Milk, Mucus and the Myth

Does Milk Make You Phlegmy?

Does drinking milk make you phlegmy? Is there really truth to this or is it just an old wives tale? There certainly are the believers, who swear that too much milk or dairy consumption leads to increased mucus production in your respiratory tract (lungs and airways). There are however many who totally oppose this school of thought. It is science that cannot explain or agree that excess milk consumption leads to mucus production. Instead, science explains it as a sensation that is caused at the back of the throat due to the thick, viscous texture of milk that leads to this feeling of excess mucus.

What about the type of milk?

By the type of milk, we mean pasteurised or unpasteurised, homogenised or non-homogenised and raw milk. In this light, the type of milk doesn’t seem to have an effect on mucus production.

So, what does science say about this topic?
There is a type of casein (milk protein) present in milk which can become a mucus-filled dilemma, and it seems not all milk can be considered the same. A1 and A2 milk are two types (genetic variants from certain breeds of cow) of the milk protein, beta casein. When A1 milk protein reaches your intestines, one of its breakdown products, beta-CM-7 may stimulate the glands in your gut to produce more mucus. This happens to a small percentage of the population who consume A1 milk, and most likely to those with increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut). The theory is that some beta-CM-7 gets into your general circulation and stimulates the same types of glands found in your respiratory tract where they are known to overproduce mucus in conditions caused by inflammation, like asthma and other chronic lung conditions. As a result you become phlegmy, from your nose to your throat. This has been documented successfully in some studies. So in this way, yes, dairy is mucus forming - for some individuals, and particularly when A1 milk is consumed.

Who are more susceptible?

People with a family history of asthma, diagnosed with asthma, and those with respiratory tract infections do seem to be more susceptible to increased mucus formation secondary to dairy consumption.

If you or a family member suffers from asthma, try eliminating dairy from your diet. If the severity of the symptoms decrease or disappear altogether, then this is a promising sign that you can benefit very much from decreasing your dairy intake and gain the health benefits from doing so, especially during an acute phase of the illness.

Clues Which Tell You Dairy May be Causing Issues

Postnasal drip. You’ll feel this as something that’s dripping down the back of your throat. For some it can be a very uncomfortable feeling especially when you’re lying down.
You may have a husky voice.
Sore throat
Cough
Your sinuses (nasal passages) are congested.
Runny nose

It’s commonplace amongst Naturopaths for example, and some nutritionists to advise their clients to avoid or eliminate dairy when suffering from respiratory infections, asthma and related problems. For many of you reading this article you may personally experience a correlation between excess mucus production and your consumption of dairy products, particularly while you have a cold or flu. Try a dairy-free diet. That is proof enough for many.

This correlation however can’t be explained totally by science or the conventional medical model. What we do know for sure is consuming A1 milk as opposed to A2 milk increases mucus production in the respiratory tract in some people, particularly those who may also have increased intestinal permeability (Leaky Gut).