On Malt, Milk As Blood Booster
By Lawal Dahiru Mamman, Abuja,
Lawal Dahiru Mamman has written about “on malt and milk as blood booster.”
Food items offer an array of nutrients. But a nutrient may be dominant, rendering all others negligible. For example, rice is mostly known to contain carbohydrates (sugar or energy), but in reality, contains some levels of protein, fats and even some B vitamins are found in brown rice.
Interestingly, some people believe that a concoction of malt and milk is a good blood booster. Based on this belief, people recuperating from illness are advised to take a mixture of malt and milk because it can allegedly replenish blood cells that fought the foreign microorganisms during the illness.
The blood basically contains plasma – for transport of digested food, platelets – prevent and stop bleeding, red blood cells – transport of oxygen to other parts of the body from the lungs, and white blood cells – fight diseases and other infections. For synthesis of blood by the body, the most important nutrient is ‘Iron.’ For any food material to be considered a blood-booster, it must contain a substantial amount of iron.
Looking at the nutritional content of both malt and milk as labelled on the products, malt contains carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and water; and milk contains fats, carbohydrates, cholesterol, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The thing to note is that none of both commodities contains iron – a major mineral that must be contained in any food before it can be classified as a blood booster. With this, it can be deduced that there is no scientific evidence to prove the old assumption right.
Malt grain contains fibre, potassium, folate, and vitamin B6, which together lower cholesterol and decrease the risk of cardiac disease. Its dietary fibre helps reduce insulin activity, increases cholesterol absorption from the gut and encourages cholesterol breakdown. And milk is a significant source of protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, and calcium, as well as other essential nutrients.
Many experts associate diets containing dairy with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. The nutrient profile of milk supports bone health.
Though the concoction, malt and milk, is sumptuous and appealing to the palate, it has no basis in the scientific realm with regard to boosting blood.
