"Xiao Zhang, do you know, I've been wondering, why the milk in the freezer has a shelf life of only a few days, but the milk at room temperature can be stored for a long time, is there a preservative?" Xiao Wang said with a frown.
Xiao Zhang thought for a while and responded: "Probably not, milk has preservatives in it, it's too terrifying." ”
"Hmph, in this world, in order to make money, who knows what merchants will do. Xiao Wang sighed, "I used to drink a bottle of milk every day, but now I am hesitant." ”
Xiao Zhao interjected after hearing this: "I still want to drink more milk to grow taller, but I don't dare to drink it when you say this." ”
There was a brief silence.
In fact, milk, known as the "white blood" drink, is really rich in a lot of nutrients that are beneficial to the human body.
But lately, I have been hearing some negative claims about milk, such as "milk causes cancer", "milk has preservatives in it" and so on.
Do we really know about milk, and what is the truth behind these myths?
01
It has been pointed out that the shelf life of milk varies, and that milk with a long shelf life must contain preservatives, but if you look closely at the outer packaging of milk, you will find that there is no trace of preservatives in the ingredient list column at all.
In fact, the difference in the shelf life of milk is not related to the preservative, but to the way it is sterilized and the way it is packaged.
At present, there are two main ways to sterilize milk: pasteurization and UHT.
Pasteurization is the use of a temperature of 60°C-85°C to kill pathogenic bacteria in milk, but it has a shorter shelf life, usually 2-7 days, and needs to be refrigerated.
In contrast, the UHT law is to instantly heat the milk to 135°C-150°C for 2 to 6 seconds, which can kill almost all bacteria in the milk, so it has a long shelf life, up to 6 months or more, and does not need to be refrigerated, and can be stored at room temperature.
In recent years, the discussion about whether milk causes cancer has attracted a lot of attention. Some studies suggest that consuming too much dairy products may increase the risk of diseases such as breast cancer, liver cancer, and more.
However, it is important to note that these findings are only correlation studies and do not prove that milk itself is a carcinogenic factor.
For example, a joint study conducted by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences found that people who regularly consume dairy products do have an increased risk of breast cancer and liver cancer compared to those who never consume dairy products.
However, this does not mean that milk itself causes these diseases. The causal relationship is complex and may also be influenced by other factors, such as eating habits, lifestyle, etc.
In addition, it has been noted that dairy intake is associated with the occurrence of breast cancer in both the literature and the non-association.
Therefore, we cannot generalize that milk causes cancer. On the contrary, milk is rich in nutrients such as proteins, minerals, and vitamins that are beneficial to the human body.
In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents also place special emphasis on the recommended amount of milk to drink, which fully illustrates the importance of milk in a balanced diet.
02
As a nutritious, easily digestible and absorbable food, milk has a significant impact on human health. Let's explore the difference between those who drink milk every day and those who don't.
01Reduce the risk of death
The study found that people who consumed two servings of dairy products per day had a 17% and 23% reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality compared to those who did not.
Even one serving of milk or yogurt was associated with a 10% and 14% reduction in the risk of death, respectively.
This suggests that drinking milk daily may reduce the risk of death overall, and cardiovascular disease in particular.
02 Calcium supplementation promotes bone health
Milk is a food that is very high in calcium, especially for teenagers and the elderly. Drinking more milk in adolescents can promote the growth and development of bones and prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis.
Drinking more milk in the elderly can maintain bone health and reduce the risk of fractures.
03Helps control blood sugar
Studies have shown that drinking milk can help control blood sugar levels. For example, drinking milk before meals can lower the peak in blood sugar after a meal, reducing blood sugar fluctuations.
This is especially important for people with diabetes and those with blood sugar control needs.
04Boosts immunity
Milk is rich in high-quality protein and is an important part of the immune system. Moderate intake of milk can boost immunity and help the body fight off diseases.
Especially when the seasons change or the climate is cold, a moderate intake of milk can strengthen the body's resistance and reduce the occurrence of colds and other respiratory diseases.
03
There are many drinks on the market that look similar to cow's milk, but they are not real milk, but products known as "fake milk".
Although these products look and taste similar to cow's milk, they are nowhere near as good as real milk in terms of nutritional value and health benefits. Here are two common types of "fake milk":
01 Milk-containing drinks
Milk-containing beverages are not really milk, and their main ingredient is water instead of milk. In the ingredient list, water tends to come first, followed by white sugar and a lot of flavor.
Compared with cow's milk, milk-containing beverages have a low protein content and low nutritional value, which cannot meet the nutritional needs of the human body.
Long-term consumption of large amounts of milk-containing beverages not only fails to provide the body with necessary nutrients, but also may lead to obesity, dental caries and other health problems, especially for children's growth and development.
02 Flavored milk
Flavored milk is a product that adds flavoring to milk, such as breakfast milk, date milk, chocolate milk, etc.
Although these products may look delicious, their protein content is not high, generally above 2.3%, which is much lower than the protein content of pure milk.
In particular, some flavored milk with added oats, peanuts and other ingredients, although it seems healthy, is actually very small and has little health benefits.
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