Doctor gives verdict on whether you really need to drink milk for strong bones

For decades it's been said that you need to drink plenty of milk to have strong bones.

It's an old wives tale that's done the rounds for years, but you may be wondering if there's any truth in it. To mark National Milk Day, we made it our mission to find out, and a doctor previously conveyed the answer.

Dr Karan Rajan is known for sharing health advice online, and he gave his verdict in a candid TikTok video. He said, despite what people think, there's actually little truth behind the theory.

In fact, his thoughts on the matter were pretty strong, claiming it's "one of the biggest lies" we've ever been told. He shared why his views are so strong on the subject.

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Dr Rajan said: "You don't have to drink milk to strengthen your bones. This is propaganda from 'big milk'. Biologically, drinking milk might seem pretty odd. This bit's pretty cool, so listen up.

"Milk contains a type of sugar known as lactose and, when we're babies, our bodies produce a natural type of enzyme known as lactase that helps us digest lactose in breast milk.

"Eventually, once the production of breast milk stops, our bodies stop producing the enzyme lactase. Without lactase, we can't properly digest the lactose in milk.

"If an adult is consuming a lot of milk, they might experience farting, abdominal cramps, maybe even diarrhoea. Thanks to evolution, some populations began to keep the lactase enzyme into adulthood. This is known as lactase persistence."

The video has been viewed over 120,000 times since it was shared, and people were quick to comment too. Some were a little confused.

One person said: "But doesn't milk contain protein and calcium, which is good for the bones?" Another added: "I literally tried to explain this to people, and they wouldn't believe me. I'm dairy free and have no calcium issues."

A third replied: "I always thought it was kind of weird that humans drink milk from other species."

How do I get healthy bones?

According to the NHS, following a healthy diet will help you to build healthy bones from an early age, and also aid you in maintaining them throughout your life. To keep your bones healthy, you need a certain amount of calcium and vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium.

The NHS states: "Poor bone health can cause conditions such as rickets and osteoporosis and increase the risk of breaking a bone from a fall later in life. You should be able to get all the nutrients you need for healthy bones by eating a balanced diet.

"A good diet is only one of the building blocks for healthy bones, which also includes exercise and avoiding certain risk factors for osteoporosis. Adults need 700mg of calcium a day. You should be able to get all the calcium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet."