Shëndeti

Drinking 3 glasses of milk a day can prevent Alzheimer's disease, says the study

Drinking 3 glasses of milk a day can prevent Alzheimer's disease, says the
Antioxidants in cow's milk may slow brain aging and protect against Alzheimer's, study finds
As a society, we tend to think of milk as a beverage best enjoyed by children.

And that's not technically wrong: cow's milk has the best nutritional benefits for growing children, and once they get older, they lose almost the ability to properly digest milk.

But older adults may have more to gain from drinking milk than we think, according to a new study published by the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

The research, carried out by a team of scientists at the University of Kansas (KU) Medical Center in the US, found that elderly people who drink three glasses of milk every day have higher levels of a powerful antioxidant that can protect the brain from aging and diseases related to aging.

This antioxidant, called glutathione, or GSH, has the power to prevent our brain from being "corroded" by free radicals and other oxidants, which are normally released when our brain converts nutrients into energy.

It's a natural process that KU scientists describe as akin to "an old car rusting," and that experts have linked to many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

As we age, the levels of GHS in our brain decrease and we gradually lose this ally that protects our brain.

Should we start drinking more milk?

The answer may be a bit more complicated than the US study would initially suggest.

Milk is often recommended for older people, as the high calcium content in cow's milk and other products is said to strengthen bones and keep them healthy.

But studies have also found an increased risk of heart-related disease in people who consume milk versus those who follow a vegan diet.

The KU researchers said more research is needed to understand exactly why milk consumption was found to increase GSH levels in the brain.

Tiranapost.al