A splash of semi-skimmed milk every day in a cup of tea could reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, research suggests.
A large UK study found that those who regularly drink low-fat milk are almost a third less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and 16 percent less likely to suffer from depression, compared to people who don’t drink any milk. .
The protective effects of semi-skimmed milk are also greater than those of whole milk or skimmed milk.
But it’s bad news for vegans: Those who drink dairy alternatives, such as soy or oat milk, are actually more likely to develop anxiety or depression, the study found.
The researchers, from Southern Medical University in China, said the results suggested there is something about the balance of fats in semi-skimmed milk that has a beneficial effect on the brain and increases levels of the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine.
A large UK study found that those who regularly drink low-fat milk are almost a third less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and 16 percent less likely to suffer from depression, compared to people who don’t drink any milk. .
The protective effects of semi-skimmed milk are also greater than those of whole milk or skimmed milk.
But it’s bad news for vegans: Those who drink dairy alternatives, such as soy or oat milk, are actually more likely to develop anxiety or depression, the study found.
A large UK study found that those who regularly drink low-fat milk are almost a third less likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and 16 percent less likely to be depressed (File Image)
The researchers, from South China Medical University, said the results suggested there is something about the balance of fats in semi-skimmed milk that has a beneficial effect on the brain (File Image)
Writing in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers said: “The fatty acid profile of semi-skimmed milk may provide greater brain protection compared to whole milk and skimmed milk, thus potentially reducing the risk of depression and anxiety.” “.
They added that the findings presented “new perspectives for dietary interventions.”
The researchers analyzed data from 357,568 people between 36 and 73 years old who were monitored for more than 13 years. During that time, 13,065 were diagnosed with depression and 13,339 with anxiety.
Those who normally drank semi-skimmed milk (the best-selling milk in the UK) were 16 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with depression compared to those who did not drink milk. And drinking semi-skimmed milk was associated with a 29 percent lower risk of anxiety.
In comparison, full cream or whole milk were associated with a lower risk of anxiety, but not depression.
Those who said they drank plant milk were more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression compared to those who drank any form of cow’s milk and those who did not consume any.
The authors said: “To robustly establish these associations, more research is needed to validate
these results and explore the impact of the amount of milk consumed on mental health.