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"Hey, did you drink milk today?" is a sentence that Teacher Zheng must ask before class every day, and it is also a small habit in her own life.
Ms. Cheng, a 66-year-old retired secondary school history teacher, chose to continue teaching at a community centre after her retirement, imparting her life experience and historical knowledge.
Half a year ago, at a health talk, she started the habit when she heard that drinking a glass of milk a day has many benefits for the bones and mental health of the elderly.
Milk is rich in calcium and vitamin D, which is an important source of nutrients for the elderly to maintain healthy bones. When Ms. Zheng first insisted on drinking milk, she didn't feel much change, but she didn't give up.
After six months, she noticeably felt that her lower back pain had lessened, and she could even walk much more briskly. In addition, she noticed that her emotions were more stable and less irritable than before.
The mystery of this actually comes from some subtle ingredients in milk. Milk contains not only calcium and vitamin D, but also an amino acid called tryptophan, a precursor substance that can be converted into serotonin, the so-called "happiness hormone", in the body.
Serotonin not only improves mood but also helps regulate sleep cycles. For seniors like Ms. Zheng, improving sleep quality is a key factor in improving quality of life.
The vitamin B12 in milk can help improve memory and cognitive function. This is undoubtedly a very valuable discovery for the slightly older Mr. Zheng.
She began to incorporate this knowledge into her daily teaching, not just about history, but also about how to improve the quality of life through simple dietary adjustments.
This change of Mr. Zheng has aroused some curiosity and concern in the community. Her students, mostly older people in the community, are also experimenting with the habit.
Soon, people around them also reported that they felt an improvement in their mental state and became more mobile. All this, although there is no medical support for the direct relationship between milk and emotional stability, the existing serotonin can indeed improve mental health to a certain extent.
Ms. Zheng noticed that as milk consumption increased, some students began to ask for more details about milk, such as the type of milk, where it came from, and how it was preserved.
She took the opportunity to expand the course to not only teach history, but also to add knowledge about food sources and food safety, so that students could gain a more comprehensive understanding of the science and economic chain behind milk.
When discussing these issues, Mr. Cheng emphasized the importance of choosing the right type of milk. For example, for those students with higher cholesterol levels, she advises them to choose low-fat or skim milk to avoid consuming too much saturated fat.
At the same time, she also mentioned the difference between organic milk and regular milk, emphasizing that organic milk does not contain antibiotics and hormones, and may be more suitable for people who pursue a natural lifestyle.
Some people may not be able to enjoy the benefits of milk due to lactose intolerance, so choosing lactose-eliminated milk or plant-based milk is an alternative.
In addition, the fat content of milk is also an issue to be aware of, especially for patients with cardiovascular disease, choosing low-fat or fat-free milk will be more suitable.
In class, Mr. Zheng likes to talk about these seemingly complex medical and nutritional knowledge in a light-hearted and humorous way. She often said, "You see, drinking milk not only strengthens your bones, but also makes you smarter!" This statement always drew laughter from the students and made them more willing to accept and try her advice.
While Ms. Zheng was enjoying the results and health benefits of teaching, a question from a student left her slightly confused. The student asked, "Teacher Zheng, I heard that drinking too much milk may cause calcium deposits in some people, is this true?
Teacher Zheng thought about it seriously and then explained, "That's a good question. It is true that for people with some specific conditions, such as those with kidney disease, a large intake of calcium may cause calcium deposition, which may lead to problems such as kidney stones.
However, it is safe for most people to drink milk in moderation. "This approach not only answers students' questions, but also educates them on how to approach nutrition and health issues scientifically.
What do you think about milk?