intestines and other places in your body, which can mimic signs of an allergy. Effect on DigestionAs milk is heavy, cool and rich, it tends to slow down digestion(agni). One client said they experienced "cold in my body and sluggishness" and felt like it took "more time to digest the cow milk than nut milk." Another said their "stomach felt heavier" and "bowels seemed to move slower." If a person can't digest milk, it causes an explosion of bacteria and yeast that can irritate the colon. This leads to food stagnation, fermentation and gas.Milk's heavy quality can affect the mind as well as the body. One client described feeling "very heavy and tired" after drinking milk. They continued to share how it made them feel dull and that their "thinking and creativity were slower than usual." The optimal way to enjoy milk is to have it warmed up with some digestive spices. As mentioned already, cardamom is particularly helpful to reduce the mucus forming qualities of milk. Invigorating turmeric and warming cinnamon together with cardamom and honey are the perfect combination to combat the heaviness of milk. Ayurveda recommends cooking milk for those who have trouble digesting it. Cooking milk turns the sugars into beta-lactose which is far more soluble and easier to absorb. Most milk purchased in the United States is pasteurized which means it's already pre-cooked. Effect on EliminationRaw milk is a gentle laxative and can help promote smoothe elimination. Cooked milk, on the other hand, can cause constipation. Adding a teaspoon of ghee to warm milk helps reduce the likelihood of constipation.Some clients described how milk left them feeling constipation. One said, "My elimination was harder, solid and I felt a little backed up." Another shared, " Warm golden milk constipated me the next morning." Some experienced uncomfortable cramping. Occasionally, clients share that cow's milk gave them looser stools, but this is less common than constipation. How to Enjoy Milk & When to AvoidMany people routinely drink cold milk with meals. Ayurveda recommends avoiding cold milk, drinking too much at once, or eating with other foods. Milk curdles almost instantly after reaching the stomach. If it mixes with other food the curdled milk coats and insulates the food from gastric juices. Keep food combinations simple and enjoy milk as rejuvenating drink away from other foods. Milk may be cooked with grains or ghee. |