There are all sorts of rumors circulating around the country regarding the milk we consume nowadays. From misconceptions about packaged milk to the effects of milk on overall health, everything related to milk has become talk of the town. Of course, digital platforms have played a strong role in this as anything that goes up on social media is believed in blindly as if it’s a message from the Heavens above.
Without going into too much detail as to why you should be questioning the authenticity of news on social media, we’re going to go back to our topic and clarify the scary dairy stories that have been making the rounds in recent weeks.
1: Cows are injected with hormonal injections to produce more milk.
If you visit the dairy farms of any authentic and recognized milk producer, you will find that the cows there go through stringent health checkups and are tested for diseases on a regular basis. Moreover, even the independent farmers and their animals who produce milk for companies are both verified and tested for quality assurance. This leaves no room for any “hormonal injections” unless we’re talking about loose milk. That’s an entirely different story.
2: Loose milk is the most nutritious form of milk.
Speaking of loose milk, people believe that it’s the healthiest form of milk, with the most obvious reason supporting this argument that it is provided fresh. While it may be provided fresh, loose milk has a limited lifespan. Not to mention, loose milk providers are not verified by international authorities and they aren’t regulated to follow strict quality assurance measures. No wonder why we find so many cases of adulteration in loose milk due to the exploited supply chain. This raises a huge question mark on the complete nutritional value of loose milk that’s available throughout Pakistan.
3: UHT milk is harmful because it is processed too much.
People talk UHT-treated milk as if it’s an artificial form of milk. The truth is that UHT treatment is an internationally recognized method of milk pasteurization. Thanks to this process, milk is ensured to last longer without the need of preservatives. Moreover, UHT treatment ensures the milk remains contaminant free as it leaves no room for bacterial development.
4: Milk makes you fat.
A Swedish study discovered that milk is associated with a lower risk of weight gain. [1]The theory that supports this study is that milk fills you up more, and thus the cravings for eating something sugary and starchy later on in the day are decreased. It’s important to note that this study talks about the normal type of milk, not that low-fat variety. So it’s safe to say you don’t have to worry about getting fat due to milk consumption.
5: Milk is boring.
This is a common misconception among the youth. The only thing boring about your milk is the way you consume it. It’s not just about gulping a glass of milk “naak bandh kar kay”. There are plenty of ways you can pair up milk with other interesting foods to make it the most exciting part of your diet. For example, chocolate milkshake, milk and cookies, milk smoothies, and numerous other ideas!
6: Packaged milk is enhanced with food coloring.
Whether food coloring or any other chemicals, people tend to associate packaged milk with all kinds of similar misconceptions. Both packaged milk and loose milk have the same color, which is actually what milk naturally looks like. The bright white color shouldn’t be confused with any additional food coloring or chemical treatment.
7: Boiled milk is healthy for consumption.
Last but not the least, boiling milk results in significant loss of nutrients. If you don’t believe that, you can look up a study carried out by PCSIR(Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) which confirms this in detail. [2]According to the study, nearly 36% of the milk’s nutrients are lost due to open pan boiling, and it also accounts for a net loss of 24% for vitamin B6. As such, consuming boiled milk hardly provides you with any nourishing benefits as it lacks nutritional value.
These are the most common myths about milk we could find, if you have any other misconceptions in your mind then let us know.
Sources:
[1] Swedish Study (https://www.dietdoctor.com/swedes-consuming-low-fat-dairy-products-gain-moreweight)
[2] PCSIR Study (https://www.jpma.org.pk/PdfDownload/2386.pdf)
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