Milk increases the risk of a heart attack for around half of the world’s population, research shows.
All cow’s milk, even the low-fat skimmed, is said to be a danger because its sugar, lactose, triggers harmful inflammation and cell damage. This ages the heart faster, according to scientists’ brand new findings.
But the issue was found to apparently only affect women, as the researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden have discovered men digest the sugar more effectively.
The team carried out a study involving 101,000 people and found that consuming 400ml of the white stuff each day, about two thirds of a pint, was linked to a five per cent higher risk of coronary heart disease.
Coronary heart disease, often described as heart disease, is one of the most common causes of death in India, according to a 2023 report by American College of Cardiology, heart disease account for approximately 30% of deaths in India.
37 percent of People in India consume an estimated 1.5 to 2 litres of milk every day.
Large cups at high street coffee shops often contain a pint of liquid and most of it is milk in a latte or cappuccino. The researchers said swapping some milk in your diet with yoghurt would be healthier.
The danger escalated with higher milk intake in women participants, showing a 12 per cent rise for 600ml per day and 21 per cent for 800ml.
In a recent BMC Medicine article, Professor Karl Michaëlsson highlighted the importance of nutrition in staving off heart conditions. He said: “A healthy diet is essential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Our analysis supports an association between milk intake higher than 300ml per day and higher rates of ischaemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction [heart attack] specifically, in women, but not in men.”, reports the Mirror.
“The higher risk in women was evident irrespective of the fat content of the milk. Replacing non-fermented milk with moderate fermented milk intake could lower the risks.”
Products such as yoghurt, buttermilk, and sour cream fall into the category of fermented milk.
Milk is rich in protein and calcium, and does not necessarily object to its consumption, however, it is suggested people can switch to lower-fat options to reduce their calorie intake.
