The benefits of milk at night before bed and how much you can drink it

Calorie content of milk

On average, the calorie content of milk is taken to be 55 kcal per 100 grams. Whole cow's milk contains 60 kcal, and country cow's milk contains 70 kcal. Natural homemade milk can contain 140 kcal. More accurately, calorie content is determined from the fat content of the product:

• In 6% – 84 kcal;
• In 4.5% – 72 kcal;
• In 3.2% – 58 kcal;
• In 2.5% – 52 kcal;
• In 1.5% – 44 kcal;
• In 1% – 41 kcal;
• At 0.5% – 35 kcal.

Milk, oh, contains 31 kilocalories.

Is it possible to drink warm or hot milk at night?

The answer to the question of whether it is possible to drink milk at night is simple - it is possible and even necessary. But you need to remember about individual intolerance and proper use of the drink.

For adults

Milk has a sedative effect on the nervous system. This means that in small quantities it can improve sleep quality and help with insomnia, migraines and headaches.

To get the maximum benefit from it, you should drink no more than one glass of warmed milk no earlier than two hours after dinner and no later than an hour and a half before bedtime. After this, it is recommended not to eat anything.

If you get carried away and overdo it with the quantity, then unpleasant consequences are possible: frequent urge to go to the toilet, bloating, colic and other unpleasant sensations.

For children

For children, milk at night is not only a natural, mild sedative, but also an invaluable source of nutrients. In addition, milk helps fight childhood colds.

In the absence of negative reactions to the product, it can be given to children without any problems two hours after dinner, but no later than an hour before bedtime. It is not recommended to drink it with a snack - cookies, nuts, dried fruits, sweets, as this negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system and the process of falling asleep.

Beneficial properties of milk drunk at night

Drinking cool or warm milk before bed, according to supporters of the approach, should give the following results:

• Sleep improves. It is believed that the drink helps relax muscles, which allows you to fall asleep faster and more soundly. The maximum effect occurs when the composition is warm.
• Body weight decreases. This is only possible if the dietary conditions are met. In general, milk is a fairly high-calorie and fatty product, so drinking it in large quantities before bed can even lead to the opposite effect.

Advice: If you have a small bladder capacity, you should not drink milk before bed for any purpose. Forced trips to the toilet will only cause additional inconvenience, and the benefits will be minimal. This phenomenon can even become a habit, which leads to a failure in metabolic processes.

• Hormonal levels are normalized. But this property of drinking nutrient liquid in the evening is the most common myth. Milk does not in any way affect the functioning of the endocrine glands and is not able to correct the composition of the blood.
• The signs of a cold are eliminated. You can find a lot of information that the drink contains substances that stimulate the functioning of the immune system. In fact, they are destroyed in the stomach and intestines without having any effect on the body's resistance. The only effect that can be counted on in this case is an artificial increase in temperature with a warm composition, which can trigger an immune response.
• Brain function is stimulated. There are no substances in milk that can significantly improve brain function, but the presence of minerals still provides a slight effect of this type. Unfortunately, this does not manifest itself very clearly.

It is worth considering that all of these effects in many cases are the result of self-hypnosis. Clinical evidence of the positive effect that milk has on the body before bed has not yet been documented.

Benefits and harms of use

There are both positive and negative sides to using this product. It is worth considering them in more detail.

Benefits of milk:

• High content of calcium, protein, potassium, phosphorus and a whole group of vitamins - B, C, D, E, K;
• It calms the nervous system;
• It contains few calories;
• It is perfectly absorbed by the body.

But you need to remember about the dangers of milk:

• It can interfere with good sleep if there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• Milk intolerance is one of the most common food allergies;
• With age, it is absorbed much less well; people over 40 years of age may develop intolerance to it;
• Older people may develop atherosclerosis;
• Milk contains a lot of calcium, but if you drink too much of it, it will begin to be washed out of the body and the bones will become brittle.

How to use it correctly

The main rule when drinking milk is to never drink it cold. This not only deprives it of its usefulness, but also harms the body. The fact is that milk is a fatty liquid. When it enters the stomach, it settles on the internal walls of the organs. This makes their work difficult and requires a lot of energy to clean the walls. In some cases, exacerbations of chronic diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract are possible.

It is important! Iced milk can cause a cold or sore throat.

It is also not recommended to drink milk that is too hot. With strong heating, most of the beneficial substances are lost and can burn the mucous membranes.

For children

It is generally not recommended to give cow's milk to infants under one year of age. Starting from the age of one year, you can gradually accustom your child to dairy products. This should be done with the approval of your pediatrician and in small doses. For this purpose, special “baby” milk is selected. It is specially processed so as not to provoke allergic reactions and intestinal disorders and not to cause an overdose of calcium and phosphorus, potassium and other substances.

It is best to prefer children's fermented milk products: kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt. They are better absorbed by the child's body and cause fewer problems with allergies and intolerances.

Children are gradually introduced to milk: up to three years of age, it can be given warm, 2-3 tablespoons before bedtime. After three years, you can increase the daily amount to two glasses. After five years, only excess consumption of the product needs to be controlled. On average, a child needs no more than three glasses a day.

Pregnant and lactating women

For pregnant women, a nutritious and varied diet is the main guarantee of easy pregnancy and future health. If there are no contraindications, then the expectant mother should definitely include dairy and fermented milk products in her diet. They contain almost the entire range of substances necessary to maintain energy. It is best to use the product in various dishes - cereals, desserts, omelettes, drinks, but it is also useful to drink up to two glasses of warm milk during the day.

For nursing mothers the situation is more complicated. Newborn babies digest foreign protein very poorly, and this can lead to allergies and intolerances. On the other hand, for the woman herself it is a good source of easily digestible fats. You need to start with half to one glass of warmed milk per day. If after a week the child has not demonstrated any abnormalities in behavior or stool, then you can increase the portion by another half glass. It is best to add milk to dishes to minimize its potential allergenicity.

It is important! Pregnant and lactating women are recommended to drink fresh, non-perishable milk, preferably country milk.

When losing weight

When dieting, it is important not only to give up junk food and count calories. In order not to harm your health, you need to pay attention to vitamins, micro and macroelements, and “healthy” fats. Milk is an ideal source of calcium and protein, which the body needs during diets. The product also contains milk fats. They are well absorbed by the body, are not stored in extra pounds and are completely spent on maintaining activity.

One glass of warm milk is a good nutritious snack. You can drink it during the day between meals or an hour before bedtime to help you fall asleep faster and suppress headaches.

Many diets are based on the consumption of dairy and fermented milk products. Milk goes well with bananas, vegetables and herbs, cereals and spices. Do not mix it with sour fruits or drink in too large quantities - this will lead to flatulence, bloating and other unpleasant symptoms.

How to eat after 6 pm

In order not to remain hungry and at the same time not to eat extra pounds, it is important to follow the basic principles of nutrition:

1. Minimum portion – try to eat no more than 300 grams of food in the evening.
2. Thorough chewing - swallowing food in huge chunks leads to the fact that, although the stomach is full of food, the brain considers the amount of food received to be insufficient. Hence overeating, which leads to heaviness in the stomach and extra pounds.
3. Pleasure from food - when you don’t just absorb food, but enjoy every bite, your body requires less food to feel full.
4. 80/20 – the plate should contain 80% protein and 20% fiber – fruits and vegetables.

Helpful tip: Avoid drinking drinks immediately after dinner. The fact is that when you wash down food with juice or tea, you cause fermentation in the stomach. Hence the discomfort. It's better to drink a glass of water 20 minutes after eating. And leave tea and coffee for breakfast.

What can be added for greater benefit?

Various spices and additives are often added to milk to enhance its positive properties.

Honey

Milk with honey is a source of many valuable vitamins and minerals. In addition, the drink has antibacterial properties, helping to treat infections and strengthen the immune system.

Preparing the drink is simple: take a tablespoon of honey for one glass of warm milk. Everything is thoroughly mixed and drunk an hour or two before bedtime.

It is important! You cannot boil milk and honey. As a result, it loses all its beneficial properties.

Turmeric

Milk with turmeric is an effective remedy for weight loss. The spice helps normalize metabolism and accelerates blood flow. To prepare the drink, take a glass of heated milk, half a teaspoon of turmeric and one teaspoon of honey. Everything is thoroughly mixed and drunk before bedtime.

Cinnamon

Milk with cinnamon has a good effect on the digestive organs, tones the body and has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

To prepare the drink you will need a glass of warm milk and a little cinnamon - from one pinch to half a teaspoon. This milk will not only warm you up, but also help you calm down after a hard day.

Additives to milk at night

It is prohibited to combine the drink with other products at night, except for spices and honey. Improves the absorption of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Among the additives in demand:

1. Honey. Milk with honey at night is used for sleep problems. The tryptophan content in dairy products combats anxiety. Rich in vitamins and slow-digesting sugars, it keeps you feeling full for a long time.
2. Turmeric. A drink with turmeric stimulates digestion, normalizes the central nervous system, improves immunity, and accelerates blood circulation. Mix half a tsp into a glass of not hot milk. spices along with honey (1 tsp).
3. Ginger. The spiced milk drink speeds up metabolism, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and helps in the fight against excess weight. To prepare a glass of drink, take a quarter tsp. ground ginger root, mixed with a pinch of pepper, added to the drink. The main thing is strict adherence to proportions. Otherwise, excess spices cause the opposite effect - you become very thirsty and cannot fall asleep for a long time.
4. Propolis. The medicinal product of beekeeping is a means of preventing influenza and colds. An addition to an evening milkshake eliminates muscle spasms and calms nerves.
5. Garlic. Despite its specific taste, the drink copes with nervousness and insomnia no worse than sedatives. A drink with garlic additive has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, strengthens the immune system and helps maintain normal weight. To prepare a healing drink, crushed garlic cloves are mixed with the product (250 ml) and drunk before bed.
6. Cinnamon. Normalizes metabolism and digestion processes. ¼ tsp is enough. spices to lift your spirits, as well as reduce weight due to their fat-burning properties.
7. Cardamom. Stimulates the heart, activates digestion. Cineole in the spice destroys harmful microorganisms. Another name for the spice is natural antibiotic. Helps with sexual impotence in men. The spice is useful for women: it reduces the risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer.

It is important not to overdo it with the dosage of additives: ½ or ¼ tsp. spices will have a positive effect. Adding garlic, black pepper, nutmeg, ginger in excess is the cause of insomnia.