Indians unaware that boiling milk depletes nutrition (2024)

New Delhi: Indian mothers are blissfully unaware that prolonged and repeated boiling of milk depletes nutrition that is vital for children, a survey released Friday stated.

The survey by Tetra Pak reveals that "around 59 percent of mothers felt boiling (milk) increases its nutritional value and 24 percent felt that it does not impact its nutritional properties. Only 17 percent of mothers surveyed believed that boiling milk affects its nutritional properties".

"It is surprising that most households are unaware that prolonged and repeated boiling of milk leads to loss in nutrition. In a majority of Indian households, milk is boiled more than thrice, skimmed and hence devoid of most of the essential vitamins, proteins, amino acids and minerals," said Sanjeev Bagai, paediatrician and nephrologist.

Vitamins and proteins are denatured and destroyed when milk is boiled at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius for over 15 minutes. Milk is a vital source for Vitamin D and Vitamin B 12, which help in calcium absorption. Both these vitamins are highly heat sensitive and boiling milk destroys both substantially.

"Any loss of vital ingredients in milk, especially proteins and vitamins, could cause growth deficiency, weak bones, poor muscle development and neurological impact, among other long-term effects. Mothers need to be sensitised regarding improper boiling practices as it depletes milk of nutrients. At the same time, they should be aware about technologies that best protect milk," added Bagai.

IANS

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Indians unaware that boiling milk depletes nutrition (2024)

FAQs

Does boiling milk destroy nutrients? ›

Nutrition Effects of Boiling Milk

Studies have found that while boiling milk eliminated bacteria from raw milk, it also greatly reduced its whey protein levels. Other tests have shown lower levels of vitamins and minerals in boiled milk, including vitamin B2, B3, B6, and folic acid -- in some cases by as much as 36%.

How do you boil milk without losing nutrients? ›

In case of milk packets, the content is already pasteurised and there is no need to boil it at high temperature and heat it for less than for 6 to 8 minutes at 100 degree Celsius. This will retain the nutrients," Nair said.

Does boiling milk destroy Vitamin D? ›

Vitamins and proteins are denatured and destroyed when milk is boiled at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius for over 15 minutes. Milk is a vital source for Vitamin D and Vitamin B 12, which help in calcium absorption. Both these vitamins are highly heat sensitive and boiling milk destroys both substantially.

Does boiling milk destroy B12? ›

Minerals like Calcium and vitamins like Vitamin A, D, B1, B2, B12 and K are found in good quantities in milk. Boiling affects many of these vital nutrients in your milk, depriving you of the nutrition they provide. Particularly vulnerable to destruction are the B group of vitamins.

Why milk should not be boiled? ›

Milk is made up of water, fats, carbs, and protein. When you heat it, the water starts to evaporate, and the other components begin to separate. Bringing it to a boil too quickly can burn the sugars and curdle the whey protein. That causes scorching on the bottom of your pan and a skin to form on top.

Why we should not drink milk without boiling? ›

The method of pasteurization is best to kill bacteria present in milk which can be harmful for us. Dangerous bacteria such as salmonella can affect our health in more ways than one.

Which milk need not be boiled? ›

Pasteurized milk does not need to be boiled.

Why do Indians boil milk? ›

There is another traditional habit associated with milk. We boil the raw milk, cool it and then use it for various purposes. This is done to make it free from micro-organisms and increase its shelf life as raw milk can get spoilt in hot, humid Indian weather.

What happens if you drink milk daily without boiling? ›

Raw milk may harbour E. coli, salmonella and other harmful bacteria.

Does boiling destroy calcium in milk? ›

When non-processed milk was boiled, it was observed that the Calcium content reduced by 10-14%. The Calcium content reduced by 6-7% when pasteurized packaged milk was boiled. The decrease in Calcium content after boiling is associated to the change in ionic and soluble Calcium in the milk sample.

What happens when you boil milk for too long? ›

Milk is a mixture (called an emulsion) of butterfat, proteins, and water. When milk is boiled, the three components of the emulsion break apart: the milk proteins coagulate and separate from the water, producing what is commonly known as curdled milk. This is how cheese is made.

Does milk lose calcium when boiled? ›

Reduction in calcium content

A 2016 study found that the calcium content of non-processed milk was reduced by 10-14% when it was boiled. It also found that the calcium content of pasteurized milk was reduced by 6-7% when boiled.

Does boiling milk destroy hormones? ›

Boiling milk can help eliminate traces of oxytocin. Oxytocin is one such injection that not only affects the cattle but also humans. The injected oxytocin reaches the human body through consumption of milk or any other dairy product causing several side effects on all.

What stops the body absorbing vitamin B12? ›

[1] People who regularly take medications that suppress stomach acid for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease—such as proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or other antacids—may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food.

Which milk is best for vitamin B12? ›

Fortified nondairy milk

While soy, almond, and rice milks are not naturally high in vitamin B12, they are usually fortified, which makes them an excellent source of this vitamin. One example is soy milk, which provides up to 86% of the DV for vitamin B12 in 1 cup (240 mL) ( 26 ).

Why milk is boiled and water is not boiled? ›

When milk is heated further, the water vapour expands, pressure builds up and lifts the creamy layer up and thus the milk spills out. But in case of water, the water vapour escapes very easily on boiling since it does not have any layer on the surface to interrupt till complete evaporation of the liquid.

How long should we boil milk? ›

"If you buy milk directly from the milkman, you should heat it at 100 degree Celsius for less than 8 to 10 minutes. In case of milk packets, the content is already pasteurised and there is no need to boil it at high temperature and heat it for less than for 6 to 8 minutes at 100 degree Celsius.

Should I boil raw milk? ›

"Raw milk from the farm should always be boiled prior to consumption, because it may be contaminated with pathogens such as campylobacter or EHEC", explains Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR .

Can human milk be boiled? ›

Avoid boiling and microwaving as these methods will cause loss of nutritional properties of human milk and could unevenly hot making it dangerous for infants to drink (ABM, 2017). While many infants may be content drinking room temperature milk, some may have a preference for warmer milk.

Is boiled milk better than cold milk? ›

Be it hot milk or cold milk, both are equally healthy and nutritious. Generally, people make their preferences based on the weather and season. While it is your personal choice to decide if you like your milk hot or cold, we advise you drink at least a glass of milk every day.

Can we keep boiled milk in fridge? ›

This will ensure that the essential nutrients in milk remain intact. You can boil the raw milk in one go and then store it in the refrigerator to preserve it. Similarly, in case of pasteurized milk, take only the amount of milk you need and just warm it up instead of boiling it.

Can we drink raw milk? ›

Raw milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, and others that cause foodborne illness, often called “food poisoning.” These bacteria can seriously injure the health of anyone who drinks raw milk or eats products made from raw milk.

Why do Indian men drink milk before first night? ›

IT IS CONSIDERED AUSPICIOUS: According to Hinduism, milk is a pure substance and is considered to be very auspicious. Hence, since the couple is beginning their new life together, milk is considered as the perfect drink to be served.

Does boiling milk make it easier to digest? ›

The process of boiling changes the molecular structure of the milk, breaking down the milk proteins into digestible amino acids ensuring that it easier and lighter to digest, taken with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, turmeric can help reduce the accumulation of phlegm for kapha types and its ...

Does tea destroy calcium in milk? ›

I always drink it, it is known the important fact that the tea containing caffeine which can bind to elements such Ca in milk, so leads to cancel the good effect for milk.

What happens if you drink a glass of milk every morning? ›

Your bone health might improve

Not only is milk a great vegetarian protein source, but it's also packed with calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients that are vital for bone health. Calcium is a mineral needed to build and maintain strong bones, and vitamin D helps our body absorb calcium from the foods we eat.

Does milk destroy bones? ›

Milk consumption can actually contribute to issues like osteoporosis and bone breaks once people get older. The Harvard Nurses' Health Study followed more than 72,000 women for 18 years and showed that increased milk consumption had no protective effects on bone fracture or breakage risks.

Does coffee destroy calcium? ›

According to researchers , caffeine also interferes with how the body absorbs calcium from food and can increase how much calcium the kidneys eliminate. These two mechanisms can lower how much calcium a person has in their body. Caffeine can also interfere with how vitamin D binds to receptors.

Does boiling milk destroy lactose? ›

8) Does cooking destroy lactose? No, lactose does not disappear during cooking.

How many hours boiled milk can be left out? ›

Raw milk that has been boiled can be left out for up to 4 hours. Pasteurized milk that has been boiled can be left at room temperature for up to 7 hours.

Is boiling milk same as pasteurized? ›

Boiling of milk certainly destroys all the pathogenic organisms and makes it safe for human consumption, but there is no need for heating the milk for such a higher temperature when the same objective is fulfilled by pasteurization process.

What food can replace the calcium from milk? ›

The NIH recommends eating the following non-dairy foods to receive the adequate calcium needed for the body:
  • Dark green, leafy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, okra, and collard greens)
  • Some types of fish (canned sardines and salmon)
  • Sesame seeds, flax seeds, almonds, and brazil nuts.
  • Soybeans and white beans.
18 Oct 2018

What temperature does milk lose nutrients? ›

Vitamins and proteins are denatured and destroyed when milk is boiled at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius for over 15 minutes. Milk is a vital source for Vitamin D and Vitamin B 12, which help in calcium absorption.

Does steaming milk change nutrition? ›

As it turns out, frothing milk only physically changes the structure of the milk. Its nutritional qualities will remain unchanged through the frothing process. Any changes that the milk undergoes after it's been frothed, will have a minimal impact on its overall nutritional value.

Is the heating of milk to destroy harmful bacteria? ›

This process was named “pasteurization” after its brilliant designer. Pasteurization involves heating liquids at high temperatures for short amounts of time. Pasteurization kills harmful microbes in milk without affecting the taste or nutritional value (sterilization= all bacteria are destroyed).

Which milk has the most estrogen? ›

Because hormones like estrogen are fat-soluble, the level of hormones is higher in whole milk than in skim milk.

Does boiling destroy estrogen? ›

Boiling your tap water will not get rid of hormones and other pharmaceuticals.

Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12? ›

Fruits like apples, bananas, blueberries and oranges are some fruits that are high in vitamin B12.

Does coffee deplete vitamin B12? ›

Furthermore, caffeine interferes with the metabolism of certain B vitamins, including thiamine. However, because caffeine increases stomach acid secretion, it actually boosts the absorption of vitamin B12.

What deficiency causes nerve pain? ›

Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage. This may be permanent if you do not start treatment within 6 months of when your symptoms begin. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia most often responds well to treatment. It will likely get better when the underlying cause of the deficiency is treated.

Do Almonds contain B12? ›

Nuts are a great source of plant-based protein, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, which all help to boost the intake of essential nutrients in any diet – plant-based or animal-based. While they are not high in B12, they contain a whole spectrum of nutrients that help to optimise overall health and well-being.

What is the most common cause of B12 deficiency? ›

Diet. Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.

What happens when milk is boiled? ›

Milk is a mixture (called an emulsion) of butterfat, proteins, and water. When milk is boiled, the three components of the emulsion break apart: the milk proteins coagulate and separate from the water, producing what is commonly known as curdled milk. This is how cheese is made.

Does boiled milk have less calcium? ›

Reduction in calcium content

A 2016 study found that the calcium content of non-processed milk was reduced by 10-14% when it was boiled. It also found that the calcium content of pasteurized milk was reduced by 6-7% when boiled.

Which step kills the bacteria in milk? ›

Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill harmful germs. Pasteurized milk is milk that has gone through this process.

Why do Europeans not refrigerate milk? ›

Turns out, the major difference lies in the method by which milk is processed. Almost all milk is pasteurized, meaning it undergoes extreme heat in order to kill illness-causing bacteria. The U.S. and Canada use a pasteurizing technique called high-temperature short-time pasteurization, or HTST.

Why do we not recommend higher heat treatment to milk? ›

Besides killing microbes, heating inactivates enzymes present in milk that can have a negative impact on taste and appearance during storage. Shelf life refers to the length of time food products are stable and viable for consumption.

Does boiling milk remove hormones? ›

Boiling milk can help eliminate traces of oxytocin. Oxytocin is one such injection that not only affects the cattle but also humans. The injected oxytocin reaches the human body through consumption of milk or any other dairy product causing several side effects on all.

Should we boil milk for long time? ›

According to experts, milk subjected to less heating retains its nutrient value. Experts say milk should ideally be boiled not more than twice and not for more than 2-3 minutes.

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