Home
Articles
Q&A

What are the benefits and drawbacks of drinking milk before bedtime?

Mar 13, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
Generally, the benefits of drinking milk before bedtime include promoting sleep, supplementing nutrition, protecting the gastric mucosa, enhancing metabolism, and relieving hunger. However, potential disadvantages include increased urination, dental caries, fat accumulation, increased gastrointestinal burden, and allergic reactions. It is essential to clean the mouth after drinking milk to prevent tooth decay.

Generally speaking, the benefits of drinking milk before bedtime include promoting sleep, supplementing nutrition, protecting the gastric mucosa, enhancing metabolism, and relieving hunger. However, potential disadvantages include increased urination, dental caries, fat accumulation, increased gastrointestinal burden, and allergic reactions. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Benefits

1. Promotes Sleep

Tryptophan in milk is a precursor for melatonin synthesis, and melatonin helps promote sleep and improve sleep quality. Therefore, drinking an appropriate amount of milk before bedtime can help people fall asleep more easily.

2. Supplements Nutrition

Milk is rich in calcium and protein, nutrients that can help prevent or improve osteoporosis in the elderly, and promote bone development in adolescents, preventing rickets and malnutrition.

3. Protects the Gastric Mucosa

Milk helps protect the gastric mucosa. People who secrete excessive gastric acid may experience some relief from stomach discomfort by drinking a glass of milk before bedtime.

4. Enhances Metabolism

Milk contains abundant vitamin B; drinking it before bedtime can help promote metabolism, aid in the elimination of metabolic waste, and improve circulation.

5. Relieves Hunger

If there is a long interval between dinner and bedtime, one may feel hungry before sleeping. Drinking a glass of milk at this time can help alleviate hunger and prevent waking up due to hunger during sleep.

II. Disadvantages

1. Increased Urination

Drinking milk before bedtime may increase body fluid volume, leading to more frequent nighttime urination and thus affecting sleep quality. It is recommended to drink milk at least one hour before bedtime and avoid consumption immediately before sleeping.

2. Dental Caries

Failure to thoroughly clean the teeth after drinking milk before bedtime, especially in children, may result in fermentation products coating the mucosa and tooth surfaces, increasing the risk of dental caries. Therefore, rinsing the mouth and brushing teeth after drinking milk is recommended.

3. Fat Accumulation

Metabolism slows down during sleep. Drinking whole milk before bedtime may lead to fat accumulation, and long-term consumption may cause obesity. Individuals aiming for weight loss should opt for skim milk.

4. Increased Gastrointestinal Burden

Evening activity levels decrease, metabolism slows, and gastrointestinal motility declines. Drinking milk before bedtime may increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort such as bloating. Individuals with weak gastrointestinal function should be cautious about drinking milk before sleep.

5. Allergic Reactions

Some individuals are allergic to lactose or proteins in milk. Drinking milk before bedtime may trigger allergic reactions such as skin itching and difficulty breathing. These individuals should avoid milk or consume it cautiously under medical guidance.

After drinking milk, it is essential to clean the mouth thoroughly to prevent dental caries. Additionally, adjust drinking habits according to individual constitution; those with sensitive digestion should be cautious.

Related Articles

View All
Can people with cirrhosis drink milk powder?
Patients with cirrhosis can consume milk powder, but the type of milk powder should be selected according to the stage of their condition, and intake should be controlled. Milk powder can serve as a good source of high-quality protein and calcium, supporting nutritional needs; however, care must be taken to avoid increasing the burden on the liver. It is recommended to choose the type and amount of milk powder under the guidance of a physician or clinical nutritionist, based on liver function indicators such as albumin and blood ammonia levels.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
Can patients with cholecystitis drink milk powder?
In general, whether patients with cholecystitis can drink milk powder depends on the stage of their condition. During an acute episode, drinking milk powder is usually not recommended; however, during remission, patients may consume moderate amounts of low-fat or fat-free milk powder. Patients with cholecystitis should pay attention to dietary management in daily life, avoiding spicy, greasy, and fried foods such as fatty meat and fried chicken, in order to reduce irritation to the gallbladder.
avatar
Dr. Gao Jun
View Full Answer
How long after bathing can a baby have milk?
Under normal circumstances, infants can have milk 20-30 minutes after a bath. During the waiting period, the infant can be held upright and gently patted to help calm them down. Before feeding, observe the infant's condition first; if they are still crying or refusing milk, the waiting time can be appropriately extended. During feeding, pay attention to controlling the speed to avoid feeding too quickly, which may cause choking. After feeding, promptly hold the infant upright and burp them to expel air from the stomach.
avatar
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
View Full Answer
Can children with a fever drink milk?
Under normal circumstances, children with a fever can drink milk, just be sure to consume it in moderation. When giving milk to a child with a fever, note that if the child normally drinks milk without any discomfort, it can be consumed as usual. However, if the child is lactose intolerant, it is recommended to choose lactose-free milk or temporarily avoid drinking milk to prevent bloating and diarrhea. The milk should be served at a suitable temperature to avoid gastrointestinal irritation caused by excessive coldness.
avatar
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
View Full Answer
Can you drink milk after eating persimmons?
Under normal circumstances, it is generally not recommended to drink milk immediately after consuming persimmons. In daily life, one should wait at least 1–2 hours after eating persimmons before drinking milk, allowing sufficient time for the persimmons to digest in the stomach and reducing the chance of tannic acid binding with proteins. Choosing fully ripe persimmons is advisable, as these contain relatively lower levels of tannic acid, thereby reducing the risk of discomfort.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
Can I drink milk after hemorrhoid surgery?
Milk contains high-quality protein and calcium, which can provide nutritional support to the body after surgery and help restore physical strength. After the intestinal function gradually recovers post-surgery, drinking a small amount of warm milk can supply energy without directly irritating the wound, making it a suitable option for nutritional supplementation. However, some individuals may experience bloating or diarrhea after consuming milk due to weakened gastrointestinal function following surgery.
avatar
Dr. Li Jingxiang
View Full Answer
Can patients with renal insufficiency drink milk?
In general, patients with renal insufficiency can drink milk, but should do so in moderation. Low-fat or fat-free milk should be selected to reduce fat intake. Milk should not be consumed on an empty stomach; instead, it can be consumed with starchy foods such as bread or steamed buns to aid digestion and absorption. If the patient has hyperphosphatemia, low-phosphorus milk should be chosen to avoid excessive phosphorus intake, which may affect the condition.
avatar
Dr. Yang Guang
View Full Answer
Can patients with spleen deficiency drink milk?
Under normal circumstances, patients with spleen deficiency can drink milk, but excessive consumption is not recommended. When drinking milk, one should control the quantity and avoid consuming too much at once to prevent additional strain on the spleen and stomach. Warm milk is preferred, and cold or chilled milk should be avoided to prevent cold stimulation to the spleen and stomach. If gastrointestinal discomfort occurs after drinking milk, the amount consumed should be reduced or consumption paused altogether. When necessary, individuals should consult a healthcare professional for advice.
avatar
Dr. Sun Lianqing
View Full Answer
彩牛养生

Your trusted source for health information and wellness guidance.

Quick Links

Resources

Connect

© 2024 HealthPortal. All rights reserved.