Hey mama. Let’s talk about something really important: milk and how it might not always go well with our daily meds. Yep, even though milk is usually our go-to for smoothies, cereal, or a treat with cookies, it can sometimes mess with the effectiveness of certain supplements. Crazy, right?
So, here’s the deal. According to experts at the American Medical Association (AMA), milk can cause some issues with certain supplements, including one that about 18% of people in the U.S. take. That’s a lot of folks! Specifically, if you’re taking iron supplements, you might wanna steer clear of milk for a bit.
Iron is super important for our bodies. It helps keep our muscles and tissues healthy and makes sure oxygen gets where it needs to go in our bloodstream. But sadly, many of us aren’t getting enough of it. That’s where supplements come in handy. But here’s the kicker: washing down those iron pills with a glass of milk might not be the best idea.
Milk may reduce iron absorption
You see, milk could actually mess with how our bodies absorb iron. Dr. Amar Kelkar, who knows a thing or two about blood and stuff, says that drinking milk while taking iron supplements might lower how much iron our bodies soak up. Not cool, right?
So, why does milk have this weird effect? Well, it turns out that the calcium in milk, which is awesome for our bones, might be the culprit. A group of researchers found out that the calcium in milk can mess with how our bodies take in iron. Plus, there’s something called casein in milk that might also be part of the problem. And let’s not forget about the drop in vitamin C levels in milk after it’s been pasteurized, which would usually help us absorb iron better.
How long to wait to take iron after drinking milk
But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. You don’t have to ditch milk altogether. If you’re taking iron supplements, just wait a couple of hours after drinking milk before you take your iron pill. According to MedlinePlus, giving it about two hours should do the trick.
So there you have it, Mom. Next time you’re thinking of reaching for that glass of milk with your iron supplements, maybe hold off for a bit. Your body will thank you for it!
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