Some adults have the habit of drinking milk in the morning, but this practice is unscientific. The reason is that after a night's sleep, the stomach has already emptied and is prepared to digest food. At this time, gastric emptying occurs rapidly, and since milk is a liquid dairy product, it moves through the stomach even faster. Drinking milk on an empty stomach causes it to be expelled into the intestines before being fully digested and absorbed, resulting in a loss of nutrients.Milk is rich in high-quality protein, whose primary functions are to build new tissues in the body and repair existing ones. Drinking milk on an empty stomach not only causes it to pass through the stomach quickly but also means that these valuable proteins are broken down by the body and used as energy. This prevents the protein from fulfilling its intended role, which is a great pity.
The proteins in milk must be broken down into various amino acids by pepsin in the stomach and digestive enzymes in the small intestine before they can be absorbed and utilized.Drinking milk on an empty stomach accelerates gastric emptying, preventing some proteins from being fully broken down into amino acids. Some amino acids are expelled into the large intestine before being absorbed in the small intestine. In the large intestine, these proteins and amino acids undergo decomposition and putrefaction, transforming into harmful substances. This prevents the valuable proteins from fulfilling their intended functions and places additional strain on the body.
The timing of milk consumption also affects the body's digestion and absorption of its nutrients. For children, milk intake should be determined by age, considering daily frequency, timing, and quantity. Adults, however, should pay attention to when they drink milk.
To address this issue: First, avoid drinking milk on an empty stomach in the morning. Instead, drink it 1-2 hours after breakfast. Having food in the stomach prevents the drawbacks of drinking milk on an empty stomach.Second, consume starchy foods like steamed buns before drinking milk. Third, pair morning milk with starchy foods such as bread, rice, crackers, or pastries. This prolongs milk's residence in the stomach, allowing thorough enzymatic digestion with gastric juices for optimal protein absorption.
Milk possesses hypnotic and sedative effects. Since mornings are when people are most energetic for learning and work, drinking milk then may induce drowsiness, which is counterproductive to these activities. Therefore, it's best to avoid drinking milk on an empty stomach in the morning.
When is the best time to drink milk? Evening consumption is optimal. Milk contains the biochemical L-tryptophan, which induces fatigue and sleepiness, along with trace opiate-like substances. These compounds possess sedative and hypnotic effects. L-tryptophan, in particular, is a primary precursor for the brain's synthesis of serotonin. Serotonin plays a crucial role in regulating sleep.temporarily inhibiting mental activity to induce sleep without side effects. Milk also adheres to the stomach lining for better absorption, and its calcium helps alleviate tension, making it especially beneficial for elderly sleep. Thus, evening milk consumption supports restful sleep.
Drinking milk before bed enhances calcium absorption. Most calcium from dinner is absorbed before sleep.After falling asleep, especially after midnight, blood calcium levels gradually decrease. This decline stimulates increased secretion of parathyroid hormone, which acts on bone tissue. This causes calcium salts in the bones to dissolve into the bloodstream to maintain stable blood calcium levels. This dissolution is a natural self-regulatory function of the body. Over time, however, it can become one of the causes of osteoporosis.Drinking milk before bed allows its calcium to be slowly absorbed into the bloodstream. This provides continuous calcium replenishment and maintains blood calcium balance throughout the night, eliminating the need to dissolve calcium from bones. This prevents bone loss and osteoporosis, making milk a beneficial pre-sleep beverage.