Should you consume dairy products in the winter?

Lots of people like to indulge in a hot cup of chocolate in the winter, but some people think it's better to avoid milk in the cold season. We decided to check if it had any basis. The conclusions are encouraging

No association was found between dairy consumption and the formation of phlegm. Woman snuggling with hot drink (Photo: shutterstock)

Woman pampering at home (Photo: ShutterStock)

Winter is already here. And although the weather continues to fool us, it is impossible to ignore the fact that it is already much colder outside. While winter brings with it the cozy inverted blankets and crests, as well as the colds and illnesses. Therefore, it is likely that even if you are a lover of the cold seasons, this part is a little less awaited.

Each year, questions arise about different foods and their relationship to the body's tendency to develop winter illnesses or to exacerbate the various symptoms. Sometimes and unfortunately, these questions are joined by quite a few myths, without any solid scientific basis. One example in this regard is dairy products.

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We decided to make it easier for you and start from the end - so far there is no scientific connection between consumption of dairy products and the formation of mucus, runny nose, cold or any other winter sickness. And to elaborate a little more, let's see what the scientific literature has to say:

An up-to-date 2019 review article published in the journal BMJ reviewed various human studies and detailed their results. For example, an Australian study mentioned 60 people suffering from a common cold that causes the virus to become cold. For 10 days, data on milk intake, amount of saliva and other symptoms were collected. The authors note that the researchers found no association between milk intake and symptoms associated with the upper and / or lower respiratory tract and no association between dairy consumption and an increase in mucus or compression.

Does not aggravate cooling symptoms. Milk in coffee (Photo: Giphy)

Milk in coffee (Photo: Giphy)

Another review article from 2009 also examined the issue and found no connection between milk intake and worsening of cooling symptoms, respiratory secretions and cough. This article also addresses the issue of asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. The authors note that even though there is a myth here that links dairy consumption with the worsening disease, there is no scientific evidence to justify avoiding dairy products.

The authors of the two articles also note that even when comparing dairy products with dairy substitutes, consumption of dairy products was not found to worsen symptoms.

Another figure mentioned in both articles addresses the importance of consuming dairy products for proper development and growth. This is because milk is a major source of calcium and many vitamins and minerals, which are especially critical during growth and preventing osteoporosis later in life. It is also noted that in children who avoided milk, various physical problems such as soft bones and growth delays were discovered.

Taking into account that scientific review articles base their conclusions on a number of different studies, it is understandable that the concern about the effect of dairy products on exacerbating cold symptoms is not merely a scientific fact but a myth. Therefore, if you are used to and like to consume dairy products, there is no reason to stop consuming them, even if the winter has come, and if you have had an annoying cold.

So what do you drink?

Both calcium and antioxidants. Hot chocolate (Photo: ShutterStock)

Hot chocolate (Photo: ShutterStock)

There are quite a few hot drinks with milk that will warm you this winter. From hot chocolate, where you will also get antioxidants thanks to cocoa beans, through milk-based Indian chai, which also contains black tea that is rich in antioxidants and a mixture of spices, hot tea with milk, hot milk with cinnamon, orchid and more. And if you have a hot treat that is also satisfying, you can also add warm milk to oatmeal.