Should you drink milk before going to bed? | The Times of India (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to drink milk before bedtime? ›

Drinking milk before bed does not appear to have documented negative side effects in most people. Some people, however, might want to avoid milk.

According to ayurveda, milk provides special and unique nutrition that cannot be derived from any other type of food. Milk, when digested properly, nourishes all the tissues, promotes balanced emotions, and helps to balance all the doshas. It is one of the most important foods to promote ojas.

According to Ayurvedic medicine, an alternative health system with roots in India, cow's milk should be consumed in the evening ( 1 ). This is because the Ayurvedic school of thought considers milk to be sleep-inducing and heavy to digest, making it unsuitable as a morning drink.

Tryptophan helps build the hormone serotonin, which is a precursor to melatonin. Serotonin helps regulate the sleep and wake cycle, and melatonin can induce sleep. As you can see, drinking a glass of warm milk before bed can be loosely linked to sleep using science.

As per Ayurveda, the best time to consume milk for adults is before bedtime. As for kids, Ayurveda recommends an early morning dose of milk. Drinking milk at night promotes 'Ojas'. Ojas is referred to as a state in Ayurveda when you achieve proper digestion.

Hindus use milk and its products for religious purposes because it is believed to have purifying qualities: ghee, or clarified butter, is used in lamps for rituals; milk is used to bathe Hindu idols on special occasions; sweets made from milk or ghee are used as offerings to gods.

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.

This is due to the phenomenon of surface tension, whereby the fluid tries to minimise its surface area. If a spoon is filled with milk or water and taken to the mouth of an idol, or indeed any statue, then it is natural that the upper lip on the idol will touch the surface.

Ayurveda also notes that dairy products, like sugars, if taken in excess, become harmful, particularly if they are cold. Their damp and heavy nature can clog the channels of circulation. This can aggravate many chronic diseases, such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, or heart disease.

Banyan's Turmeric Milk Mix combines turmeric with other sleep-supportive herbs like ashwagandha, ginger, and cardamom, to name a few. For this easy drink, just warm a cup of your favorite milk, add 1½ teaspoons of Turmeric Milk Mix, and enjoy.

What can I drink at night Ayurveda? ›

Drinking milk at night promotes Ojas. Ojas is referred to as a state in Ayurveda when you achieve proper digestion. Milk also has sedative properties, thus drinking milk before bedtime can calm you and help you get a sound sleep. The calcium absorption from milk is also better at night due to less activity levels.

Liver functioning. One last caution about having a warm glass of milk before bed is that it can interfere with the liver. According to nutritionist Anju Sood, at night your liver is hard at work detoxing junk from your body. Turns out milk can actually interfere with that process.

Milk contains tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps us sleep better. Tryptophan converts into serotonin, the hormone that gives you pleasure. Serotonin also increases the amount of melatonin in your body and melatonin is the hormone responsible for good sleep.

Those who are not lactose-intolerant can have a glass of milk in the morning to ensure a supply of essential nutrients right at the start of the day. I don't see any problem in consuming milk on an empty stomach unless you suffer from poor digestion, gastric issues or are lactose intolerant," shared Dr.

Drinking cold milk in the night can add to your digestive troubles and discomfort, making it difficult to sleep. It is one of the best relievers for acidity that causes a burning sensation and keeps dehydration at bay.

It's packed with important nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, potassium and vitamin D. Plus, it's an excellent source of protein. Drinking milk and dairy products may prevent osteoporosis and bone fractures and even help you maintain a healthy weight.

Most of the milk is domestically consumed, though a small fraction is also exported. Indian cuisine, in particular North Indian cuisine, features a number of dairy products like paneer, while South Indian cuisine uses more yogurts and milk. Milk and dairy products play a part in Hindu religious practice and legend.

Milk holds prominence in the puja of Mahashivratri. As per Hindu scriptures, Lord Shiva performed the 'tandav' on an auspicious night. It's believed that the dance depicts the cycle of creation and destruction of the universe. To calm him, he is offered soothing items like milk and honey.

"But when we got the results, we said, 'No, only 18 percent of people in India are digesting milk, nobody else is. '" The mystery then is why so many people believe themselves to be lactose tolerant when they are in fact genetically unable to produce lactose into adulthood.

Think of this chain reaction: milk and almonds both give you protein; protein is needed for making hormones (testosterone and estrogen) and these two hormones means better SEX. Milk is considered an important part of the diet. Milk is a good (aphrodisiac), which means it strengthens the (reproductive tissue).

Why do we use white bedsheet on wedding night? ›

According to the custom, a bride's virginity is tested by looking for blood stains on a white sheet after the wedding night. The sheet is checked by the family and the groom has to declare before the elders whether the bride is a virgin.

Milk is a considered as aphrodisiac; i.e. it strengthens the reproductive tissue. It is vitalizing for re-productivity so that both the sex drive and the offspring is strong. Saffron is also used to increase interest in sex. Saffron prevents pre-mature ejacul*tion.

When it comes to veganism many people put forth the fact that Lord Krishna use to drink milk and eat butter, he didn't follow anything like veganism, then why should we. In India most people blindly follow our old mythological belief so this point is hard to argue with.

The idol at the Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg shrine would drink fruit and sugarcane juice as easily as milk. The popular Siddhivinayak temple decided to close its gates after the statue stopped drinking milk at about 12:30 noon. The sadhus of these temples blamed local nastiks (atheists) for the idols not drinking milk.

Milk Miracle of 1995: Science behind the phenomenon

He showed that the phenomenon was a result of Surface Tension and the capillary action. That means it was not religion but physics that came into picture later. Various scientists were invited to TV News channels to demonstrate the phenomenon.

Scientists report that 33 per cent of Indians, including 70 per cent of Southern Indians, are lactose-intolerant. This means that the body cannot break down the sugar found in dairy milk, which can lead to abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhoea.

The majority of Hindus are lacto-vegetarian (avoiding meat and eggs), although some may eat lamb, chicken or fish. Beef is always avoided because the cow is considered a holy animal, but dairy products are eaten. Animal-derived fats such as lard and dripping are not permitted.

According to Ayurveda, consumption of warm milk is highly recommended at night before a good night sleep. In The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasant Lad, it states, “Don't forget to drink a cup of hot milk, with a little ginger, cardamom and turmeric. Drinking milk at bedtime helps to induce sound sleep.

This is great news for Ayurveda: It means that Western science is using technology to prove what Ayurvedic practitioners have understood for thousands of years. Experts in both systems of medicine recommend an average of eight hours of sleep.

Why do I wake up at 3am Ayurveda? ›

If you find you're waking between midnight and 2am, in Ayurveda this is seen as a pitta (fire or heat) issue and relates to built-up pressure and stress. Waking disturbances, where you wake up early in the morning, say between 3am and 5am, is more related to vata (air) which is centred around worry and anxiety.

A staple of many diets in India, white rice when consumed a few hours before bed may help improve sleep quality and also help with longer duration of sleep. A bowl of white rice with some curry or even a little butter or ghee to pair with never hurt anyone.

Drinking warm milk before bed may help you relax, but there is no evidence that milk makes you sleepy. The drowsiness some people experience may be more from the warmth of the milk or a full stomach than the physical effect of any compound in milk.

cold milk for sleep. Proponents of consuming milk to induce sleep usually advocate for drinking it warm instead of cold, though there's no clear evidence to indicate a major advantage of either method.

Milk is a powerful symbol within most cultural traditions. It is the fluid of eternal life, fertility, abundance; it is the food of the gods, the first human diet, it flows freely in the "promised land of Canaan" (Biederman, 221). Milk symbolizes the MOTHER, it is deeply connected with life itself.

Milk decreases vata and pitta, but increases kapha. Milk is a good vrishya (aphrodisiac), which means it strengthens the shukra dhatu (reproductive tissue). Milk increases the kapha, and is heavy to digest; so, one should not take cold milk, as it tends to be heavier.

A sattvic diet includes water, fruits (all varieties), most vegetables, cereals, bread, pulses, nuts, oilseeds, dairy foods, and honey. Cow's milk is considered the most sattvic of all foods in this category.

Lacto-vegetarianism is favored by many Hindus, which includes milk-based foods and all other non-animal derived foods, but it excludes meat and eggs.

What prophet said about milk? ›

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Holy Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad said: “Cow milk has been bestowed to you. Milk of cow heals any pain and ache.” Imam Ali (AS) said: “Drinking milk can heal any pain except death.”

Milk in the Hadith

The Prophet(ﷺ) said, “Verily, Allah Almighty did not place an ailment but that he also placed its cure. You should drink the milk of cows, for they are given health by all kinds of plants.”

Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including “nu*trients of concern,” which are under-consumed by many populations ( 3 ). It provides potassium, B12, calcium and vitamin D, which are lacking in many diets ( 4 ). Milk is also a good source of vitamin A, magnesium, zinc and thiamine (B1).

Neutral Food

Now neutral foods are those that do not have yin or yang properties, and so are perfect for all types of constitutions, such as: Meat, seafood, dairy: oysters, fish, cow's milk, duck, pork, scallop.

Dairy is a traditionally sattvic food, but the way we treat cows today can be tamasic. What you choose to eat may be the most consistent and consequential interaction you have with your environment. Hindu teachings present our environment as not just a physical space, but a spiritual one of great consequence.

Physical Characteristics

Kapha types have a strong build and excellent stamina. Large, soft eyes; smooth, radiant skin; and thick hair are also important Kapha characteristics. Those who are predominantly Kapha sleep soundly and have regular digestion.

Most mild vegetables are considered sattvic. Pungent vegetables like hot peppers (rajasic), leek, garlic and onion (which are tamasic) are excluded, including mushrooms as all fungi) are also considered tamasic.

The following foods can be eaten liberally on the Sattvic diet ( 3 ): Land and sea vegetables: spinach, carrots, celery, potatoes, broccoli, kelp, lettuce, peas, cauliflower, etc. Fruits and fruit juices: apples, bananas, papaya, mangos, cherries, melons, peaches, guava, fresh fruit juices, etc.

Ghee: the most Satvik of them all

Some verses in the Vedas compare ghee directly to God. Ghee made only from the milk of desi cow by the natural Bilona process is pure, Satvik and fit for consumption.