Got milk (and honey)? This classic combo packs some surprising health perks. Here’s the sweet deets.

Milk and honey healthy fast facts

A combination of milk and honey may possibly:

  • help you sleep better
  • treat or prevent acne
  • reduce your risk of heart disease
  • reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis
  • lower your risk of bone fractures or osteoporosis
  • lower bad cholesterol (ldl) levels while raising good cholesterol (hdl) levels
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Design by Dana Davenport, Photograph by Katsumi Murouchi/Fongfong2/IndigolotosGetty Images

Milk + honey = delicious and maybe nutritious. Here are all of the health benefits linked to cow juice and bee spit 🐄 🐝.

Might help you sleep

A glass of warm milk with a hint of honey can help you slay your REM cycles. A 2018 study found that drinking a mix of milk and honey twice a day for 3 days helped folks sleep better.

They might work well on their own too. A 2014 study found that older adults who drank milk or ate milk products before bed had an easier time dozing off.

Honey can also help you hit the hay. One study found that peeps had better sleep after eating a half teaspoon of honey 30 mins before bed. Honey also reduced nighttime coughing in 300 kiddos with respiratory infections, according to the same study.

Dem bones

Milk is a fab source of calcium (a vital nutrient that promotes bone health). Drinking milk on the daily might improve your bone mineral density which could lower your risk of fractures or osteoporosis. But a milk n’ honey twofer might be even better for your bones.

Honey’s killer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties might be good for bone health, according to a 2019 review. Another review showed that honey supplements can reduce the side effects that exercise can have on bone formation 🦴.

Hello heart health

Milk and honey can help your heart in lots of ways ❤️.

Thanks to its high levels of potassium, milk may reduce blood pressure. It can also increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels — but this was only found to work with whole milk.

Meanwhile, honey can lower LDL levels (bad cholesterol) and reduce your triglycerides and total cholesterol. It might even decrease inflammatory issues that could lead to heart disease.

Skin care

If honey had a TV show it’d be called “Honey the Bacteria Slayer.” Its antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties make it a natural remedy for acne and cuts. In fact, one review found it minimized scars and even helped with tissue growth when used as a wound treatment.

Studies also show honey can help with atopic dermatitis (e.g. psoriasis or eczema). A 2017 small study found pure honey helped with atopic dermatitis flare-ups after only 7 days.

Honey also rocks as a natural humectant and emollient. That basically means it helps lock in moisture and softens skin. We also stan because it’s so gentle.

Meanwhile, the lactic acid — an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) — found in milk makes it a decent exfoliant. Some studies show milk can even encourage new cell growth.

FYI: Milk and honey can totes be beneficial for your skin, but they aren’t cure-alls.

DIY milk and honey face mask

Here’s a super simple face mask to help you get your milk and honey glow-up.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons organic whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon raw honey
  • 1 small mixing bowl
  • 1 cotton pad

How to

  1. Mix the milk and honey in a bowl.
  2. Stir until creamy.
  3. Apply to your face (or anywhere you want) using a cotton pad.
  4. Leave on for 10 minutes.
  5. Rinse with cool water.
  6. Pat dry.
  7. Voilà!
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Helps you gain weight

Drinking dairy (especially high-fat milk) is an easy way to increase your calorie and fat intake. It’s also packed with protein which is great if you’re looking to build muscle mass.

Honey can also help you gain weight — it has about 64 calories in a single tablespoon. This doesn’t seem like a lot but it can add up quick. It can also lead to weight gain since it’s so sweet.

Some folks crave warm milk and others love it ice cold. But in terms of health, each option has some potential pros. Lactose levels are reduced when milk is heated. So, warm milk might be best if you’re lactose intolerant or have other digestive issues.

Meanwhile, some peeps swear cold milk helps them with heartburn. But this might not actually be legit. Some research shows fatty foods (like milk) can increase your risk of acid reflux.

Keep in mind: No matter how you drink it, milk is a solid source of vitamin D, potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and protein.

Ayurveda is a traditional form of medicine and holistic eating that dates back thousands of years. Ayurvedic practitioners claim milk can strengthen bones and improve your immune system.

They believe honey can help with:

PSA: While milk or honey might give your overall health a boost, you should always talk to your doctor if you have any health concerns.

Before you start chug-a-lugging milk and honey, there are a few things to consider.

First off, cow’s milk is deffo a no-no if you’re lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. You should also cut back if it has a bad affect on your skin.

Dairy has been linked to an increased risk of:

As for honey, well… it’s honey. Winnie the Pooh is a body positive ICON but he’s not exactly a model of physical health (no hate, we love you Winnie).

Just remember that too much of a super sweet thing can eventually lead to:

Honey, don’t feed it to the kids

Honey contains a bacteria which can lead to infant botulism. So don’t let your kiddo get their hands on honey until they’re at least 12 months old.

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Milk and honey both have proven health benefits. Milk can promote better sleep and strengthen bones while honey has banging antimicrobial and antifungal properties. But it’s prob best to enjoy them in moderation since they’re high in saturated fats, sugars, and calories 🥛🍯.