Malt & milk does not give blood (are not blood tonic)- Dr Olufunmilayo

There is this general belief or can I say myth among Nigerians , Africans and probably in the world over that malt (whether Maltina, Amstel, Dubic, Guinness , Hi-malt, Beta malt, etc) and milk especially Peak milk and sometimes Three Crowns milk, when mixed together, and drank will immediately boost your blood level and cure you of all forms of anemia.

Malt mixed with milk or mixed with squashed pumpkin leaves is used to treat anemia.

Malt and milk, malt alone or just Peak milk is taken as blood tonic in many homes in Nigeria.

Sometimes blood donors are even told to take malt and milk before and after donation.

How true is it that these malt, milk combination acts as blood tonic or cures anemia or at best acts as blood boosters?

Well, Dr. Olufunmilayo; a UK based health practitioner and social media influencer says malt, milk are not blood tonic and do not boost blood level or volume.

In simple terms, they do not give blood!

She called them “energy drinks”.

Dr. Olufunmilayo however gave kudos to pumpkin locally known as ugwu as a blood tonic or booster because it contains high amount of iron.

This she backed up with a research published on a popular medical journal.

As usual, she explained her reasons scientifically and in very simple terms.

This is not a blood tonic

This is not a blood tonic

This is not a blood tonic.

This is not a blood tonic.

This is not a blood tonic.

This is not a blood tonic.

In case this is not clear enough:

THIS IS NOT A BLOOD TONIC.

It is a myth and a lie.

There’s no truth to it.

AT ALL.

Okay let’s analyse this a bit further.

Let’s look at the content list for Peak Milk and Maltina.

I just took a picture of Peak Milk tin in my kitchen and downloaded an internet page on the contents of Maltina- let’s look at what they contain.

Look at the following images.

So according to that image,

Each 100g of Peak Milk contains: 28.3g of Fat (of which 19g is “saturated fat” which is actually bad fat- very bad medically for your heart).

37.1g carbohydrates.

25g protein.

506 kilocalories of energy.

And the rest are salt, vitamin A and D.

So essentially Peak Milk is mainly fats, carbohydrates and protein.

“Blood tonics” need to be rich in IRON- that is easily absorbable by the body- because this is what your body needs and uses to make blood!

And unfortunately Peak Milk has NONE of that.

There is NO Iron in it.

So what am I saying in essence, for ANYTHING to “give you blood” or help you build blood- it has to be a rich source of IRON- because that’s what your body needs to build blood.

That’s why when you blood is low, doctors give you IRON Sulfate capsules which you take for it.

And that’s why ANYTHING that would be considered a “blood tonic” MUST BE a rich source of Iron.

Look at these images of actual blood tonics and see that they are ALL rich sources of Iron and that is stated on the pack.

So IF something is NOT rich in Iron, it can NOT give blood.

So does that make sense so far?

IF it is NOT rich in Iron, it cannot help you to build Hemoglobin and Red Blood Cells- which is essentially what you need to “build blood”.

Do you understand?

So this is why doctors just laugh at the popular myth of “malt and milk gives blood”.

And in fact, shall I shock you more?

The Peak Milk bottle clearly says on it that it’s NOT rich in Iron.

Look at the attached image- It is boldly written on it.

So IF you are hoping to “build blood”, and you are drinking Peak Milk- you are actually wasting your time. And money.

IF anything at all, all those Milk is high in “saturated fats”- which as I said earlier on is “bad fat” for your heart.

Malt and milk will only help you gain weight.

Regularly taking in large amounts would make you fat, increase bad cholesterol “LDL”, can give you hypertension, heart disease and a heart attack.

Be careful.

I’m NOT saying don’t take it at all.

I’m only saying as an adult, it has risks for your heart and on your health.

IF you take large amounts of all those milk on a consistent continuous pattern.

Because of the high calories and fat.

You have to learn how to limit it and cut down.

Okay let’s analyse the Maltina.

What does it contain?

Look at the attached images.

Again you see that Maltina – like any malt drink- is mainly calories and carbohydrates (sugar) with very little fat and vitamins.

That’s all.

There is NO Iron whatsoever in Maltina.

NONE AT ALL.

So you now see my argument as a medical doctor on this myth of “Maltina and Peak milk gives blood”.

Maltina has NO Iron.

Peak Milk has NO Iron.

Iron is what your body needs to build blood.

Do you now see that it makes no medical sense to continue to believe this deceitful myth?

Unfortunately, some Nollywood movies and many uninformed elderly people have pushed this narrative for so long that no one ever bothered to check or ask questions.

But actually, it is NOT true.

Milk and Malt will NOT give you Blood.

If you feel you need blood, see your doctor.