To Help Support Your Brain, Milk Matters

You already know that milk benefits your bones. But did you know that it’s also important for your brain? In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers asked folks between the ages of 60 and 85 to keep food diaries for a week.

Next, they were given MRIs to measure their brain levels of an antioxidant called glutathione, which protects your gray matter from nerve cell damage and oxidative stress. The results? Participants who drank more milk had more glutathione in their brains. And these higher levels may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

To learn more, check out this video on Staying Sharp: Your Brain on Fish.

The study didn’t reveal exactly how milk worked its magic on the brain. But researchers have a pretty good idea: Cysteine, one of the key building blocks for producing glutathione, is found in abundance in milk.

So go ahead and pour yourself a cold one at your next meal — three glasses a day, according to the study authors.

Milk isn't just good for your bones. Learn how Substance in Milk May Help Protect Brain from Cell Damage.

_{This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide any expert, professional or specialty advice or recommendations. Readers are urged to consult with their medical providers for all questions.}