How Buttermilk Can Be Good for You (2024)

Homestyle buttermilk is the slightly sour liquid that is left over after whole milk is churned into butter.Buttermilk is lower in fat than regular milkbecause the fat has been removed to make butter. There are a number of health benefits that may be associated with cooking with buttermilk, such as being a digestive aid and other potential health properties related to its rich vitamin and mineral composition.

Nutritional Facts

One cup of buttermilk has 99 calories and 2.2 grams of fat, whereas whole milk has 157 calories and 8.9 grams of fat. Read the labels as some brands of buttermilk are higher in fat than others.

Buttermilk is high in potassium, vitamin B12, calcium, and riboflavin as well as a good source of phosphorus. Buttermilk can befresh, frozen, and sold in powdered form.

Digestive Benefits

Those with digestive problems are often advised to drink buttermilk rather than milk, as it is more quickly and easily digested. Buttermilk has more lactic acid than skim milk.

Buttermilk made at home is a rich source of probiotics. Like yogurt or kefir, buttermilk that contains active cultures can help build healthy bacteria in the stomach that may have been lost due to taking antibiotics. These healthy bacteria enhance digestion, aid in nutrition, and combat digestive issues from flatulence to Crohn's disease. Those suffering from indigestion or reflux may find that the richness of buttermilk soothes an inflamed esophagus.

If you want these digestive health properties, check that your buttermilk contains live cultures. Buttermilk that has been pasteurized will have killed the bacteria and cultures after it produced the tangy acid.

How Buttermilk Can Be Good for You (1)

Bone Growth and Osteoporosis

One of buttermilk's greatest benefits is its calcium content. You need 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily, and each cup of low-fat buttermilk gives you 284 milligrams, just over aquarter of your goal. Getting ample calcium in your diet may helpslow bone loss as you age, may help support new bone growth, and may stave off osteoporosis. Calcium is also known to support cell communication and muscle contraction.

Detox Your Body

If you add buttermilk to your diet, then you increase your riboflavin, or vitamin B-2 consumption. Riboflavin activates enzymes in your cells, which helps drive energy production. Riboflavin also supports liver function, a key process for detoxifying your body of toxins. Riboflavin helps your body make uric acid, a strong antioxidant. One cup of buttermilk has 377 micrograms of riboflavin, which is nearly one-third of your body's daily requirement.

Protein-Packed

Protein is especially important for strong bones, muscles, and skin health. One cup of buttermilk has 8.1 grams of protein, which is about the same as one cup of low-fat milk.

Calorie Counting

For those watching their caloric or fat intake, you can try putting a couple of tablespoons of buttermilk on your baked potato or in mashed potatoes as a substitutionfor sour cream or butter. You will get both the buttery flavor and the slight tang of sour cream with a fraction of the calories. You can also make a sour cream substitute using buttermilk powder.

How Buttermilk Can Be Good for You (2024)

FAQs

How is buttermilk good for you? ›

Probiotics found in buttermilk help in fostering the development of healthy gut bacteria. This can ease bloating and constipation symptoms and promote digestion. Lactic acid bacteria found in buttermilk can boost the production of antibodies, which in turn can serve to strengthen the immune system.

What happens if we drink only buttermilk for 3 days for weight? ›

Drinking only buttermilk for three days may lead to nutritional deficiencies as it lacks essential nutrients. While buttermilk is a good source of probiotics and calcium, a balanced diet is crucial for overall health.

How much buttermilk per day is healthy? ›

You can normally consume 1 to 2 cups (240 to 480 ml) of buttermilk each day if you like the flavor and it is healthy for you. Calcium, potassium, and vitamin B12 are all present in reasonable serving sizes at this amount.

Can I drink buttermilk directly? ›

The answer is absolutely, yes. In short: It's tart, refreshing, and seemingly pretty good for you. Despite the delicious-sounding name, buttermilk isn't butter, nor is it exactly milk. Traditionally, this liquid was the byproduct of churning cream into butter.

Can I drink buttermilk every morning? ›

Drinking buttermilk daily can offer various benefits, such as aiding digestion due to its probiotic content, providing essential vitamins and minerals, and supporting healthy weight management due to its lower fat content. Its soothing properties may also help in alleviating stomach acidity.

Does buttermilk remove toxins from body? ›

Buttermilk aids in detoxification by promoting digestion and supporting your liver's natural detox processes. The vitamins and minerals in buttermilk support overall metabolic function, helping your body remove harmful substances effectively.

Can buttermilk reduce belly fat? ›

Yes, buttermilk can help reduce belly fat. The probiotics improve gut health, and the conjugated linoleic acid in buttermilk may target abdominal fat loss over time. 5) What helps in weight loss?

Why shouldn't we drink buttermilk at night? ›

Butter milk contains lactose, which can affect blood sugar levels, potentially causing spikes if consumed at night before sleep time.

Is buttermilk good for your liver? ›

Yes. Buttermilk contains vitamin B2 or riboflavin, promoting liver functioning while converting our food into energy. Furthermore, riboflavin helps synthesise uric acid. In addition, it is an excretory product, thus enabling the liver to function efficiently.

Is buttermilk good for gut bacteria? ›

People who regularly consume yogurt or buttermilk have a greater diversity of gut bacteria. Coffee and wine can increase the diversity as well, while whole milk or a high-calorie diet can decrease it, researchers said.

Does buttermilk help you sleep? ›

Consuming a glass of buttermilk a few hours before going to sleep will help you have a sound sleep. Some experts argue that buttermilk is also effective on the nervous system. Drinking ayran before going to sleep relieves fatigue and relaxes the muscles, which has positive effects on the nervous system.

Is buttermilk better for you than yogurt? ›

The carbohydrate value is almost identical between the two. Buttermilk having approximately 4.8 g per serving whilst yogurt has 4.7 g. The calcium benefits are also on par between the two - 116 mg for buttermilk and 121 mg for yogurt. Yogurt has higher value for our health than buttermilk.

What should not be eaten with buttermilk? ›

Sour Fruits: Avoid consuming sour fruits, like citrus fruits, right before or after buttermilk, as the combination of acidity can lead to digestive discomfort for some people. 3. Alcohol: Combining buttermilk with alcohol may lead to indigestion or an upset stomach. It's best to avoid these two together.

When should you avoid buttermilk? ›

People who are allergic to milk — rather than intolerant — should not consume buttermilk at all. Milk allergy can cause vomiting, wheezing, hives, upset stomach, and even anaphylaxis in some people (23). Some buttermilk may be high in salt and contain compounds like lactose, which may be problematic for some people.

When should you not use buttermilk? ›

If your buttermilk has any changes, such as smell, texture, color, or mold growth, it's time to throw it out.

Why is buttermilk better than regular milk? ›

What are the nutritional benefits of buttermilk? Buttermilk is low in fat and contains more protein per cup than milk. It's also lower in calories than milk and high in calcium, vitamin B12, and potassium. And because it contains live cultures (similar to yogurt), it's more easily digestible than milk.

What is buttermilk best for? ›

Buttermilk contributes to leavening, working with its friend baking soda to produce the carbon dioxide gas that cause batters and doughs to rise when they hit heat, making for fluffier pancakes and crackly-ier fried chicken (because more rising = more air bubbles = crispier breading).

What is special about buttermilk? ›

Buttermilk is made up of a variety of acids – the results of the fermentation process, which give baked goods a couple of benefits. First, the acidity provides tangy flavor to balance all kinds of sweet baked treats. Second, it activates baking soda, producing the gas that makes dough or batter rise.

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