Is carbonated milk healthy for you?

Is carbonated milk healthy?

It depends on what you mean. The best-known product, Milkis from Lotte Chilsung in South Korea, is described as a milky, creamy soda. Retail and import pages list carbonated water, corn syrup or sugar, skim milk powder and milk flavoring. It is not made from fresh liquid milk, so it should be judged as a sweetened soft drink. Check the label for sugar per serving; figures vary by flavor and country.

What is carbonated milk?

Two different things get this name:

• Packaged milk sodas: Milkis (flavors include original, strawberry, banana, peach and melon) is the example most people mean. It is sold in Asian grocery stores and online.
• Fizzy milk drinks made from dairy: a few companies have tested carbonated dairy drinks. Coca-Cola’s Vio was one, sold in small US trials in 2009 as a refreshment drink rather than a nutritional milk product.

Can you carbonate milk at home?

It is not a good idea. Reports of people trying in a home soda machine describe milk overflowing the bottle, a sour taste and curdling, because the carbon dioxide changes the milk proteins. Letting milk warm up to room temperature so it carbonates better is not advised, because milk left out more than two hours is a food safety risk. Milk sodas such as Milkis avoid the problem by using milk powder instead of liquid milk.

Effects on your body

• Sugar: the main nutrition concern is the sweetener, as with other sodas.
• Caffeine: one retailer guide describes Milkis as caffeine-free; check the label of any other product.
• Milk allergy: skim milk powder is a milk ingredient, so people with a milk allergy should avoid it. People with lactose intolerance should check how much they tolerate.
• Bubbles: carbonation can make some people feel bloated; that is personal, not a rule.

How to enjoy it sensibly

• Treat it as an occasional treat, like soda.
• Serve it cold; it is often sold in the refrigerated aisle of Asian markets.
• Read the label for sugar, milk and additives, and compare with a plain glass of milk if you want nutrition rather than a fizzy drink.

This is general information, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or dietitian if you have an allergy or a health condition.