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How Should One Drink Milk? Sitting Or Standing?

By Dixit Arora +2 more

Many people find themselves locked in the debate around whether they should drink milk sitting down or standing up. Which is the best posture to ensure that you derive all possible benefits from milk? Some might be asking what does sitting or standing have to do with consuming milk. But it is a very old scientific debate and yes, your posture does have a bearing.  

Why Should You Drink Milk In The First Place?

There are many ways your body can benefit from drinking milk. Here are just a few of them-

  1. It contains loads of calcium, so if you want strong teeth and bones, drink up! Milk will also prevent the onset of osteoarthritis.
  2. It contains potassium which is essential for the health of your heart.
  3. The Vitamin D present in it can regulate unnatural cell growth and thus effectively prevent cancer.
  4. Milk triggers the secretion of serotonin – a happiness hormone that can fight off anxiety and depression.
  5. It helps in losing weight.

Saturated fats are abundant in milk. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), consuming excessive saturated fats may raise cholesterol levels, which may increase the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. I strongly recommend against consuming more than 5-6% of one’s daily calories from saturated fats.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

Drink Milk while Sitting or Standing?

Doctors advise you to not drink milk while sitting down and there is a very good reason behind it. When you are sitting, the milk traverses half your body at a normal pace. But then it encounters a speed breaker because of your sitting posture. So transportation to the rest of your body slows down.  

But if you are standing, there is no obstruction to the passage of the milk down your body. Your bloodstream will pick it up and rapidly carry it to all parts of your body, which will absorb every nutrient that milk has to offer.

On the other hand, when you are sitting, because there is a disruption to the downflow of milk, the fluid will pool around the lower section of your oesophagus. If this continues for a long period of time, then you may contract Gastroesophageal reflux syndrome or GERD.

It’s not just the practitioners of allopathic medicines, Ayurveda too warns against drinking milk sitting down. This is because your stomach has a fixed capacity. It can only hold 900 to 1500 millilitres at a time and when you drink a quarter litre of milk, a large part of your stomach fills up all of a sudden. To deal with the pressure and weight exerted by the milk, your stomach will start pulsating. The result is a colic shock that will prompt excruciating stomach ache.  

So even if you have no option but to drink milk in a seated posture, make sure that you don’t gulp it down. Take small sips so that your stomach can acclimate to them. This way you won’t end up with terrible stomach cramps.

In my knowledge, lactose intolerance is distinct from a milk allergy, often known as hypersensitivity. The body reacts to milk proteins, not its carbohydrates, when there is an allergy. Wheezing, asthma, vomiting, diarrhoea, and gastrointestinal distress are all possible signs of a cow’s milk allergy. Anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic response, may result from severe allergies.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

So, now you finally have the answer to the age-old question of whether you should sit or stand while downing a glass of milk. You should only drink milk when you are standing. This way you can avoid falling sick and ensure that your body can best utilize the benefits that milk has to offer.

Also Read: Is Heavy Whipping Cream the Same as Heavy Cream? Decoding Dairy Terms

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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