Milk has many benefits. One of them is to maintain and improve the body's immune system. The immune system is the body's natural defense against infection. Therefore, immune function needs to be maintained so that the body avoids various diseases.
The body's immune system is a collection of tissues, cells, organs, and proteins whose job is to protect the body from antigens, namely bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other foreign objects that have the potential to become germs for the body.
When an antigen is detected in the body, the immune system will form antibodies to attack the source of the disease to prevent it from actually becoming a disease.
After that, the immune system will also remember every source of disease that it has fought. So, if one day the source of the disease re-enters the body, the immune system can quickly recognize and attack the antigen.
The Role of Milk in Supporting the Body's Immune System
Proper nutrition is needed for the body's immune system to work optimally. Milk is one of the intakes whose nutritional content has many benefits to support the work of the body's immune system.
The following are some of the nutritional content in milk that is beneficial for the body's immune system:
1. Protein
Milk is an excellent source of protein. Generally, 1 cup of milk contains about 8 grams of protein. Protein is needed in many vital functions in the body. One of them is to maximize the work of the immune system in fighting various infections.
2. Zinc
Zinc or zinc is one of the minerals contained in milk. intake zinc sufficient to support the body's immune system response against antigens. This in turn can reduce the risk of infection.
3. Vitamin B12
Milk is also a good source of vitamin B12. This vitamin plays an important role in the production of white blood cells, which are an important component of the body's immune function.
Lack of vitamin B12 can cause the body's immunity to weaken, so that germs can attack more easily and cause infection.
4. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is also one of the vitamins contained in milk. This vitamin is known to increase the work of immune cells in fighting disease and activate the body's immune response when antigens enter. In addition, vitamin D is also known to have a protective effect on the respiratory system.
By meeting the body's need for this vitamin, you can be protected from various diseases, especially diseases that attack the respiratory system, such as COVID-19 which is currently endemic.
5. Vitamin A
In addition to vitamin B12 and vitamin D, milk is also a source of vitamin A. This vitamin is known as the anti-inflammatory vitamin because it has a key role in controlling inflammation.
In addition, vitamin A is also involved in the production of white blood cells that function to fight antigens in the body and are able to maintain the skin's strength to block the entry of antigens.
That's a list of the nutritional content of milk and its benefits to the body's immune system. It can be concluded that milk can be a good source of nutrition to improve the body's immune system. So, as long as you do not have a milk allergy or suffer from lactose intolerance, consume milk regularly every day.
In addition to drinking milk, there are several healthy living habits that are also important to do to support the work of the body's immune system, namely eating a balanced nutritious diet, exercising regularly, taking adequate rest, drinking enough water, and managing stress well.
If you apply these habits as a lifestyle, your risk for various diseases will be smaller. If you have certain medical conditions that require special nutrition settings, both from food and milk, don't hesitate to consult a doctor.
