Should adults drink milk for strong bones?

Happy Asian Senior Couple laughing and drinking milk from the glasses together on the morning.

Growing up, most children heard the same refrain from an adult.

 

“Drink your milk!”

 

As an adult, the question may linger: Should adults drink milk for strong bones? Is milk the best choice for bone health?

 

Milk is probably one of the most ubiquitous drinks around the globe. An infant’s life journey begins with milk. Traditionally, dairy milk was accessible across economies and cultures, coming from sheep, cows, goats, and even camels. 

 

Today, more plant-based milk products like almond milk offer consumers even more choices beyond animal milk. Milk comes in many forms: pasteurized, raw, flavored, organic, fat-free, lactose-free, and fortified with extra vitamins or minerals.

Reasons people avoid milk

 

Over a lifetime, individual milk consumption may change for many reasons, including:

 

  • Dietary restrictions or a specific lifestyle like paleo or vegan
  • Allergic response to milk
  • Intolerance to casein or lactose
  • Ethical or philosophical objections
  • Disease or special conditions
  • Medication interaction
  • Concern about excessive hormones

Health benefits of drinking milk

 

Besides being the perfect mate to a few cookies, milk has several benefits when included in a daily diet.

Good for bones

Milk is a great source of vitamin D and calcium, both of which contribute to strong bone and skeletal health. Keeping bones strong is important to prevent osteoporosis.

Protein choice

Milk is a good source of protein which helps muscle mass and can be an ideal choice for a morning or afternoon snack.

Milk alternatives

For milk enthusiasts who can’t tolerate animal milk, many alternatives exist that may help fill the diet dairy void. It’s important to be aware that plant-based milk alternatives, however, may lack the fortified vitamins of regular milk and may contain more sugar.

 

Here’s a partial list of milk alternatives to consider and each with their own particular benefits.

 

  • Oat milk
  • Almond milk
  • Soy milk
  • Coconut milk
  • Rice milk
  • Hemp milk

 

Since alternative products have different benefits, take time to research which one best fits for bone health.

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Content contained on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your health care provider before beginning any new fitness or dietary plan. References provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Should you have any health-related questions, you should contact your health care provider.

 

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