Milk can be drunk in the morning and the night before bed, most people like to take it the night before bed because it calms your mind and helps you sleep better (increases sleep hormone). It will allow you to work all day if you use it in the morning but 85% of people eat at night. If your goal is to reduce fat you can drink low-fat milk anytime in the morning or before bedtime.
Is time important?
In some cases, drinking milk at certain times may help you to reap the many benefits.
For general health
Milk provides a variety of health-promoting nutrients, and drinking a glass at mealtime is an easy way to incorporate them into your diet.
In fact, 1 cup (240 ml) of whole milk contains:
- Calories: 149
- Protein: 8 grams
- Fat: 8 grams
- Carbs: 12 grams
- Calcium: 21% Daily Value (DV)
- Magnesium: 6% DV
- Potassium: 7% DV
- Vitamin D: 16% DV
Milk calcium supports bone growth, while magnesium and potassium are important in controlling blood pressure. This ubiquitous beverage is low in calories but high in protein.
In the United States, many dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, another nutrient that improves bone health by helping your body absorb calcium. However, not all countries consolidate their milk supply.
However, no studies are suggesting that there is a specific time to drink milk to reap its common health benefits.
Weight loss and muscle gain
As milk is rich in protein, it can help to lose weight and build muscle. A protein-rich diet like milk can increase weight loss by improving metabolism and increasing post-meal fullness, which can lead to a reduction in daily calorie intake. Besides, drinking milk after exercise supports muscle growth and improved body composition. One 3-month study in 10 young women found that those who drank lean milk 5 days a week after strength training saw a greater improvement in muscle mass and fat loss, compared with those who did not drink milk. Based on these results, the best time to drink milk to promote muscle growth and weight loss seems to be after exercise. However, keep in mind that drinking too much milk can lead to weight gain due to a high-calorie diet.
By improving digestion
Some people believe that milk strengthens the digestive tract, even though scientific evidence does not support this conclusion. Therefore, there is no recommended time of day to drink milk to help digestion. Similarly, you can try to drink it with food to see if you notice the difference. However, other boiled dairy products, including yogurt and kefir, can promote healthy digestion and movement. These contain probiotics or beneficial bacteria that support your gut microbiome.
FAQ
Is it good to drink milk at night for weight loss?
The better sleep that drinking milk gives you makes you burn more calories. We burn calories while we sleep and a better sleep means more calorie burn. A cup of milk reduced my appetite and stopped me bingeing even if I was awake late at night.
Is it better to drink milk in the morning or night?
Drinking milk at night promotes Ojas. 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.
How much milk should you drink a day to lose weight?
Keep in mind that flavored milk may taste better but isn't necessarily your best bet to lose weight. It is laden with calories so it is advisable to stick to regular milk. For an adult around 250 ml of milk per day (a regular cup) packs around 150 calories, while a glass of skimmed milk contains just 83 calories.
