Health Benefits of Milk & Honey
Milk and honey can do wonders if consumed individually but when taken together, they provide surprising health benefits. The health benefits of honey and milk include advantages in skin care and an increase in stamina.
Honey is traditionally used for health because of its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, as well as its soothing, and anti-inflammatory effects on respiratory issues. Milk, on the other hand, has traditionally been praised for its vitamin and mineral content, including vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin D, as well as calcium, animal protein, and lactic acid. However, these attributes can combine when milk and honey are taken together, resulting in some unique and desirable benefits.
1. Skin Care
Both honey and milk possess antimicrobial and cleansing properties. Use of honey mask is effective for relieving acne. These properties are enhanced when the two are taken together. Numerous cleansers are prepared using milk and honey because the mixture gives the skin a healthy glow. One can also enjoy a milk and honey bath, by mixing them in equal quantities in water. The combination is often used in popular spas throughout the world.
2. Aids in Digestion
Honey is a good source of prebiotics, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Prebiotics are nutrients that stimulate the growth and development of probiotics, the beneficial bacteria growing and developing in our intestines and digestive system.
Prebiotics has demonstrated a stimulatory effect on bifidobacteria, a type of probiotic found in milk. The carbohydrates and oligosaccharides in honey promote a healthy and proper function of these beneficial bacteria that are essential for the healthy maintenance and function of the GI tract. When the bacterial balance in the digestive tract is good, it eliminates a number of irritating conditions including constipation, cramps, and bloating, and it prevents the development of detrimental bacterial growth.
3. Boosts Stamina
A glass of milk and honey every morning is known to improve a person’s stamina. While milk contains protein, honey contains the necessary carbohydrates required for an effective stimulus of the metabolism. Milk and honey together provide strength to everyone including children and the elderly.
Animal proteins from milk are broken down into basic amino acids by enzymes and are then reformed to create usable proteins for humans. The excess material in this transformation is then oxidized as usable energy. Proteins are an essential part of the human diet, and honey helps to stimulate their metabolism.
4. Bone Health
As research on honey continues, it is gradually becoming clear that honey acts as a carrier and transporter of nutrients from food throughout the body. Specifically, honey has shown itself to be integral in the body’s uptake of calcium, of which milk is a rich source. This is confirmed by a study performed on rats by Dr. Merlin Ariefdjohan, University of Colorado, US. Therefore, consuming honey and milk together will not only give your body the necessary nutrient (calcium) to benefit your bone health but will also maximize its absorption in the body. Proper calcium levels can prevent conditions like osteoporosis and inflammation of the joints.
5. Prevents Insomnia
Honey and milk have both been traditionally used as remedies for insomnia and sleeplessness. Individually, they are both effective, but the effects are strengthened when taken together. Honey is one of the rare sugary foods causing a controlled increase in the amount of insulin being secreted, which also promotes tryptophan to be released into the brain.
Tryptophan is normally converted into serotonin, which induces a feeling of relaxation. Furthermore, serotonin is commonly converted to melatonin, a well-researched sleep aid. A negative impact of tryptophan depletion on sleep continuity is well demonstrated in a studypublished in Psychiatry Research journal. Thus, honey and milk can be used to reduce sleeplessness.
6. Anti-aging Properties
The combination of milk and honey impacts the whole body, by making it agile and youthful. People in many ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Indians, drank milk and honey to preserve their youth. Since milk and honey can help ensure a long life, their combination was known as “the elixir of life.”
The antioxidant properties that occur when milk and honey are combined are great because antioxidants attack the free radicals which are one of the primary causes of skin degradation, wrinkles, and blotches. Dr. Brendan Niemira, research leader at the USDA Research Center confirms the antioxidant property of honey in one of his studies.
7. Antibacterial Properties
Research has shown that milk and honey have a more pronounced effect on Staphylococcus bacteria than milk or honey when taken alone. It is also believed that honey, added to warm milk, cures flatulence, constipation, and intestinal disorders. It is also good for treating respiratory disorders such as cold and cough.
Fun Fact
Jerusalem is referred to as ‘the land of milk and honey’ in an old testament. The benefits of honey and milk on the human body are so enormous that the phrase “land of milk and honey,” meaning “a place which has plenty” is rightly used.
