Allergist debunks 6 popular myths about milk

Tea and coffee with milk are not harmful

"A famous dietitian often told a horror story about finding undigested coffee with milk in the stomachs of corpses during autopsies. But the maestro exaggerates; there is no scientific evidence to support his claims. The only thing that could threaten a person with allergies and intolerances with such a mix is mild discomfort in the stomach," explains the doctor.

She adds that the only medical reason to avoid tea and coffee with milk is in the context of weight control, where careful monitoring of every calorie is essential, as milk contains fats, and adding it to tea and coffee increases the calorie content of the beverages.

Whey is much more beneficial than milk

"There is no clear confirmation of this thesis - these are too different products. Whey is considered a byproduct of dairy and cheese production. It can be obtained at home by making cheese from milk, but in modern reality, whey is much more often found as an ingredient in non-alcoholic beverages with added fruit juices and lactic acid bacteria," says Tarnavska.

The doctor emphasizes that it is not entirely correct to compare the benefits of such drinks with milk.

Skimmed milk is healthier than regular milk

Doctors' recommendations regarding low-fat dairy products have changed several times over the past decades: in the 1980s, they were considered the healthiest solution in the fight against obesity and cardiovascular diseases, so doctors in all developed countries recommended that patients switch exclusively to products labeled no fat.

"At the beginning of the 2000s, fats were vindicated - they were declared beneficial, and low-fat products sharply began to lose popularity. And that's how it has been preserved to this day," says the allergist.

Cultured milk is a superfood

"This statement is a myth, as are all claims about superfoods in general. Trends in them come and go almost as quickly as trends in the fashion world change," says Tarnavska.

She notes that the media has been cultivating innovations for many years: products with amazing probiotic properties that no one knew about before. After an article in Vogue, the Western world discovered kefir.

"Cultured milk was declared a new superfood and a healthy snack of the future. However, doctors recommend tempering any enthusiasm for superfoods and not making an exception for kefir and cultured milk," emphasizes the doctor.

Dried milk is not milk at all, and there is nothing useful in it

Dried milk is a soluble powder obtained from normalized cow's milk by thickening and drying it. It consists of fats, proteins, lactose, and minerals.

"Dried skimmed milk contains much less fat than dried whole milk, while dried skimmed milk contains more proteins and lactose," says Tarnavska.

Acne is caused by milk

"Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, and its development mechanisms are quite well understood. Primarily, it involves changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of skin sebum, influenced by genetic factors or hormonal imbalances in the body. A fluctuating hormonal background, especially during adolescence, and low estrogen levels also contribute to the development of acne. Therefore, milk does not influence the appearance of pimples," explains the allergist.

Earlier, we wrote about who is most at risk of lactose intolerance.

Also, you can find out about the myths about healthy eating that a nutritionist has debunked.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.