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We can all agree that milk is good for you. Why exactly? Here is a list of healthy things (also known as nutrients) you will find in milk:
- Vitamins D and K which give you healthy bones.
- Iodine is a mineral needed for thyroid function(a vitally important gland in your neck).
- Vitamins B12 and B2, potassium and magnesium, all of which are needed for good cardiovascular health (that means the health of your heart and blood vessels). These nutrients also help boost your energy.
- Vitamin A helps to keep your immune system in shape (which in turn
helps to protect you against illnesses).
- Selenium is a trace element which acts as an antioxidant and may help to prevent cancer.
- Thiamine helps with your cognitive functions, i.e. the part of your brain that enables you to know things, such as your memory.
- Mother's milk has proven especially good for babies because it lowers the chance that children will develop:
- allergies
- asthma: a respiratory disease often triggered by allergies, marked by labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing.
- breast cancer: cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the body grow out of control. Cancers are named after the place from which they start spreading, in this case the breast.
- Eczema: a term that applies to several different skin problems, including dryness and skin rashes that keep coming back; symptoms include redness, itching, dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding.
- Obesity: a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in our bodies' fatty tissue is increased. This results excessive body weight which in turn is associated with a whole range of health conditions and increased mortality.
...and not so good for some
Just like no two snowflakes are the same, so every person's reaction to milk may be different. For most children, milk is a great source of essential nutrients. For some people, though, milk can have adverse effects which may even make them ill.
People with adverse reactions to milk are called "lactose intolerant" which means that a person doesn't possess the enzyme called "lactase," which helps break down the sugar found in dairy products (that sugar is called lactose). Besides keeping you from enjoying dairy products or any products which contain lactose, lactose intolerance can have quite painful physical effects including cramps, bloating, flatulence and diarrhea. Be careful, some products you might not suspect of containing lactose, in fact do, among them certain kinds of chips, power bars, even some medications, and many more.
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