Warm milk is milk that has been heated above room temperature. It is commonly used as a
nightcap for children and people who abstain from alcohol.
Its effectiveness as such is disputed.
As a nightcap
Warm milk is commonly touted as a sleep aid for those who do not drink alcohol, such as children and those abstaining for religious reasons. Many people do not like the taste compared to cold
milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modula ...
. It is common for these people to add honey or vanilla, though vanilla extract contains about 45% alcohol. The reason for its recommendation is that it contains
tryptophan
Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W)
is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Tryptophan contains an α-amino group, an α-carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a polar molecule with a non-polar aromatic ...
, which the body uses to make melatonin, and
calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar t ...
.
However, tryptophan does not cross the brain-blood barrier without
carbohydrates, which is recommended not to eat before bed.
Some experts say that warm milk does not actually make the drinker sleepy, it only helps them relax.
References
Milk
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