Do children necessarily have to drink milk?

We must have heard milk slogans, like: It's a good product for the human body, a drink from nature and helps us have stronger bones, etc. . Very Many people, when they hear those slogans, are encouraged for their children (and themselves too) to drink a few glasses of milk every day to improve their health.

But, do children necessarily need to drink milk daily?

Although milk contains a lot of protein, calcium and vitamin D - which are very good for health, but other sources of food can also provide these nutrients. Furthermore, there is no evidence that drinking milk reduces the risk of fractures. Conversely, experts say drinking too much milk can lead to anemia and is a cause of obesity.

"Do kids really need milk? No, of course they don't need it" - Amy Lanou, professor of nutrition at North Caroline University, Asheville said. She added: "Most people in the world who don't drink milk after weaning still have enough nutrients."

According to Live Science, here are a few effects as well as some potential pitfalls of drinking milk.

Milk contains a lot of protein, calcium and vitamin D - which are very good for health.

Good effects

Most people have heard that calcium in milk makes our bones stronger. Milk is also supplemented with vitamin D - a nutrient that is usually synthesized by the human skin in the sun and is difficult to obtain from diets (because it is often found in a small number of foods). such as fatty fish, egg yolk and beef liver). Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets - our bones become weak and bent - and many other problems, such as muscle and nerve pain.

Milk is an abundant source of protein and calories - these are essential substances for young children. Currently, the number of malnourished children in the world is still very much, even in developed countries in the world. Dr. Jonathon Maguire, pediatrician at St. Hospital Michael in Toronto, said picky kids are often struggling to get enough protein and calories from their meals. In this case, milk is the fastest, easiest way to provide those nutrients to children.

Is it necessary to supplement nutrients from milk?

Lanou said Calcium can also be found from a variety of food sources other than milk, including nuts, beans and green vegetables. A recent study also raises questions about the notion that milk actually makes human bones stronger. In 2013, a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics suggested that children living in countries with low total milk consumption had lower fracture rates than countries with high total milk consumption. In general, the concept that children need a large amount of calcium to keep their bones strong may have been "overstated" quite a lot - Lanou said. Many studies suggest that their bones are more or less healthy depending on their level of exercise and other physical activity.

Lanou said: "The best way for children to protect and develop their bones is to let them go out and have fun." Of course, vitamin D is an essential nutrient, but it is not naturally present in milk. Therefore, other supplements such as breakfast cereals, orange juice, soy milk, etc. are also good sources of vitamin D for children. Milk protein may also be found in many other foods, such as beans and eggs.

Milk is an abundant source of protein and calories - these are essential substances for young children.(Image source: bikeriderlondon / Shutterstock.com).

What's wrong with milk?

Three-quarters of the world's population do not tolerate lactose (lactose intolerance) - in other words, "lack of lactase" (lactase deficiency) , meaning that patients cannot digest lactose (carbohydrate) in their products. milk. Calcium also inhibits iron absorption, which means drinking too much milk can lead to anemia.

Drinks that contain calories can also lead to obesity. A 2014 study showed that children under 6 years of age drinking 3 cups / box of milk a day or more were higher than other children, but at the same time they also became obese and overweight. Milk has a high saturated fat content, which is closely linked to health problems. Some studies suggest that low-fat and nonfat milk is not a good solution, because people do not feel full after taking this type.

Another problem is that drinking too much milk will lead to children not eating more nutritious foods , which is especially true for picky children.

Lanou said: "If you give your child 3 cups of cow's milk, then are they still belly to eat other nutrients like green vegetables, beans and lean meat?".

"The health benefits of flavored milk are even more ambiguous, " Lanou added.

According to Lanou: "A glass of low-fat chocolate milk has the same amount of calories as a glass of Coca or Pepsi with the same amount." Adding too much sugar to the body can lead to a variety of health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases.

If your child hates milk or has trouble digesting milk, you should not force them.

Maguire says that after all, milk is not a "super food", but it helps provide valuable nutrients to children more easily and quickly than other ways. Maguire also recommends that the best children should take iron and vitamin D with two glasses of milk a day - this is also the current recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

But if your child hates milk or has trouble digesting milk, you should not force them. Instead, you can feed your child with different nutritious foods to make sure their bodies still get all the necessary nutrients. - Maguire added.

It is undeniable that milk is a favorite children's drink for many parents, and this is also the simplest and easiest method of providing enough nutrients for young children. However, it is true that children do not necessarily need to drink milk to qualify. Foods can also help provide your child with the necessary nutrients. So listen to your children. Do not because of the concept "children need to drink milk" but turn their meals into fear, okay.