Author criticises content creators for making misleading claims about milk with salt being harmful; experts weigh in

The intersection of traditional food wisdom and modern nutrition often sparks debates that can leave consumers confused about what’s truly healthy. Recently, a podcast host and their guest claimed that consuming milk with salt can lead to various health issues, including itching on the face, constipation, liver inflammation, and yellowish urine. 

These assertions were met with skepticism, particularly by author and content creator Krish Ashok, who dismissed the claims as baseless, urging people not to fall for misinformation about food combinations.

In a story shared on Instagram, he shared the clip and wrote, “You’ve got to admire the confidence to make a claim that will literally make the entire Mediterranean region, where people cook milk with salt pretty much every day and suffer from no consequences, say…”

No scientific evidence is available to support the claim that milk consumption can cause the health conditions mentioned in the clip. (Source: Instagram/Krish Ashok)

Given the conflicting opinions, it’s important to turn to experts for a clearer understanding. Are there really adverse effects of combining milk with salt, or is this another food myth? 

Dr Amrit Gururaj Yelsangikar, MBBS, MD, General Medicine, DNB — Gastroenterology, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Bangalore, tells indianexpress.com, “No scientific evidence is available to support the claim that milk consumption (with salt) can cause the health conditions mentioned in the clip. These claims are often based on traditional beliefs rather than authentic scientific research.”

Concurring, Kanikka Malhotra, consultant dietician and certified diabetes educator says, “the idea that drinking milk that has been salted causes health problems such as liver inflammation, constipation, or facial irritation is unfounded.” 

The combination of milk with salt in various forms, such as salted cheese, pasta sauces, curd rice, and lassi, can offer several nutritional benefits while also warranting consideration of sodium intake, she adds. 

How our bodies respond to the combination of dairy and salt

Normally, Dr Yelsangikar states, the body digests both dairy products and salt on its own and has no specific adverse reaction to these two in combination. “Dairy products provide calcium, proteins, and fats, while salt provides sodium to the body, which is an electrolyte that the body needs. When consumed in moderation, it is unlikely that the combination will hurt digestion and absorption of these nutrients.”

However, excessive consumption of salt “may cause pressure on the kidneys and may eventually affect calcium balance, leading to long-term health problems,” he says. Although no evidence adding salt to milk can affect digestion or impact negatively. Based on individual choices, adding salt to dairy varies, a pinch of salt to the milk can retain the freshness of the milk but too much can alter the taste. 

Is the concept of ‘wrong combination foods’ largely a myth?

Both Dr Yelsangikar and Malhotra agree that the concept of ‘wrong combination foods’ is largely a myth. “Such ‘wrong combination foods’ are mostly a myth, since most combinations are harmless to the general population,” the former informs.

Scientific evidence supporting the harmful effects of these combinations is largely lacking, says Malhotra. “The human digestive system is quite capable of processing mixed meals that contain various macronutrients simultaneously.”

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