National Milk Day is celebrated on November 26 every year on the occasion of the birthday of Dr Varghese Kurien, the father of the White Revolution.  The day holds a lot of importance as Varghese Kurien was born in the year 1921 in Kozhikode, Kerala. Kurien is also known as 'Milkman of India' was responsible for bringing the white revolution in India. Even though dieticians and health experts these days are advocating a dairy-free life, Consuming milk and other dairy products is very important to maintain good health. Apart from providing us with a number of essential nutrients, milk is considered to be a complete food in itself. Almond Milk, Quinoa Milk+ 4 Other Healthy Non-Dairy Substitute of Milk for Lactose Intolerants and Vegans. 

The nutritional profile of a glass of whole milk is made up of 149 calories and about 7.9 g fat and 4.6 g of saturated fat. While it may have O fibre content, whole milk is rich in 7.7 g protein. Whole milk also contains good fat that is often misunderstood to be unhealthy for your health. Whole milk is a great source of calcium as it contains 28% of DV calcium. Milk also contains 8% DV vitamin A and about 31% DV of vitamin D. Here are certain health benefits of Milk:

Healthy Bones: Milk is said to be rich in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D, all of these nutrients are known to help builds healthy bones and teeth. They also help maintain bone mass and restore bone strength

Muscle repair: Milk is a great source of protein as well. Not only does it serve as a source of energy in the body but also help build and repair muscle tissues.

Blood Pressure: Rich in potassium, milk helps in maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Nerves: Milk is can help maintain healthy red blood cells and nerve tissue because it is a great source of Vitamin B12. It is also known to have anti-ageing effects.

Build the Immune System: Ruch in vitamin A, milk is known to maintain the immune system while helping maintain normal vision and skin.

Energy: Milk is a great source of Riboflavin (B2) that converts food into energy and that is why milk is considered to be wholesome food. Milk also contains Niacin that helps metabolises sugars and fatty acids.

Different versions of Cow's milk such as low-fat milk, skimmed milk, zero-calorie milk are available in the market that contains low amount of fat in them. If you are a vegan or are lactose intolerant, you can try out Cashew milk, Soy milk, Almond milk, Coconut milk, Hemp milk etc.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).