Even after 26 years, my mother still nags me for having milk. I remember how she used to run behind me to feed. And every time she would win somehow. No matter, how much I dislike drinking milk; I can’t deny its benefits. And I owe big time to my mother for making me drink forcibly.
I have been into a lot of physical activities since childhood, including dance and karate. And trust me I haven’t missed a single class. In fact, I had the record of maintaining 100% attendance during my school days. The protein in the milk has helped me fight diseases. Being rich in calcium, it has been keeping my bones strong. While doing karate, I often had to undergo cuts, bruises and muscle sprains. However, I didn’t have to worry much as I always had milk included in my diet (though undesirable).
To keep up with the rigorous training I needed energy; loads and loads of energy. Milk, acting as the source of carbohydrates, ensured that. Of course, milk has fats, but they are essential fatty acids that are important for body cells, provided they are consumed in moderate quantities. But I didn’t know this. Even milk that is low-fat is not high in calories. So, if you are on some strict diet, lower the amount of fat consumption instead of cutting off milk totally.
The dairy industry is booming. And you get all sorts of milk you want, including skimmed milk and low-fat milk. You will be surprised to know that these days tea special liquid milk is also made available. Since a lot of different milk brands are coming up you should be a little cautious about the quality. Fortifying milk with minerals and vitamins involve a delicate process and the quality has a direct effect on health. So, be wise when you choose your brand.
You must also check for adulteration in milk. You can try some homely tricks to find. Boil a small quantity of milk with some water. As soon as it cools down, add a few drops of iodine. If the milk turns blue, then it has starch in it. Often urea and detergent are also added as a form of adulterant to the milk. It is, therefore, important to check the quality before using. Definitely, you can take it to the laboratory for the best result. But trying and testing at home will give you the initial result at least and will save your money too.
