Can You Drink Milk Instead of Breakfast? Best Times to Drink It

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Milk is a nutrient-rich food, good for health, so many people drink fresh milk instead of breakfast or before breakfast. However, drinking milk is not always beneficial at any time. Let’s find out with AVAKids whether or not you should drink milk before breakfast and when is the best time to drink it in the article below!

Milk contains high nutritional value, so drinking milk means you will provide your body with a large amount of minerals and vitamins. At the same time, milk is also a source of protein and amino acids essential for the overall development of children.

Should you drink milk before breakfast?

You shouldn’t drink milk before breakfast. Nutritionists point out that drinking milk before breakfast is not good, and this habit, if prolonged, will negatively affect your health. You should only drink milk after breakfast, especially when your stomach is not empty.

TH true MILK Pasteurized Fresh Milk No Sugar 1 liter (from 1 year old)

TH true MILK Pasteurized Fresh Milk No Sugar 1 liter (from 1 year old)

Can you drink milk as a breakfast replacement?

You should not drink milk as a breakfast replacement. According to Dr. Luong Le Hoang, a specialist at the Internal Medicine Treatment Department, Ho Chi Minh City High-Pressure Oxygen Center, the habit of only drinking milk without eating breakfast can be harmful to health if maintained for a long time. The reason is that after a long night’s rest, the body needs to replenish energy and nutrients to recover. Skipping a full breakfast will disrupt the body’s metabolic processes.

Also, according to Dr. Vu Duc Chung, Head of the Gastroenterology Department at 354 Military Hospital, Hanoi, drinking only milk in the morning for a long time can lead to malnutrition. The body needs a large amount of energy and nutrients after a long sleep to regenerate and recover. Without breakfast, the body will experience metabolic disorders, and skipping breakfast can lead to increased gastric acid production in the morning, easily causing stomach ulcers.

Drinking milk on an empty stomach not only causes the milk to be quickly eliminated from the stomach but also loses the effect of the proteins in the milk. The proteins in milk will be broken down into heat instead of being used to regenerate cells.

Harmful effects of drinking milk before breakfast

Drinking milk before breakfast is a habit many people have, which can cause some harmful effects such as:

  • Drinking milk on an empty stomach can lead to increased blood sugar and make the body feel full. It can even cause lactose intolerance with symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea.
  • At the same time, when drinking milk before breakfast, protein cannot be broken down into amino acids, so the body has not had time to absorb it before being eliminated. These amino acids may not be absorbed in the small intestine and are pushed into the large intestine, forming harmful compounds.
Pack of 4 Dutch Lady Pasteurized Fresh Milk with Sugar 180 ml (from 1 year old)

Pack of 4 Dutch Lady Pasteurized Fresh Milk with Sugar 180 ml (from 1 year old)

When should you drink milk? The golden time to drink milk

There are more than 6 billion consumers of milk and dairy products in the world. The nutrients in milk are all essential nutrients for the body. A 240 ml glass of whole milk contains the following main ingredients:

  • Calories: 149
  • Calcium: 21% Daily Value (DV)
  • Magnesium: 6% DV
  • Potassium: 7% DV
  • Vitamin D: 16% DV
  • Protein: 8g
  • Fat: 8g
  • Carbs: 12g

So when is the best time to drink milk?

Drink milk after breakfast

Milk is a very good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Drinking milk after breakfast will help supplement nutrients for the body, while supporting the digestion of the food just eaten, especially if breakfast contains a lot of fiber or foods that are difficult to digest.

Pack of 4 Vinamilk Pasteurized Fresh Milk with Sugar 180 ml (from 1 year old)

Pack of 4 Vinamilk Pasteurized Fresh Milk with Sugar 180 ml (from 1 year old)

Drink milk after exercising

Exercising is an essential activity for everyone. During exercise, the body consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, after exercising, you can drink a glass of milk to replenish the water and nutrients you have just consumed.

Besides, milk is also a source of essential protein to nourish muscles and strong bones. Taking good care of your body by exercising regularly can help prolong life, improve cardiovascular health, and stabilize blood pressure.

TH true MILK Pasteurized Fresh Milk No Sugar 220 ml (from 1 year old)

TH true MILK Pasteurized Fresh Milk No Sugar 220 ml (from 1 year old)

Drink milk 2 hours before going to bed

Drinking milk in the evening is best. For those who are experiencing insomnia, they can drink milk 2 hours before going to bed to improve sleep quality. The reason is that milk contains tryptophan and melatonin, which can help users fall asleep easily.

In addition, the compound serotonin in milk also helps improve mood, relax the body and spread sleep hormones. Thanks to that, the body’s biological clock is adjusted, the sleep cycle becomes more stable, helping to protect and enhance health.

Drinking 3 glasses of skim or low-fat milk per day will provide the body with up to 100% of calcium, 75% of vitamin D needs. In addition, there are other essential nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin B12.
Pack of 4 TH true MILK Pasteurized Fresh Milk No Sugar 180 ml (from 1 year old)

Pack of 4 TH true MILK Pasteurized Fresh Milk No Sugar 180 ml (from 1 year old)

Important notes when drinking milk

To maximize the benefits of milk and avoid unwanted risks, in addition to the time to drink milk, you should also note the following:

  • Do not drink milk with medicine to avoid the risk of losing the inherent effects of the medicine.
  • Do not drink milk with fruit juice as it can cause indigestion, bloating, and poor absorption by the digestive system. Even more seriously, it can lead to diarrhea.
  • Prioritize buying milk from reputable brands such as: Vinamilk fresh milk, TH True Milk, Dutch Lady milk,…
  • You should only drink about 3 glasses of milk per day. Drinking too much can cause excess nutrients in the body, causing obesity and being overweight.
  • For those who are allergic to protein or react to lactose, limit milk consumption to avoid digestive disorders, abdominal pain, or nausea.
  • To provide enough nutrients during pregnancy, mothers should avoid using nutrient-deficient milk such as condensed milk, and should choose specialized maternity milk products to supplement enough nutrients for both mother and baby.
Do not take medicine with milk

Do not take medicine with milk

Frequently asked questions about drinking milk properly

1. Is it better to drink milk before or after meals?

According to Dr. Doan Ngoc Ha from the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, the body absorbs milk most effectively when drunk 1-2 hours after the main meal. Giving children milk 2 hours before a meal can make them feel full for a long time and refuse to eat at the main meal.

2. Should I drink milk at night?

The answer is yes. Drinking a glass of milk at night can help you fall asleep faster and sleep better. Besides, milk contains melatonin and tryptophan to help improve your sleep quality, contributing to effective treatment of sleep disorders, reducing depression and anxiety.

3. Who should not drink milk?

Although milk is a rich source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D, not everyone can drink milk safely. Here are some people who should not drink milk or need to limit their milk intake:

People with lactose intolerance

People with lactose intolerance lack the enzyme lactase, which makes the body unable to digest lactose (sugar in milk). When drinking milk, they may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or nausea. These people should avoid milk or choose lactose-free milk products.

People allergic to milk (cow’s milk)

Milk allergy is an immune condition in which the body reacts to proteins in milk (such as casein or whey). People with milk allergies may experience symptoms such as rash, swelling, shortness of breath or anaphylaxis if exposed to milk or milk products. People allergic to milk should completely avoid milk and milk products.

People with stomach or digestive problems

People with digestive problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience discomfort when drinking milk, as milk can stimulate the stomach to produce more acid or cause indigestion. Dairy products can cause bloating, indigestion, or abdominal pain in these people.

People with diabetes

Milk can contain a natural amount of sugar (lactose) and calories. People with diabetes or who are controlling their blood sugar need to pay attention to their milk intake, especially sugary milk, as it can raise blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, choose unsweetened or low-fat milk.

People with kidney disease

People with kidney problems, especially chronic kidney disease, need to control the amount of protein and calcium in their diet. Milk can contain high amounts of protein and calcium, which can increase the burden on the kidneys. Therefore, they need to consult a doctor before adding milk to their diet.

People with thyroid problems (hypothyroidism)

Some studies suggest that milk and dairy products may interfere with the absorption of thyroid medications (such as levothyroxine). Therefore, people with thyroid disease should take their medication away from milk and consult their doctor about their diet.

Milk is a rich source of energy and nutrients for the body, but you also need to know how to drink milk properly to bring benefits to the body. Through this article, hopefully, you have the answer to the question of whether you should drink milk before breakfast.