Reflecting on milk, this noble food that has been with us nutritionally and culturally for hundreds of years, we find that milk is full of properties that are useful for proper nutrition but it is also involved in a number of other moments and situations in our lives.
It is present in the dishes of the daily diet, pure as a drink or as an ingredient and with its derivatives in the preparations of breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners, in special foods for enjoyment and entertainment such as desserts and cakes, and even in cosmetics. To help us in particular situations such as insomnia, or a sore throat, milk is versatile in the extreme, it is a universal ingredient.
Milk is the first food for humans, it nourishes and energizes us, it forms and shapes us, unique in the first stage of life, and a fundamental complement in all those to come, childhood, adolescence, youth and adulthood.
During pregnancy, which takes the resistance of a woman’s body to the extreme, milk is full of vitamin B12, vitamin A, phosphorus, high quality proteins, and especially calcium and vitamin D, essential nutrients in the diet of the mother-to-be.
For children, whose physical build and height, as well as their cognitive development, are very positively influenced by the intake of milk and its derivatives. At this stage, nutrition is key for neuromotor, digestive and renal maturation, as well as the development and promotion of correct eating habits in adulthood, preventing future diseases and ensuring optimal learning performance.
In the brain functions that also depend on our diet, milk, rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals, is once again present and has a direct effect on the production of chemical signals in the brain. Neurotransmitters can be modulated in part by our diet and can improve our mood, help us to think faster, to have more memory and better concentration.
In everyone’s life but especially for an athlete’s life, milk is a drinkable food rich in nutrients and undoubtedly the best choice for hydration. It contains high quality proteins, carbohydrates, calcium and electrolytes. It replaces sodium lost through sweat and also helps the body retain fluids better, providing everything needed for the generation and regeneration of muscle tissue.
But eating is not only functional, eating is the pleasure of comforting yourself with something delicious and what better if it also provides you nutritionally. Eating is a reunion with loved ones, entertainment and celebration. The pleasure of cooling off in the summer with a glass of cold milk to cut a tiring day; an outing for an ice cream, a smoothie with fruit; desserts at a family dinner table, a cake covered with whipped cream at a welcome party or a happy birthday. And milk caramel, the best sweet in the world. And chocolate? The most chosen and delicious, it is with milk.
The number of desserts and delicacies made with milk is as immense as the memorable moments they accompany.
We also saw how milk is able to alleviate physical and emotional ailments. Warm to promote a good sleep, with honey to soothe a sore throat, in buckets to mitigate itching, or lighten heartburn.
Milk is present in desserts and baked goods, in sweet and savory dishes, in dressings and also in cosmetics.
We all have in mind the image of the Egyptian Queen and her milk baths. Milk is used in the elaboration of different cosmetic products such as soaps and creams, because it contains carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make it an excellent softener. It also moisturizes and nourishes the skin due to its minerals (calcium) and vitamins (A, B, and D).
The secret lies in the lactic acid, one of the best exfoliators and moisturizers that nature has to offer. It also stimulates the natural production of collagen, contains bio proteins that help retain moisture, and biotin, which acts as a protector against external aggressions.
Lipoproteins in contact with the skin help the passage of nutrients and water through the cell membrane, making it smooth.
This morning’s shower was not with milk, but we are not going to miss the opportunity at breakfast. Have you had your glass of milk today?
It’s good to consume dairy products.
Valeria Guzmán Hamann
EDAIRYNEWS
