MILK

Does milk really do a body good?

A nutritionist investigates the claims about the beverage

[1] MILK is a best cure for spice of hot chillies! ~proof by mythbusters team

...Apparently when it comes to beating a mouth-sizzling burn, milk really does the body good.

[2] Is MILK really a fat-burning food?

By Alan Aragon, M.S

MAYBE! In a 6-month study, University of Tennessee researchers found that overweight people who downed three servings a day of calcium-rich dairy lost more belly fat than those who followed a similar diet minus two or more of the dairy servings.

In addition, the researchers discovered that calcium supplements didn't work as well as milk. Why? They believe that while calcium may increase the rate at which your body burns fat, other active compounds in dairy (such as milk proteins) provide an additional fat-burning effect.

Of course, the key to success is following a weight-loss diet to begin with.

After all, downing your dairy with a box of doughnuts is no way to torch your gut.

[3] Does MILK build muscle?

By Alan Aragon, M.S.

Absolutely. In fact, milk is one of the best muscle foods on the planet. You see, the protein in milk is about 80 percent whey and 20 percent casein. Both are high-quality proteins, but whey is known as a "fast protein" because it's quickly broken down into amino acids and absorbed into the bloodstream.

That makes it a very good protein to consume after your workout. Casein, on the other hand, is digested more slowly. So it's ideal for providing your body with a steady supply of smaller amounts of protein for a longer period of time — like between meals or while you sleep. Since milk provides both, one big glass gives your body an ideal combination of muscle-building proteins.

[4] What about antibiotics?

By Alan Aragon, M.S.

No one really knows. Some scientists argue that milk from cows given antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance in humans, making these types of drugs less effective when you take them for an infection. But this finding has never been proved.

If you're uneasy, you can purchase antibiotic-free (and typically hormone-free, as well) milk from specialty grocers, such as Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, or select USDA-certified organic milk, which is available at most supermarkets.

References:

1. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22349307/

2. http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/db/food/cure-milk-hot-chilies.html