Prostatitis and Milk: Can You Really Drink Dairy Every Day?

A hot cup of milk with bread in the morning; when working overtime to make a cup of milk powder as a meal, milk has long been a "nutritious old acquaintance" in life. 

But for prostatitis patients, this familiar cup of milk has become a problem. The doctor told them to follow a light diet, and in the end, they cannot drink milk. Drinking every day can exacerbate prostatitis inflammation? Every time I pick up a milk carton, I can't help but murmur in my heart.

Next, I will talk to you about the impact of milk on patients with prostatitis and how to drink milk.

Understanding the Effects of Milk on Patients with Prostatitis

Many patients subconsciously avoid certain foods when they hear "inflammation," and even milk is classified as a "suspicious food," which is a bit unfair. For the vast majority of prostatitis patients, milk is not only harmless but also helpful.

The high-quality whey protein in milk is not an ordinary protein; it can be anti-inflammatory. Just like the "little guard" of the body, it can fight against prostatitis inflammation to a certain extent. 

At the same time, calcium in milk is also needed; prostatitis patients often dare not drink water because of frequent urination, or being sedentary leads to poor metabolism, and calcium absorption is easily affected. Calcium is not only related to bone health but also regulates nerves and muscles, which indirectly helps to relieve muscle tension around the prostate.

Some patients have no appetite and eat less because of illness, which will slow down the recovery speed if they can't keep up with nutrition. At this time, a cup of warm milk can come in handy; it is easy to digest and absorb quickly, and without adding burden to the stomach, it can supplement energy and nutrition and help to enhance physical fitness.

Things to Keep in Mind When Drinking Milk

Just because milk is drinkable doesn't mean you can drink it casually. Drinking right is nutrition, and drinking wrong may really cause trouble. Specifically, the following aspects: 

Milk volume should be controlled: 200-300 ml per day 

Too much is as bad as not enough, and so is milk. Even if it is nutritious, excessive drinking will still lead to excessive intake of protein and fat, increase the metabolic burden of the prostate, and even aggravate the inflammatory response. According to the recommendations of the Nutrition Society and the physical characteristics of patients, 200-300 ml per day is the best intake, about one cup to one and a half cups. 

Milk does not need to be drunk at one time but can be drunk many times, such as 150 milliliters of milk at breakfast and 100 milliliters of milk at afternoon meals. This will not only absorb nutrients more fully but also will not cause pressure on the stomach and prostate. 

Note: Do not drink milk as water; holding the idea of "drinking more supplements" will be counterproductive. 

Choose the right type: Low-fat milk is preferred

There are many kinds of milk, and the right choice can play a role. You need to avoid whole milk, especially when acute bacterial prostatitis occurs. High fat can stimulate the body to release more inflammatory factors, aggravating symptoms such as swelling, heat, and pain. At this time, low-fat milk or skim milk is the first choice, as it retains nutrients while removing excess fat, making it more friendly to inflammation.

Some people have abdominal distension and diarrhea after drinking milk, which is not the problem of milk itself but is caused by lactose intolerance. You can choose lactose-free milk, which removes the lactose that causes discomfort, is nutritious, and does not easily upset the stomach after drinking. 

In addition, plain yogurt is also a good choice, in which probiotics can regulate intestinal flora and indirectly improve the urogenital system environment, and can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Milk-drinking methods are exquisite: 

The way of drinking milk is also exquisite. Many people are used to drinking milk on an empty stomach in the morning, which seems to save trouble but may stimulate the gastrointestinal tract of patients with prostatitis, causing discomfort and affecting the absorption of nutrients. Best with bread, steamed buns, oats, and other staple foods. Staple foods high in carbohydrates can help milk better digestion and absorption and reduce stimulation.

Attention should also be paid to the temperature of milk; just-boiled milk should not be rushed to drink. Overheated drinks can stimulate the prostate and urethral mucosa, which may aggravate symptoms such as frequency and urgency of urination. Cool to warm (about 104℉), to reach the most appropriate temperature that is not too hot and comfortable to drink.

Special Situations

Not all patients are suitable for drinking milk; individuals with different constitutions have different reactions. In the following situations, drinking milk should be stopped temporarily.

Discomfort after drinking milk: Some patients with chronic prostatitis are sensitive to dairy products and are prone to symptoms such as frequent urination and perineal bulging after drinking, so they can stop drinking for 1-2 weeks for observation. 

If the symptoms are obvious, the Chinese patent medicines like the Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill from Dr. Li's clinic can be taken under the guidance of doctors, which follows the concept of syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine. It can clear heat and detoxify, promote diuresis and stranguria, and can effectively alleviate the symptoms of frequent urination, perineal bulging, and so on.

If the symptoms are alleviated after stopping drinking, it indicates that there may be milk intolerance, and it is necessary to reduce the amount of drinking or change the food.

Dietary Rules for Patients with Prostatitis

Milk is a part of the diet; prostatitis patients need to pay attention to the principle of diet, a scientific diet plus standard conditioning, in order to accelerate recovery. 

You can eat light and digestible food. For example, eat more tomatoes, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables, of which tomatoes are better absorbed when they are cooked, which is beneficial to the prostate; eat a handful of pumpkin seeds every day to supplement the pumpkin amino acid needed by the prostate. 

Eat less spicy food. Alcohol, coffee, and strong tea can stimulate prostate congestion. Be sure to avoid certain foods: fried food, fat, and other high-fat foods also need to be controlled so as not to affect metabolism and hinder inflammation. 

You need to drink about 1500-2000 ml (about 8 cups) of water daily. Many patients deliberately drink less because of frequent urination, which leads to urine concentration, stimulating the prostate to aggravate inflammation. Adequate drinking water and more urination help flush the urethra and discharge inflammatory secretions. 

Because of the great individual differences, it is suggested to record the diet log, label the food with milk-drinking reaction and aggravating symptoms, and provide the doctor with a reference during the follow-up visit so as to formulate a personalized diet plan.

Conclusion 

Patients with prostatitis do not need to be overly sensitive to milk, and they can drink it safely by choosing the right type and controlling the dosage according to their own conditions. 

More importantly, we should maintain a balanced diet and good habits, not sedentary, regular work and rest, and moderate exercise. When medication is needed, the Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill can be used under the guidance of doctors to protect prostate health and get rid of inflammation.