Milk is every mother’s trusted drink for their little ones. Revered for its nourishing goodness, milk is an inevitable part of a kid’s diet, especially in their growing years. For the time unknown, Ayurveda has acknowledged the benefits of milk in strengthening children’s bodies and minds. In Ayurveda, milk is the facilitator of holistic nutritional health, dosha manager, and therapeutic wellness in your kids.

This article discusses the Ayurvedic importance of milk in the life of a growing child. It talks about various milk types, the impact of milk on the doshas, milk benefits, and important considerations when giving this beverage. Let’s start:

Types of milk and their Ayurvedic importance

For the unversed, there are various types of milk depending on the source animal and processing. The section below discusses the Ayurvedic perspective of the most popular milk types used by people:

1. Cow milk

Cow and its milk have a special religious place in our Indian culture. Where cows are worshipped as an abode of God, Ayurveda recognizes cow milk as a sattvic food for its purity. It has a sweet taste, thick consistency, and nourishment for holistic health.

The milk is loaded with nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and essential amino acids. Thus, useful in strengthening bones, promoting immunity, and aiding mental wellness. Plus, Ayurveda believes that cow milk relaxes both Vata and Pitta doshas when warmed or mixed with the right spice.

2. Goat Milk

Goat milk is ideal for kids with a sensitive digestive system, lactose intolerance, or dairy allergies. This is because it is lighter, produces less mucus, and is hypoallergenic. Ayurveda considers goat milk effective in resolving digestive problems.

3. Buffalo Milk

Buffalo milk has a thicker consistency and fat content than cow’s milk. Ayurveda suggests it is beneficial for weight gain or individuals with high metabolism. It is rich in calcium and protein, which increases muscle mass and strengthens bones.

4. Camel Milk

Camel milk is trusted for its positive impact on the immunity system. It has immunoglobulins and antibodies to serve this purpose. Moreover, it gives antioxidant benefits with a high Vitamin C presence.

5. Donkey Milk

This milk is revered for its amazing benefits for the skin. It is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. The milk moisturizes and nourishes the skin and anti-ageing perks.

6. Sheep Milk

Sheep milk has a hot constituency. It triggers Pitta and Kapha doshas and gives a calming touch to the Vata dosha.

Milk and Doshas

Per Ayurveda, doshas are a combination of five elements that define our physical, mental, and emotional health. There are three doshas, namely, Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. Each person has a unique composition of each dosha, where one is dominant over the others.

Like your body, milk has a major impact on your doshas. The following section talks about the effect of milk on each of your kid’s doshas.

1. Vata Dosha

Vata dosha is known to possess cold, dry, and rough characteristics. An imbalance can cause anxiety, dry skin, and digestive issues in kids.

• Milk, with its soothing nature, helps balance Vata to subside its negative qualities.
• Ayurveda suggests warm milk with hot spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger to relieve Vata’s common problems like anxiety.
• You can even enhance the milk taste by adding BabyOrgano ChocoVita Milk mix. Made with herbal ingredients like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Gokshur, and Tulsi, it helps in increasing the height and weight of kids.

2. Pitta Dosha

The main characteristics of Pitta dosha are heat, intensity, acidity, and oily. When imbalanced, Pitta can often cause irritation, skin rashes, inflammation, or acidity in your child.

• Thanks to milk’s cooling property, it calms down Pitta’s hot and intense nature.
• It soothes the digestive system, aids liver functioning, and lessens internal body heat.
• To treat Pitta imbalance, you can give cool milk or boiled milk with cooling herbs.

3. Kapha Dosha

Kapha dosha has a heavy, cold, and slow character. Its imbalance causes weight gain, congestion, and excessive mucus production.

• To balance Kapha, you can give warm milk with a pinch of spices.
• However, you must maintain a moderate level of milk intake to avoid aggravating Kapaha.

Benefits of Milk in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, milk is regarded as a wholesome food for kids solely for its nourishing properties. The beverage has several vital nutrients essential for their physical growth and development. Let’s learn about the main advantages milk offers to your kid:

• Strong bones and teeth. Milk is a powerful source of calcium, which helps in strengthening bones and teeth. It avoids bone loss.
• Enhanced immunity and eyesight. The Vitamin A present in milk strengthens your baby’s immunity system, promotes growth, and protects their vision.
• Mental clarity. Milk is a sattvic food, which makes your baby’s mind calm and clear. It supports cognitive development and focus in kids.
• Calcium absorption from food. The presence of Vitamin D in milk helps absorb calcium from things your baby consumes. This indirectly promotes bone health, protecting your baby from issues like rickets and osteoporosis.
• Maintains blood pressure levels. Drinking milk regularly plays an important role in keeping your kid’s blood pressure levels good.
• Keeps your baby hydrated. Milk is a fluid. Ayurveda suggests a lot of fluid intake for kids to stay hydrated all day long. So, gulping down a glass of milk after a strenuous or physical activity can rehydrate them.
• Repairs body. Milk has protein, which allows your baby’s body to repair itself naturally. The nutrient also helps in body growth.
• Gives energy. The carbohydrates present in milk provide energy to your baby. It reduces their lethargy and tiredness.
• Nourishes Ojas. Ayurveda trusts milk to nourish Ojas, the element of vitality. This helps in maintaining the energy and health of kids.
• Supports detoxification. Milk is used in cleansing therapies to remove toxins from the body.
• Enhances Ayurveda’s effect. Many Ayurvedic remedies use milk as a common ingredient. It is widely used as a carrier for Ayurvedic medicines as it increases the absorption and effectiveness of these solutions.

When to give milk to your child?

You must remember how your mother forced you to gulp down the glass of milk for breakfast. It is an ideal time to give milk to your baby because it fills their body with essential nutrients to tackle the day-long hustle. The milk glass keeps them active and ensures healthy body growth.

Moreover, you can give kids milk at night, a few hours before they go to sleep. This allows better absorption of calcium in their bodies and also improves their sleep quality.

Things to keep in mind when giving milk to kids

Milk is a natural drink. However, you must keep the following things in mind before giving it to your child.

• Ensure to be mindful about including milk in kids' diets, especially if they have lactose intolerance or allergies.
• Change the process of milk preparation and consumption per your child’s requirements for best results.
• Consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for personalized dietary advice for your kid.

Conclusion

Milk is an everyday part of every Indian household. It nourishes the body, strengthens the physique, and empowers the mind. This article elaborates on the various aspects of milk as celebrated by Ayurveda. From its different forms to its impact on your baby’s doshas, we have covered it all here. I hope you found this guide useful. Do let us know in the comments section.