Drinking milk is important through all stages of life, but there's more to milk than just building healthy bones. Although milk can increase your blood cholesterol levels by small amounts, the heart-protective benefits of milk outweigh the risks of developing heart disease, according to research published in "Lipids," the "International Journal of Epidemiology" and the "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation."
Nutrients in Milk
One cup of whole milk provides about 8 g of protein, 12 g of lactose (milk sugar), 276 mg of calcium, 24 mg of magnesium, 205 mg of phosphorus, 322 mg of potassium, 105 mg of sodium, 9 mg of selenium, small amounts of zinc and copper, 35 mg of the B vitamin choline, 112 micrograms of vitamin A, 395 IU of vitamin A, 5 IU of vitamin D, small amounts of vitamins E and K, about 5 g of saturated fatty acids and 2 g of monounsaturated fatty acids, and a half-gram of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It also provides all 18 amino acids. The research studies mentioned in this article involved whole milk consumption because reduced-fat milk was not widely used until about 1989, according to research published in the journal "Lipids." The major difference between non-fat and whole milk is the fatty acids. There are pretty much no fatty acids in non-fat milk, but the amount of all other nutrients are comparable.
Ischemic Heart Disease
Milk might protect you against ischemic heart disease, which is caused by a local or temporary insufficient blood supply to the heart. Peter C. Elwood and colleagues conducted a comprehensive scientific review and analysis of 11 cohort studies of milk consumption and ischemic heart disease. These cohort studies involved several thousand people who were followed for as long as 21 years. Elwood's analysis provides evidence that drinking a glass or more of milk per day can lower your level of risk by 10 percent to 15 percent. These results were published in "Lipids" in February 2010.
Heart Attack
Milk might protect you from having a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, which is caused by a blockage of one or more coronary arteries. Elwood's scientific review and analysis of four case-control studies provides evidence that drinking one glass or more of milk per day can reduce your chance of having a heart attack. Case-control studies involved comparing a group of people with heart disease with a group of people without heart disease. Elwood's results were published in the February 2010 "Lipids."
Stroke
Milk might protect you from having a stroke, which is caused by a hemorrhage, a blood clot or ruptured blood vessels in the head or brain. Elwood's scientific review and analysis provides evidence that people who drank a pint or more of milk per day had a 20 percent less chance of having stroke events.
Acute Coronary Syndrome
Milk can protect you from having an acute coronary syndrome, which is caused by an insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. Researchers at the school of medicine at the University of Athens conducted a large study to look at the relationship between consuming milk and the first occurrence of a non-life threatening acute coronary syndrome. Results showed that as milk consumption increased, the possibility of having an acute coronary syndrome decreased. Results were published in the "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation" in 2006.
References
- "Lipids"; The Consumption of Milk and Dairy Foods and the Incidence of Vascular Disease and Diabetes: An Overview of the Evidence; Peter C. Elwood, et al. April 2010
- "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation"; Modelling dairy intake on the development of acute coronary syndromes: the CARDIO2000 study; Kontogianni MD; October 2006
- "International Journal of Epidemiology"; Time to value milk; Elwood PC; October 2005
- U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database
