Drinking milk before bed or sleeping has become a routine practiced by many people, especially children. It is believed that drinking milk before bed has various benefits for the body, from helping you sleep better to providing additional nutrients before rest.
However, does the habit of drinking milk before bed actually benefit your health? Are there any negative effects to be aware of? Let’s explore this further in this article.
Why is Drinking Milk Before Bed Recommended?
The habit of drinking milk before bed is not new. You might be one of those who often drinks milk before going to bed.
Many people, especially parents, encourage their children to drink milk before bed, believing that this habit can support growth and maintain health.
In fact, drinking milk before bed can indeed provide some benefits to the body. Research suggests that consuming milk before bed can improve sleep quality.
Milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin and melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that plays a role in regulating sleep patterns.
Moreover, milk is rich in various nutrients that the body needs. Thus, drinking milk before bed is considered one way to complete your nutrient intake.
Benefits of Drinking Milk Before Bed
Here are some benefits that can be obtained from the habit of drinking milk before bed:
1. Helps You Sleep Better
The tryptophan content in milk can help increase melatonin production, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle. Therefore, drinking milk before bed can help improve sleep quality.
2. Supports Bone Health
Milk is rich in calcium and vitamin D, both of which are important for maintaining bone density. Consuming milk before bed can help meet your daily calcium needs, especially for those who do not get enough calcium from other foods.
3. Reduces Late-night Hunger
Drinking milk before bed can help reduce late-night hunger. Hunger at night can disrupt sleep quality. If you wake up hungry, you might overeat in the middle of the night.
4. Provides Additional Nutritional Intake
Milk is a good source of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Drinking milk before bed can help the body receive additional nutrients beyond what you get from meals.
Is It Better to Drink Warm or Cold Milk Before Bed?
Both warm and cold milk offer benefits. Everyone has their own favorite way of enjoying milk.
Some people believe that warm milk is better because it has a calming effect, while others prefer cold milk because it feels more refreshing.
However, for bedtime, warm milk is the better choice. Warm milk can provide a comforting feeling for the stomach. On chilly nights, warm milk will provide warmth to the body.
Does Drinking Milk Before Bed Affect Weight?
Milk contains calories and various nutrients. Excessive calorie intake can lead to weight gain.
Therefore, consuming milk before bed can add to your daily calorie intake. If you drink milk excessively or choose high-fat milk, your weight could increase.
Thus, if you want to consume milk before bed, you should reduce your calorie intake from previous meals. Choose low-fat and low-sugar milk to reduce the risk of weight gain.
When Should You Avoid Drinking Milk Before Bed?
Although it has many benefits, there are some situations where you should avoid drinking milk before bed.
1. Lactose intolerance
People with lactose intolerance may experience digestive problems such as bloating, diarrhea, or stomach cramps after consuming milk. If you have lactose intolerance, it’s best to avoid drinking milk before bed or choose lactose-free milk.
2. Digestive Issues
If you have digestive problems such as stomach pain, bloating, or acid reflux, it’s best to avoid drinking milk before bed.
Drinking milk before bed can cause digestive issues for some people. For those with GERD, drinking milk before bed can trigger acid reflux.
3. If You Are Taking Certain Medications
If you are taking certain medications that are taken before bed, it’s best not to drink milk before bed. Some medications, like certain antibiotics and iron supplements, are not recommended to be taken with milk. If you’re unsure, consult your doctor!
Arummi’s Recommendation: Consume Arummi Cashew Milk for Body Health
Drinking milk before bed can be a beneficial routine, as long as it is consumed wisely and according to your body’s needs. Choose low-sugar milk to avoid excessive calorie intake. Arummi cashew milk is the perfect alternative!
Arummi cashew milk is lactose-free, making it easy on the digestive system. Additionally, Arummi cashew milk is enriched with various nutrients to support health.
Get Arummi cashew milk at the nearest supermarket!