In the same way as cheese or yogurt, cow’s milk is one of the essential everyday products. But it can sometimes be difficult to digest: bloating, abdominal pain or even diarrhea can occur after consuming it. However, these inconveniences are not inevitable: the temperature at which the milk is tasted could help to alleviate them, according to a dietitian-nutritionist.
Milk, a product that is sometimes difficult to digest
Appreciated by young and old alike, cow’s milk is a food widely consumed on a daily basis for its intake of calcium (an essential mineral for bone health), proteins (it also contains the 8 amino acids essential to the body) and vitamins (A, D and B). It also contains phosphorus, a mineral which plays a key role in the formation of bones and teeth.
However, despite its nutritional qualities, not everyone easily digests this milk drink. Lactose, a sugar naturally present in milk, often poses a problem. To be properly digested, it requires an enzyme called lactase, produced in the small intestine. However, in many adults, lactase production decreases with age. Result: lactose is poorly assimilated and ferments in the colon, causing bloating, abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea. We then speak of lactose intolerance, which must however be distinguished from the more serious milk protein allergy.
The digestion of milk also depends on other factors, such as the quantity consumed (small doses are often better tolerated), the time of intake (milk is sometimes better digested when accompanied by other foods), the form of the product (fermented products such as yogurt or certain cheeses contain less lactose) and… the temperature at which it is consumed.
Hot milk or cold milk: which one to choose for your digestion?
The difference between the two is quite minimal. In fact, hot milk can be slightly easier to digest, simply because the body does not need to warm it up as is the case with cold milk, explains Pauline Pied.
“The milk already arrives at temperature, which makes the digestive work and that of the enzymes a little easier, especially for proteins. On the other hand, with regard to lactose, this does not change much. A person who is intolerant to lactose will remain intolerant, whether the milk is hot or cold”, recalls the expert. “There is also a notion of tolerated quantity, which varies according to each person’s level of sensitivity to lactose. she specifies.
In summary, warm milk can therefore be digested a little better,”although this difference remains small“, concludes Pauline Pied.