Indian journalist finds surprising health benefits of drinking milk before bed
Shreya Khurana, an editor at the "Times of India", was not fond of milk as a child. This makes it even more surprising that she chose to take on a nutritional challenge in which she drank a glass of milk every night before sleep.
"I didn't develop a liking for milk until I started college. I remember how my mother would insist on me consuming a glass of milk before heading to school," reminisces Shreya Khurana in her article. Additionally, she confesses that milk made her feel nauseous, and she couldn't bear its aroma. As such, whenever her mother handed her a glass of milk, Shreya would promptly dispose of it down the sink.
Nonetheless, she decided to take a risk and assess if consistent milk consumption would ameliorate her health. "Not only do children need milk. We, adults, need it too. It contains vital nutrients such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, and Vitamin B," she penned in her article.
The initial effects emerged rapidly, right at the onset of the experiment. Shreya confessed that almost instantly, her digestion improved, and constipation issues ceased. The rhythm of her bowel movements regularized - she always had to use the restroom shortly after waking up. Owing to this, she started her day feeling better and lighter.
Subsequently, she noted an enhancement in her sleep quality. Shreya had a long battle with falling asleep and would often wake up multiple times at night. How did her problems spontaneously dissipate? Milk contains tryptophan, which beneficially affects our sleep. This amino acid transitions into serotonin, commonly known as the happiness hormone. This subsequently amplifies the concentration of melatonin, assisting the editor in achieving improved sleep.
Another outcome of the 30-day challenge was weight reduction. Shreya lost 3.3 lbs in a month. Interestingly, her diet remained constant - the sole alteration was regular milk consumption.