A large glass of milk for Nicole Kidman: but what are its benefits?

“Go ass!” » On the occasion of the National Board of Review gala in New York this Tuesday, January 7, Nicole Kidman was awarded for her role in the film Babygirl. She plays a CEO who falls under the spell of an intern who turns her daily life upside down by allowing her to satisfy her BDSM fantasies.

After receiving her award and giving her speech, the Australian actress took the opportunity to make a daring nod to a scene from the film and drank, as dry as possible, a large glass of milk! Between lactose intolerance or personal taste, the consumption of milk does not always have a good press. So we asked a dietitian to answer our questions about its different benefits.

Often considered as a drink intended for the little ones, milk is nevertheless “an ally for life” assures dietitian Cécile Cottus. Source of vitamins and minerals for childrenmilk is also an important nutritional food for all ages and in which “we will find good nutritional density”, she explains. “That is to say, there is lots of useful calories for the body”, which is not the case for all foods and drinks such as those containing sugar.

Also, milk has a “ very good source of protein ». How to know? “With the Digestive Utilization Coefficient (CUD),” explains the nutritionist. This is the relationship between the amount of nutrient ingested and the one which, once digested, will be absorbed in the intestine. When it comes to milk or dairy products in general, the CUD is “very good”.

Furthermore, if there is one thing that you can be sure to find in your glass of milk, it is a good level of calcium, the benefits of which are also important for health.

There are several kinds of calcium that we find in particular in almonds or other foods, but it is in milk that we will find “a very interesting bioavailability of calcium, around 30 to 35%. Cécile Cottus, dietitian.

To get an idea, the Nutritional Information and Resources Center estimates that only half of the calcium needs would be satisfied if the food excluded milk or dairy products. And according to a recent British study, consuming the equivalent of a glass of milk per day would considerably reduce the risk of bowel cancer. Cécile Cottus also adds that it “reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases”.

Also, “milk proteins and calcium” will have an essential role in the prevention of osteoporosis, this disease bone mainly caused by aging which increases the risk of fracture (from the neck of the femur, the wrist, the vertebrae, etc.). Nicole Kidman, who is now 57 years old, therefore has every interest in drinking milk if she wants to keep her bones healthy.

Although beneficial, milk does not always have good press and is often found pushed aside while growing up. Either by desire, conviction or simply to reasons of intolerance. “In general, milk is abandoned because we no longer have a bowl of cereal in the morning or a glass of milk as a snack when we are adults,” believes Cécile Cottus. However, the National Nutrition and Health Plan (PNNS) recommends at least two servings of dairy products per day for an adult. “It can be a glass of milk, a piece of cheese or a yogurt, it’s good to diversify and above all to avoid products that are too fatty.”

However, some people have trouble digesting milk or any other dairy product. “You can feel heavy because of lactose, milk sugar which can be poorly digested,” explains the nutritionist. But that’s not the only reason. “There is an enzyme inside the body that allows digestion. And since sometimes we stopped milk quite early in our childhood, we stopped producing this enzyme which allows milk to be digested,” explains Cécile Cottus, adding that “this is why when we start drinking milk again one time, we have a little difficulty digesting it. »

In this case it may be recommended to turn to substitutes. “To find the same benefits, it was created from lactose-free milk. So that’s already a very effective first alternative,” explains Cécile Cottus. But it’s impossible to talk about an alternative to milk without mentioning plant-based milks like coconut milk, soy, almond…

For the nutritionist, these substitutes have limits. “They are more ‘fruit juices’ which are losing a little interest because they are often ultra-processed products. We will have mixtures with water and seeds, but sometimes, there is oil added to try to reproduce the fats of milk so ultimately it does not have any interesting nutritional benefit. » What can add sugar “to try to rediscover the pleasant taste of milk”.

The glass of cow’s milk,less calories and more beneficialseems to be the best compromise even if it remains to be consumed, as with everything, in moderation.