How come when people talk about milk, they always say, “A glass of ice-cold milk.” Why not just call it plain old milk? Or refrigerator cold milk?
I don’t drink much milk these days. In fact, not at all. But I sure did when I was a kid. And that is the thing. Milk is one of the most common foods in the world.
Most people don’t know that milk is made up of about 87% water. The other 13% contains fats, proteins, natural sugars, and other really important nutrients. Things like calcium and vitamin B12.
The protein part of milk is comprised of something called casein and also whey. Those two proteins make products like cheese and yogurt possible.
And you know who was eating her curds and whey. Miss Protein Muffet.
But seriously. Milk has been part of human diets for thousands of years. Early dairy farming dates back roughly 7,000 to 9,000 years.
Modern milk is often pasteurized and homogenized.
What does that really mean? Well. Pasteurization heats milk to kill harmful bacteria. And homogenization keeps the fat from separating and rising to the top. It keeps us going in the right milky direction.
Milk also comes from more than just cows. Around the world, people commonly drink milk from goats, sheep, buffalo, and camels. And almonds. And such.
Despite its reputation, milk is not essential for everyone. As I mentioned, I don’t get too much milk these days. But for many people, it is a delicious way to get their nutrients. But we all know those same nutrients can be found in other foods.
So there is the Milky Way. Bottoms up. Icy cold bottoms up.
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“Age is of no importance unless you’re a cheese.” — Billie Burke
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“Cheese is milk’s leap toward immortality.” — Clifton Fadiman
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“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” — A.A. Milne
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