After the age of 45, you may suddenly crave milk in your daily life. This phenomenon can occur not only due to simple preference but also because your body may need specific nutrients.

There may be several reasons for this:

• Calcium deficiency: At this age, your body requires a lot of calcium for bone health, and if you're deficient, you may naturally crave calcium-rich foods like milk.

• Protein desire: Milk is rich in animal protein, so you may want to supplement during times when muscle mass decreases.

• Vitamin D deficiency: Milk is often fortified with vitamin D, so you may crave it when your body isn't getting enough sunlight or is low on vitamin D.

• Stress relief instinct: Milk contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which helps with serotonin secretion. Therefore, you may crave it when you need psychological comfort. Additionally, after consuming irritating foods (alcohol, spicy or overly salty foods), you might crave milk to soothe your stomach.

Drinking milk has these benefits!

It helps prevent sarcopenia. As you age, muscle mass decreases, but milk contains high-quality protein, calcium, and various nutrients that can help prevent muscle loss if consumed more than once a day.

It helps prevent osteoporosis. A lack of calcium increases the risk of osteoporosis. The calcium in milk has a higher absorption rate compared to other calcium sources. Consuming 1-2 cups of milk a day can help replenish calcium.

It aids in blood sugar control. The sugar component in milk, lactose, is absorbed more slowly than other sugars, resulting in a lower glycemic index that gradually raises blood sugar levels. It also helps maintain stable blood sugar by inhibiting insulin secretion.

It helps prevent dementia. The antioxidant glutathione in milk minimizes brain cell damage, helping to prevent dementia.

While the amount of calcium consumed is important, how much is absorbed is even more crucial. Therefore, avoid consuming foods that contain oxalates, which hinder calcium absorption, such as spinach and chocolate, and reduce the intake of coffee and carbonated drinks, as well as avoid eating salty foods. Additionally, processed milk products like strawberry milk and chocolate milk, which have a sweet taste, can contain more sugar or caffeine than expected, hindering calcium absorption, so caution is needed when selecting dairy products.

Some people may experience symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, or gas after consuming milk, which may be due to a lack of enzymes needed to digest milk. For those who experience adverse symptoms after milk consumption, it is necessary to avoid drinking milk on an empty stomach and instead warm it up after meals or consume it slowly in small amounts. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to substitute milk with other dairy products like yogurt, cheese, or probiotic drinks.