Milk has a history as ancient as humanity itself, having been consumed for over 6,000 years. From the moment they are born, humans experience the taste of their mother’s milk, and throughout their lives, dairy products have accompanied them.
Milk is packed with beneficial elements. In addition to its primary component—calcium—it contains vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus, which help the body absorb calcium. Calcium strengthens bone tissue and aids in collagen formation. This makes milk particularly beneficial for women at an age when the risk of osteoporosis, which leads to brittle bones, increases. It’s also extremely useful for those engaged in heavy physical labor, as it contains riboflavin and a significant amount of carbohydrates and proteins necessary for maintaining muscle tone. Just half a liter of milk meets at least 20% of your daily protein needs.
For those suffering from high blood pressure, milk is also very beneficial. Additionally, it reduces the risk of certain types of cancer. Dairy products support normal intestinal function, which in turn positively affects the immune system. If you’ve ingested acid, alkali, alcohol, spoiled food, or heavy metals, drinking one to one and a half liters of warm whole milk can help mitigate the effects. And if you’re having trouble sleeping, a glass of warm milk before bed can do wonders.
As mentioned earlier, the calcium in milk helps the body produce collagen, one of the most effective agents in combating skin aging. Along with phosphorus, calcium supports the health and natural whiteness of teeth. Because of these properties, milk is widely used in the production of skincare and haircare products. You can also use dairy products for cosmetic purposes at home.
– If you have dry and split ends, a kefir hair mask can be beneficial. Apply warmed kefir to your hair 30-60 minutes before washing and wrap it in a warm towel.
– For sunburn, you can use kefir or sour cream (a classic remedy). These products help the skin heal quickly. If you make it a habit to apply them every time you come back from the beach, your skin won’t peel in a few days as it usually does.
– For bags or dark circles under the eyes, use cottage cheese. Wrap it in cheesecloth and place it on your eyes for 15-20 minutes. The bags will disappear immediately. If you do this daily, the dark circles will fade in about ten days.
– There are also recipes for the body. Mix ground coffee with sour cream or heavy cream, and optionally add honey. This creates a sort of scrub that you apply to your body with massaging motions and rinse off after a few minutes without soap. This will give your skin firmness and smoothness that you will notice after the first use. Additionally, coffee helps combat cellulite and gives the skin a light tan.
– You can also take what are known as Cleopatra’s Baths, named after the woman who is still celebrated for her beauty. For this, take 2-3 liters of milk (ideally donkey milk, but any will do) and add a cup of honey. Dissolve it in a warm bath and soak for 30-40 minutes. After the procedure, you’ll see how soft and supple your skin becomes.
Milk is also great for cooking. For instance, soaking dried mushrooms in milk makes them indistinguishable from fresh ones after boiling. Soaking beef liver in milk for about an hour will make it juicy and tender when cooked. Mashed potatoes and porridge made with milk are far tastier and heartier than those made with water. Ice cream, candies, chocolate, and nearly all types of dough and cake creams are made from milk. Here’s a simple recipe for a delicious cake.
In 400g of kefir or sour cream, add 2 eggs and 200-400g of sugar, mix well, then add 2-3 cups of flour with baking powder. Knead the dough to a medium thickness, add vanilla, candied fruits, or dried fruits. Line a baking pan with parchment paper, grease it with butter, pour in the batter, and place it in the oven at 220 degrees Celsius (428 degrees Fahrenheit). Try not to open the oven for the first 30 minutes. Baking time is 40-50 minutes. While the cake is in the oven, prepare the milk cream. For this, mix half a liter of milk with 6 tablespoons of flour, stir, and bring to a boil over low heat. Then let the mixture cool. Beat 200-250g of butter with powdered sugar and gradually add the cooled mixture. Whip with a mixer. Now cut the cake in half, spread cream in between, and also apply cream on top. It’s delicious!
In addition to sweets, milk can also be used to prepare meat and fish dishes, as well as various sauces. Try this recipe for chicken fillet in creamy sauce.
Cut about 700g of chicken fillet and lightly fry it until golden brown. Then sauté about 500g of mushrooms. Sauté bell pepper, cut into strips, in butter. Mix all the ingredients and simmer for 5-10 minutes. While the chicken is simmering, take some whole milk or cream, add flour, and mix thoroughly. For 1 cup of milk, you’ll need 1 tablespoon of flour (if making a sauce, use 1.5-2 cups of flour for 1 cup of milk). Add the mixture to the sautéed ingredients, bring to a boil, and simmer for another 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Enjoy!