Whether you're 7 or 77, drinking milk at any age is important for good health. Milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which older adults tend to need more of, to maintain bone strength, preserve muscle strength, and prevent osteoporosis.
Some older adults wonder if they need milk anymore. Experts note that cow's milk — which is rich in protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals — can be a beneficial part of an older adult's diet, but some non-dairy milk products are also healthy options.
Meeting Calcium Needs with Milk
To meet dietary calcium requirements, women need 1,000 milligrams per day between ages 19 and 50 and 1,200 milligrams after age 51, according to the federal Office of Dietary Supplements. Drinking three to four glasses of milk would meet your calcium needs.
Milk has long been seen as an important source of calcium and other nutrients, particularly for children. But some researchers suggest that it is not a necessary part of a healthy diet for most adults, and may even be harmful if consumed excessively.
As per health experts, people in their 40s should have at least 7 eggs in a week. Said to be the best source of “good cholesterol”, eggs can be taken as any other protein source by older people. It can be boiled, or can be eaten as scrambled eggs with little oil.
Many women in their 40s will enter perimenopause as their body slows its production of estrogen.
Whether you're 7 or 77, drinking milk at any age is important for good health. Milk is a good source of vitamin D and calcium, which older adults tend to need more of, to maintain bone strength, preserve muscle strength, and prevent osteoporosis.
As per Ayurveda, the best time to consume milk for adults is before bedtime. As for kids, Ayurveda recommends an early morning dose of milk. Drinking milk at night promotes 'Ojas'. Ojas is referred to as a state in Ayurveda when you achieve proper digestion.
Men and women ages 19 to 60+ years should consume 3 cups of milk each day.
If stored above 40 °F, milk will begin to develop signs of spoilage, including sour odor, off-flavor and curdled consistency. Remember that milk should be taken from the store and quickly placed in your refrigerator at home so that the temperature does not rise above 40 °F.
Milk is an important source of fats, protein, calcium, and vitamins A and D, and children of any age as well as adults can continue to drink it for the rest of their lives if they wish. However, lactose intolerance can appear later in life, typically in older children and adults.
Milk is 'not necessary' for adults, but it's good for kids
MyPlate, the USDA's current nutritional guide enacted in 2011, suggests 2 to 3 cups of dairy for adults daily, but its definition is broadened to include yogurt and cheese, as well as calcium-fortified soy milk.
Milk contains tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps us sleep better. Tryptophan converts into serotonin, the hormone that gives you pleasure. Serotonin also increases the amount of melatonin in your body and melatonin is the hormone responsible for good sleep.
Normally, melatonin levels rise in the body later in the evening when the sun has set, signaling our brain that it's time for sleep. If your brain is not as tired as your body at bedtime, a glass of milk before bed could help boost your seratonin hormone levels and get your mind in sync with your body.
Around 30 years of age, there is zero production of lactase. Without the lactase enzyme, the milk reaches the large intestine directly and the bacteria present can cause indigestion.
Unfortunately many adults gradually lose the necessary digestive enzymes from their gastrointestinal tract, and they become intolerant of milk. However, if it can be tolerated then milk is a very good food from infancy through old age.
adulthood, the period in the human lifespan in which full physical and intellectual maturity have been attained. Adulthood is commonly thought of as beginning at age 20 or 21 years. Middle age, commencing at about 40 years, is followed by old age at about 60 years.