New Study Links Cow’s Milk To Higher Risk Of Deadly Heart Disease For Certain People

ByCheng_Angel

Nov 25, 2024

A recent study has suggested that drinking cow’s milk could have serious effects on heart health, but it’s not a concern for everyone.In the world of nutrition, it can be tricky to know what foods and drinks are beneficial or harmful to your body.

Researchers and nutrition experts worldwide are constantly studying the effects of various foods on health, looking into both short-term and long-term impacts.

Now, researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden have identified a potential health risk associated with drinking cow’s milk, although it doesn’t apply universally.According to findings reported by the Mirror, all types of cow’s milk, including skimmed, could pose risks because of the lactose content, which has been linked to inflammation and cellular damage, adding strain to the heart.

Coronary heart disease, often called the “silent killer,” is a leading cause of death in many parts of the world.

You might want to think twice about that glass of milkGetty Stock Image

However, it appears that the risk mainly affects women, likely because men are able to digest lactose more efficiently.The study, which involved 101,000 participants, found that women who drank around 400ml of milk daily—a bit more than half a pint—had a five percent increased risk of coronary heart disease.

The risk grew with higher consumption levels: for women drinking 600ml, the risk increased by 12 percent, and by 21 percent for those consuming 800ml daily.

Choosing skimmed or semi-skimmed milk doesn’t seem to reduce the risk, as the study showed that the harmful effects of milk were not affected by fat content.Given that milk is used in so many everyday foods and drinks, like lattes, cereal, and hot chocolate, people might be consuming more milk than they realize.

The scientists suggested that substituting some of the milk intake with yogurt could help lower these risks.

While milk can be beneficial there are increased risks from drinking cows milk according to a new studyGetty Stock Image

Study author Professor Karl Michaëlsson wrote in the journal BMC Medicine: “A healthy diet is essential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Our analysis supports an association between milk intake higher than 300ml per day and higher rates of ischaemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction [heart attack] specifically, in women, but not in men.”“The higher risk in women was evident irrespective of the fat content of the milk. Replacing non-fermented milk with moderate fermented milk intake could lower the risks.”

These days, there are a growing number of alternatives to cow’s milk that are easy to find and may offer a healthier choice.While cutting out cow’s milk entirely isn’t necessary—since it is still a good source of protein and calcium—it might be worthwhile to consider other options for a balanced diet.