Humans have been drinking milk for more than 6,000 years. From the moment they’re born, people taste their mother’s milk, and dairy products often stay with them throughout life.
Milk is packed with nutrients. In addition to its primary mineral—calcium—it contains vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus, which help the body absorb calcium. Calcium strengthens bone tissue and supports collagen formation. That makes milk especially useful for women as they get older and the risk of osteoporosis increases. Milk is also helpful for people who do heavy physical work because it provides riboflavin and a significant amount of the carbohydrates and proteins needed to maintain muscle tone. Just half a liter of milk supplies at least 20% of daily protein needs.
Milk can also be helpful for people with high blood pressure. It may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Dairy products support normal intestinal function, which in turn benefits the immune system. If you’ve swallowed an acid, alkali, alcohol, spoiled food, or certain heavy metals, drinking 1 to 1.5 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 help.
As mentioned earlier, the calcium in milk helps the body produce collagen, a key protein in slowing skin aging. Along with phosphorus, calcium supports healthy, naturally white teeth. Because of these properties, milk is widely used in skincare and haircare products, and you can use dairy products for cosmetic treatments at home.
– If you have dry, split ends, try a kefir hair mask. Apply warmed kefir to your hair 30–60 minutes before washing and wrap it in a warm towel.
– For sunburn, use kefir or sour cream. These products help the skin heal more quickly. Apply them each time you return from the beach to reduce peeling.
– For under-eye bags or dark circles, use cottage cheese. Wrap it in cheesecloth and place it on your eyes for 15–20 minutes. The puffiness will subside immediately, and daily use can fade dark circles in about ten days.
– For the body, mix ground coffee with sour cream or heavy cream and optionally add honey. Apply the scrub with massaging motions and rinse off after a few minutes without soap. You should notice firmer, smoother skin after the first use. Coffee also helps fight cellulite and gives the skin a light tan.
– Try a version of Cleopatra’s bath: pour 2–3 liters of milk (donkey milk if available, but any milk will do) and a cup of honey into a warm bath. Soak for 30–40 minutes. After the bath, your skin will feel soft and supple.
Milk is great for cooking, too. Soaking dried mushrooms in milk makes them taste much like fresh ones after boiling. Soaking beef liver in milk for about an hour makes it juicy and tender when cooked. Mashed potatoes and porridge made with milk are tastier and more filling than those made with water. Ice cream, candies, chocolate, and many doughs and cake creams are made from milk. Here’s a simple cake recipe.
In 400 g of kefir or sour cream, add 2 eggs and 200–400 g of sugar; mix well. Then add 2–3 cups of flour mixed with baking powder. Knead the dough to a medium thickness and add vanilla, candied fruit, or dried fruit. Line a baking pan with parchment paper, grease it with butter, pour in the batter, and bake at 220 degrees Celsius (428 degrees Fahrenheit). Don’t open the oven for the first 30 minutes. Bake for 40–50 minutes. While the cake is in the oven, make the milk cream: mix 1/2 liter of milk with 6 tablespoons of flour, stir, and bring to a boil over low heat. Cool the mixture. Beat 200–250 g of butter with powdered sugar, then gradually add the cooled milk mixture and whip with a mixer. Cut the cake in half, spread the cream between the layers, and frost the top. It’s delicious!
In addition to sweets, milk can be used to prepare meat and fish dishes and a variety of sauces. Try this chicken fillet in creamy sauce.
Cut about 700 g of chicken fillet and lightly fry it until golden brown. Sauté about 500 g of mushrooms. Sauté a bell pepper, cut into strips, in butter. Mix the ingredients and simmer for 5–10 minutes. While the chicken is simmering, mix whole milk or cream with flour until smooth. For 1 cup of milk, use 1 tablespoon of flour (for a thicker sauce, use 1.5–2 tablespoons per cup). Add the mixture to the sautéed ingredients, bring to a boil, and simmer for another 5 minutes while stirring constantly. Enjoy!
