Syed Mohammad Ehsanur Rahman, PhD: World Milk Day is an annual event celebrated on June 1st, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The purpose of this day is to acknowledge the significance of milk as a vital food source worldwide. Since its inception in 2001, it aims to raise awareness and highlight various activities associated with the dairy industry. World Milk Day serves as a platform to promote the importance of milk and its contributions to nutrition and global food security.
Milk and Brain Health
Milk is a powerhouse of nutrients, boasting nine grams of protein per cup, plus an array of brain-supporting vitamins and minerals. Studies show that a higher intake of dairy, calcium and vitamin D are associated with protective effects on mental health. Studies show that getting enough calcium may help prevent depression. Calcium is part of the pathway that leads to serotonin synthesis (serotonin plays a key role in regulating mood). Low vitamin D has also been linked with depression. Vitamin D activates the gene expression of enzymes that help produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline. Low levels of these neurotransmitters have been linked to mood disorders, so getting enough vitamin D is important. Milk also contains a variety of B-vitamins, including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, riboflavin and niacin, which are vital for mental health and cognitive function. B-vitamins act as co-factors in cellular processes related to regulating mood.
A recent study of children aged 7-17 years looked at associations between dairy foods, depression and anxiety. The researchers found that children who consumed dairy most often had lower scores for depression and anxiety.
The Kansas University Medical Center (US) research team found that older adults who drink three cups of dairy milk a day can increase their brain’s level of glutathione (GSH), a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the brain from some of the damage that accompanies aging and aging-related diseases. The typical American adult over age 60 drinks less than two cups of milk per day, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just like an old car that rusts, the human brain becomes corroded over time by free radicals and other oxidants that are released as the brain converts nutrients into energy. This oxidative stress, as it’s called, is believed to be a major mechanism of brain aging as well as many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. GSH helps stave off oxidative stress and the damage it causes.
But as people age, brain levels of GSH tend to fall. It's exciting that something as simple as drinking milk can increase GSH because it’s not a drug, it’s just a simple food. Many of you are thinking fruits and vegetables would be highly correlated with antioxidants in the brain. But instead it is dairy, and among the dairy foods, it is milk. That is really surprising.
Writer: Food Quality & Safety
Department of Animal Science
Bangladesh Agricultural University
