Who knew mixing coffee with milk would be bad! What?!

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Who knew mixing coffee with milk would be bad! What?!

There I was browsing a social page and a post popped up 'bout 6 foods that should not be consumed alongside king Pakal's royal blend coffee (it didn't say all dat but...), and being a connoisseur and ardent consumer of the blessed java, I clicked to see details. All that was on the list was nothing of any significance to me, 'til I got to the paragraph 'bout milk in da finely ground hazelnut blend, and that blew me away.

It went like this...

Milk is an excellent source of calcium, which is essential to bone health, muscle function, blood clotting, and hormone production. One cup of nonfat milk meets 23% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) for calcium for the average healthy adult.

However, research indicates that combining milk and coffee may hinder calcium absorption. In other words, the caffeine in coffee can decrease the net absorption of dietary calcium. Calcium that's not absorbed is excreted through the urine. High levels of urinary calcium excretion have been linked to an increased risk of kidney stones and bone health concerns.

Those who enjoy milk in their coffee may need to meet their calcium needs with other foods at varying times during the day. A registered dietitian (RD) can help you navigate your calcium needs and design a meal plan accordingly.

That spoiled my next sip 'cos milk have been part of the mix for over 30 years and there's no way I was going all black, so I dug into much more research around de ole web space and realized that there is no consensus on such theory, in fact one source completely blasted away the notion...

Mixing milk with coffee is unlikely to directly lead to kidney stones. In fact, consuming dairy products like milk might help reduce the risk of certain types of kidney stones, particularly calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common type.

Here’s why:

  • Calcium and Oxalate: Calcium in milk can actually bind with oxalates in the digestive tract, preventing oxalates from being absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually forming stones in the kidneys.
  • Hydration: Coffee, however, can be a mild diuretic, which means it can increase urine production and potentially lead to dehydration if consumed in excess without compensating with water. Dehydration is a risk factor for kidney stones.

Overall, drinking milk with coffee in moderation is generally safe for most people. If you have a history of kidney stones or are concerned, it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

What this means is, always seek a damn second, third and fourth opinion on anything declared as fact!

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