The milk-mucus myth and the raw milk asthma protective effect
(A2 milk and raw milk have fantastic health benefits!...)
Picture:
When researching this common “problem”, I found that 50% of milk drinkers experience what feels like mucus in their throat after drinking milk, and some think this means they have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance and, therefore, avoid drinking milk. Turns out that none of this is true!*
*(Milk allergy and lactose intolerance are real, but they don’t cause “mucus in your throat”. The truth is much stranger!..)
Gary Moller’s Blog article
In his article “Importance of Mucus for Respiratory Health and the Role of Diet” my friend, health practitioner Gary Moller writes:
I'm writing this because I get many inquiries about milk and mucus, and other concerns about milk consumption, such as milk causing inflammation. In this article, I'm focusing on mucus.
The first part of Gary’s article explains that mucus is not something to be feared, but rather, it is a friend that provides multiple defence mechanisms against disease and noxious stimuli. The second part, which is very practical, details what you can do about mucus if it makes you uncomfortable. A middle paragraph provides practical advice on the best sources of milk (A2, pasture-fed, minimal processing and no added sugars). It’s a short, easy read and packed with valuable understandings that you can apply to your daily life.
More to the milk-mucus theory
There’s more to this story, however. Dr. Gary’s clients think that milk causes mucus! Does it? Presumably they believe that mucus is a sign of milk allergy or lactose intolerance! Is it? There’s an answer to these questions, and (to my surprise and delight) Mr Google has the answers. (Google is very good when it’s not compromised by pressure from governments, bureaucracies, and the mega-corporations that fund its advertising).
The milk-mucus myth: three beneficial search results
I searched for mucus and milk. Google read my mind and suggested I try “the Milk Mucus Myth”. Here are its first three results.
First result: Milk, Mucus and Cough
https://www.allergy.org.au/images/pcc/ASCIA_PCC_Milk_mucus_cough_2019.pdf
“Some people believe that when they drink milk their throat feels coated, and mucus is thicker and harder to swallow. Research has shown that these feelings are not due to increased production of mucus. These feelings can be due to the texture of the fluid, as they occur with similar liquids of the same thickness”.
So the feeling of increased mucus may be due to milk mixing with, and adding to the coating of mucus that is already there? Interesting, but the summary was too brief to explain how the researchers came to that conclusion! (Read on - we are not finished yet!)
Article reliability score: 4/5
This was a cleanly written quality summary that quoted the reason why people perceive that “milk produces mucus”. It didn’t list its quoted references, but it did give the impression (subsequently justified) that I’d find their references if I searched them up. Reassuringly, the article did not talk down to me, nor did it “bad-mouth” others. (Since no references were quoted, I could not give a perfect score of 5/5).
Second result: Mayo Clinic’s reply to a client’s question
“I've heard that you shouldn't drink milk when you have a cold because it increases phlegm. Is this true?”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/phlegm/faq-20058015
The first line of the article states:-
“No. Drinking milk does not cause the body to make phlegm”.
Since I have the impression I’m being talked down to by someone who thinks they know best and doesn’t need to explain themselves, this is not a good start to the article. The article gets better as it warms to its subject:-
“In 1948, about 600 people were polled on mucus and milk while seeing their healthcare provider, mostly for eye problems. The provider tested the mucus of patients who had greater complaints of mucus. Some drank milk, and some did not. The conclusion was that milk was not the cause of increased mucus.
“More recent research suggests milk may play a trick on the senses that makes some people think it causes phlegm. When milk and saliva mix in the mouth, they create a somewhat thick liquid that can briefly coat the mouth and throat. The feeling that lingers may be mistaken for extra mucus”.
That makes sense to me. But again, studies are quoted but not referenced. This means I will have to do the searches for myself, to confirm that the article tells the truth.
The article then gives a helpful reassurance:
“One area that's been studied more is asthma.
“Past research shows that children with asthma often stay away from milk because of the notion that it causes more phlegm. But a small study found that kids with asthma had no differences in symptoms whether they drank dairy milk or soy milk”.
Good! - If milk is a good food, then we shouldn’t condemn it without good reason.
Article reliability score: 4/5
The article made a bad first impression but soon redeemed itself with its knowledgeable discussion of research findings. (Since no references were quoted, I could not give a perfect score of 5/5).
Third search result: “Milk, mucus and myths”
https://adc.bmj.com/content/104/1/91
This is a delightful, in-depth discussion of the centuries-old history of the mucus and phlegm myth. The problem is clearly stated:
“Our department has repeatedly been told by parents that drinking milk increases mucus production from the lungs, and so they stop their child having milk”.
A significant component of the origin of the myth is explained:
“The [false] belief [that milk generates phlegm] is repeated in the influential Dr Spock Baby and Child Care book; first published in 1946, it had sold more than 50 million copies by the time of his death in 1998”.
Ah yes! - Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care. My mother referred to this book often and it still scores highly at Amazon.com (4.6). Its companion book Dr Spock on Parenting did not score so highly at 3.7, and this review explains why. The review highlights how Dr Spock sometimes gave advice (for example, about milk and mucus?) without researching his facts first. That’s not a good look for Dr Spock.
Article reliability score: 5/5
This article is clearly written and contains 20 references. In my opinion, it’s the authoritative internet resource on the topic of milk and mucus.
Asthma Protective Effect of Raw Milk
My subsequent Google search followed up on my hunch that Dr Gary’s advice to drink minimally processed A2 milk (his advice is excellent standard advice) could be improved. My search was: “raw milk asthma”.
The top result yielded:
Raw Milk, Asthma, and Lung Health
(https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/updates/raw-milk-asthma-and-lung-health…)
Picture: cookies and cream from the right sources and in the right amounts (non-processed, non-packaged, in moderation), can be a health-enhancing delight.
This article convincingly quotes and discusses three recent large-scale epidemiological studies that conclusively showed that:-
“Continuous farm [raw] milk consumption in childhood protects against asthma at school age”.
It’s nicely written, goes a long way to answer industry and parental concerns, and is worth a read.
Article topic headings:
Children Who Drink Raw Milk Have Less Asthma
(Several large epidemiological studies of European children have found correlations between raw milk consumption and decreased rates of asthma):-
PARSIFAL STUDY
GABRIELA STUDY
PASTURE STUDY
It’s not the farm effect; it’s the raw milk!
Adults Who Drank Raw Milk in Childhood Have Better Lung Function
Low-Risk Raw Milk as a Therapeutic Tool
Article reliability score: 4.5/5
Since the article is hosted by www.rawmilkinstitute.org, an organisation that has a financial interest in marketing the benefits of raw milk, I could not award a perfect reliability score. On the plus side, the article quotes and live links to seven studies and confirms my personal research and experience (see below):-
Milk products for a family member with bad digestion
I have a family member who suffers severely (cramps, diarrhoea) soon after drinking processed milk products. He can, however, drink A2 milk. He can drink raw milk (not A2) as well - visit our local supplier here. This goes to show that sometimes, all we have to do is stay away from highly processed foods)!
Enjoy your milk!
Picture: Website of Farm Fresh Milk from Woodlands in Rural Southland
