Five Things That Happen When You Drink Milk

The most well-known nutrient in milk is calcium. When you drink an 8-oz. serving of milk your body gets 30% of the recommended daily intake. According to the California Dairy Council, building strong bones is comparable to having a savings account. Up until age 30, you’re able to store away all those minerals in your bones, building up your wealth (or health) for the future. Our bodies are always removing small amounts of calcium from our bones and replacing it with new calcium. When your body doesn’t have enough new calcium, your bones become weak.

Another essential nutrient in milk is phosphorus. The University of Maryland notes that next to calcium, phosphorus is the most abundant mineral in the body. Phosphorus and calcium work together to build strong bones. A bonus? Phosphorus also helps reduce muscle pain after a workout.

You get 25% of your recommended daily value of vitamin D in a glass of milk. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Which, as we just learned, is pretty important!

Milk contains riboflavin and niacin, which are also known as vitamins B2 and B3, respectively. The University of Maryland states that all B vitamins help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy! Pretty cool, huh?

Milk contains protein, which makes you feel fuller longer. For a snack that will satisfy, pair milk (or any other dairy product) with carbohydrates, such as fruits or whole grains. Milk is a tried-and-true source of protein.

Milk contains potassium, which triggers your heart to squeeze blood through the body and enables your heart to beat in a healthy way. According to WebMD, a diet high in fruits, vegetables and fat-free or low-fat dairy foods can help cut systolic blood pressure by more than 10 points in people with high blood pressure. Milk also contains vitamin B-12, which helps to keep your red blood cells healthy.

Milk contains 10% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A. According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin A is a group of antioxidant compounds that play an important role in vision. Vitamin A also helps the surface of the eye, mucous membranes and skin be effective barriers to bacteria and viruses.