It's (morning) a fresh start for the day and must start right in order for the whole day to be right as well. For me, it's either starting the day with milk and a portion of a cake or with a fresh orange juice with brios. Today it's the milk and strawberry cake pair. One cache: I boil my milk to feel hot against the cold weather and to ensure the safety and freshness.

Is it a big deal then to have milk? I do not know about you but it is worth knowing the basic and useful facts on milk.

Most of us have our morning milk for various reasons. Media publicities have many tactics making the public believe what they want them to believe about milk. There are ads telling milk this milk for kids make them intelligent, the other ads tell this milk makes the bones strong or make you loose weight or non- fat produce and others tell that it prevents osteoporosis.

Are all milk the same? A mother's milk is similar to a commercial milk? These are the similarities and diversities of the two since the composition of milk differs widely between species. As per my readings, factors such as the type of protein; the proportion of protein, fat, and sugar; the levels of various vitamins and minerals; and the size of the butterfat globules and the strength of the curd are among those than can vary.

Average Element <<<<<< >>>>>> Human Milk<<<<<>>>>> Cow's Milk
Protein <<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>1.1% <<<<<<>>>>>>>> 3.4%
Fat <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>4.2% <<<<<<>>>>>>>>3.6%
Lactose <<<<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>7.0% <<<<<<>>>>>>>>4.6%
Energy per 100g (kcal) <<>>>>>>>>> 72.0 <<<<<<>>>>>>>>66.0

Morover, processed milk began containing differing amounts of fat during the 1950s. A serving (1 cup or 250 ml) of 2%-fat milk contains 285 mg of calcium, which represents 22% to 29% of the daily recommended intake (DRI) of calcium for an adult. Depending on the age, 8 grams of protein, and a number of other nutrients (either naturally or through fortification) such as Vitamines D and K for bone health, B12, B and Rivoflavin for cardiovascular health and energy production, A for the immune funtion, among others. It has also iodine content which is essential for thyroid function, potassium, magnesium and selenium.

Now that we have a general knowledge of what are in the milk, it's for us to decide whether to drink it or not. Don't be so high on hopes though, there are anti-milk advocates providing strong scientific evidence linking cows' milk and dairy products to a wide range of illnesses and diseases, but this is another story to tell.

However, now that I live in another country, I am starting to have juice or choco-milk in the morning. WHat's yours?

Note: Food, Life and Goodness was one of my previous blogs, thus the names in the images.