Regularly drinking tea containing a splash of semi-skimmed milk can combat the development of depression and anxiety, scientists have said.
A new study has discovered that people who drink semi-skimmed milk are 33% less at risk of developing anxiety and 16% less likely to develop depression compared to those who never drink milk.
In addition, the findings have shown that semi-skimmed milk is better for your mental health than full-fat milk or skimmed milk.
- Whole milk associated with reduced risk of obesity
- Combination of coffee and milk can bring anti-inflammatory benefits
- People who do not produce lactase may reduce risk of developing type 2 diabetes by drinking more milk
Plant-based alternatives such as soya or oat milk are also associated with a higher risk of anxiety and depression.
The authors said: “The fatty acid profile of semi-skimmed milk might provide greater cerebral protection compared to full-cream milk and skimmed milk, thereby potentially reducing the risk of both depression and anxiety.
“The findings present new prospects for dietary interventions.”
During the trial, the researchers examined the health data of more than 350,000 adults over a 13-year period.
In this time, a total of 13,065 people developed depression and 13,339 with anxiety.
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- People with a sweet tooth are 31% more likely to have depression
The study has revealed that the participants who drank semi-skimmed milk were less likely to develop depression or anxiety compared to those who consumed other milk or no milk at all.
Drinking whole milk can protect people from anxiety, but not from depression, the findings have revealed.
“To robustly establish these associations, further research is needed to validate these results and explore the impact of amount of milk consumed on mental health,” said the authors.
Read the full study in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
