Saed News: Many parents believe that the more milk a child drinks, the taller they will grow; however, a nutrition specialist says this belief is not scientifically correct, and excessive milk consumption may even have negative effects on children’s health and nutrition.
According to SAEDNEWS, Dr. Mohammad Safarian, referring to the role of milk and dairy in human nutrition, stated that milk and dairy products are one of the six main food groups that must be included in a balanced diet. However, their intake should be based on defined servings that vary across different age groups.
For milk consumption, he recommends two servings for children, three servings during growth periods such as puberty or preschool age, about three servings for pregnant women, three servings for breastfeeding women, and four servings for young pregnant and lactating women.
Regarding low-fat and full-fat milk, he said that for adults—especially in middle age—low-fat milk is better. However, for children and other groups, milk should not be low-fat, and full-fat dairy is recommended. Milk and dairy products are sensitive to light, which is why they are packaged in light-protective containers, as light can break down some nutrients.
Milk fat is considered beneficial, so low-fat dairy is generally not recommended for children. However, for overweight or middle-aged individuals, low-fat dairy may be somewhat better due to weight-related concerns.
He added that milk contains important nutrients such as calcium and riboflavin (vitamin B2), which are commonly deficient in some populations. Dairy is also a major source of vitamin B2, so it should not be removed from the diet unless in cases of allergy.
Cow’s milk is preferred, buffalo milk is also recommended, but sheep and goat milk are not suitable for long-term use in children due to low folic acid content. Some parents wrongly insist that children should drink milk instead of even water, believing it will increase height; this is not correct, and consuming more than the recommended amount may even have negative effects.
Dr. Safarian stated that when a diet becomes unbalanced and one food group is consumed excessively, intake of other food groups decreases, which can harm nutritional balance. Excessive dairy consumption may lead to iron and zinc deficiency; therefore, exceeding recommended amounts is not advised.
He also emphasized that factory-produced, pasteurized dairy products are much safer than bulk or unregulated products because they are tested and controlled for quality under health supervision. In contrast, bulk milk is harder to regulate hygienically.
Regarding infant milk consumption, he noted that milk is usually introduced around 8 months to 1 year of age, preferably after one year to avoid sensitivity issues. It should initially be diluted and then gradually replaced with regular milk. Boiling milk for 5–7 minutes is sufficient, and overheating should be avoided as it damages its structure.
Finally, he stressed that several misconceptions about dairy products exist in society and are not scientifically valid.
