# Does dairy thicken mucus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307 "2011-05-18T12:52:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/1 "2011-05-18T12:52:43Z")
I have read on here that it doesn’t produce mucus. I haven’t seen any definitive statement on whether it thickens mucus, though. Furthermore, I have read it coats the throat. This is supposed to be bad for singers and public speakers. What exactly is meant by dairy coating the throat? Is this true? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/2 "2011-05-18T13:28:09Z")
Try this in Google: myth that dairy products produce mucus ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/3 "2011-05-18T16:07:13Z")
gr ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/4 "2011-05-18T16:14:44Z")
What I want to know is, does it thicken mucus/saliva and does it coat the throat? Also, what exactly is meant by dairy coating the throat? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/5 "2011-05-18T16:16:54Z")
Milk doesn’t do anything physically to or about mucus. I found three posts from the Planet Lactose blog that address this, each quoting medical journal articles or specialists: [Udder confusion](http://planetlactose.blogspot.com/2006/07/udder-confusion.html) [Milk: No mucus, no asthma](http://planetlactose.blogspot.com/2007/11/milk-no-mucus-no-asthma.html) [Milk doesn’t cause mucus](http://planetlactose.blogspot.com/2009/11/milk-doesnt-cause-mucus.html) I’ll bet large sums that what’s happening is that the milk haters have been shot down for years whenever they talk about milk producing mucus. But they haven’t stopped irrationally hating milk. So they shifted the goalposts slightly to say that milk “thickens” mucus, whatever that might mean. But that is subject to exctly the same objections that the testing has already shot down. Soy milk gives the same sensations as liquid cow’s milk. But other forms of cow’s milk don’t. A shifting the goalposts claim can and should always be assumed nonsense without enormous evidence. There’s no evidence at all. Make of that what you will. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/6 "2011-05-18T17:32:58Z")
> [@anon11](#): > > Furthermore, I have read it coats the throat. This is supposed to be bad for singers and public speakers. What exactly is meant by dairy coating the throat? Is this true? thanks. Exapno mapcase. Could you answer this query as well please? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/7 "2011-05-18T20:45:16Z")
It’s hard to answer because “coating the throat” has no physiological meaning. It’s a subjective feeling from the way that milk feels in some peoples’ throats. Notice that in the Udder Confusion link only a third of people reported any version of this effect. Milk has a high fraction of “solids” in it. Solids are fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. My guess is that fats produce some of the coating effect, since they are not soluble in water. This is noticeable with a mouthful of cheese, but the effect from a liquid is psychologically the reverse: liquids are expected to clear the throat. In a sane world, people who make the claim that milk coats the throat should have to prove that such a thing is real. That’s not the world we live in, sadly. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/8 "2011-05-18T20:53:17Z")
This is really interesting to me. I’m one of those people for whom milk does create an odd, back-of-the-throat coating feeling, which I would describe as “thick mucus.” Sure as hell feels like mucus to me. I just assumed this happened to everyone. It happens to me with orange juice, too. I guess it must be the texture of the milk itself. Come to think of it, it doesn’t happen with skim milk; only whole. And not any other dairy products, so far as I’ve noticed. ---
**Author:** ![anon11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@anon11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anon11)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/9 "2011-05-18T21:11:22Z")
Excellent, question solved, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/10 "2011-05-18T22:28:44Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It’s hard to answer because “coating the throat” has no physiological meaning. It’s a subjective feeling from the way that milk feels in some peoples’ throats. Notice that in the Udder Confusion link only a third of people reported any version of this effect. > > Milk has a high fraction of “solids” in it. Solids are fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals. My guess is that fats produce some of the coating effect, since they are not soluble in water. This is noticeable with a mouthful of cheese, but the effect from a liquid is psychologically the reverse: liquids are expected to clear the throat. > > In a sane world, people who make the claim that milk coats the throat should have to prove that such a thing is real. That’s not the world we live in, sadly. Fat’s do indeed coat the throat. You can take any fat and pour it into a container and see this. It’s not rocket science. As far as creating mucus, many people are allergic to cow milk and it will absolutely cause an increase in mucus production just like any other food allergy can do. Anybody with acid reflux knows that a glass of a anything with fat in it will coat the esophagus and bring temporary relief. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/11 "2011-05-18T22:59:59Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > As far as creating mucus, many people are allergic to cow milk and it will absolutely cause an increase in mucus production just like any other food allergy can do. I need a medical journal cite for this, since all the reports I’ve seen claim the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/12 "2011-05-18T23:47:45Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I need a medical journal cite for this, since all the reports I’ve seen claim the opposite. [http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032100.asp](http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032100.asp) Is the warning not to drink milk when you have a cold an old doctor’s tale? Yes and no. Some people do make more mucus when they drink milk, and any high- fat food may produce a sensation of thicker secretions in the back of the throat. Yet, the mucus-producers are probably those that are allergic to milk. Separating out milk-allergic persons, research fails to show any correlation between drinking milk and mucus production during a cold. In conclusion, you need extra fluids during a cold, anyway, so if you’re not allergic it’s okay to drink a few glasses of lowfat milk. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/13 "2011-05-19T00:18:17Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > [Nutritional Benefits | Ask Dr Sears](http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032100.asp) I asked specifically for a medical journal cite because you find lots of nonsense online. That Sears column is not nonsense, but doesn’t come close to a cite. “Yet, the mucus-producers are probably those that are allergic to milk.” has null content. Estimates of the the percentage of adults who are actually milk allergic range from 1-2%. The major [symptoms of milk allergy](http://www.foodreactions.org/allergy/milk.html) are listed as: > [@](#): > > ``` > Skin Reactions: > * Itchy red rash > * Hives > * Eczema > * Swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat > * Allergic "Shiners" (black eyes) > > Stomach and Intestinal Reactions: > * Abdominal pain and bloating > * Diarrhoea (usually very runny) > * Vomiting > * Gas/wind > * Cramps > > Nose, Throat and Lung Reactions: > * Runny Nose > * Sneezing > * Watery and/or Itchy eyes > * Coughing > * Wheezing > * Shortness of Breath > > ``` No mention of mucus production. Since allergies are known for producing a great variety of symptoms, it may be possible that a few people may indeed have increased mucus production. But I doubt if we’re talking about 2%. That’s 2% of 2% of the adult population. The notion that milk allergy causes mucus is a myth of the anti-milk community, as unlikely in reality as the notion that milk causes mucus in anybody at all. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/14 "2011-05-19T00:29:39Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The notion that milk allergy causes mucus is a myth of the anti-milk community, as unlikely in reality as the notion that milk causes mucus in anybody at all. [From the Mayo Clinic](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/milk-allergy/DS01008/DSECTION=symptoms): Milk allergy symptoms differ from person to person and occur within a few minutes to a few hours after ingesting milk. Immediately after consuming milk, signs and symptoms of a milk allergy might include: ``` * Hives * Wheezing * Vomiting ``` Signs and symptoms that may take more time to develop include: ``` * Loose stools, which may contain blood * Diarrhea * Abdominal cramps * Coughing or wheezing * **Runny nose** * Watery eyes * Itchy skin rash, often around the mouth * Colic, in babies ``` * * * I’m not sure why you think milk allergies are any different than other allergies. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/15 "2011-05-19T01:28:12Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m not sure why you think milk allergies are any different than other allergies. I think milk allergies are exactly like other food allergies, which is an excellent way of saying that milk doesn’t cause mucus production in the throat. I don’t think anyone confuses a runny nose with increased mucus production in the throat. Before you say it, I know that mucus produced in the nose can run into the throat. However, I know of no cite or claim that associates the “coating” that milk in the throat supposedly creates with a runny nose or mucus running down from the nose. And you can’t mistake the effects of a true food allergy, says [allergy specialist Dr Ray Mullins](http://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2007/11/28/2102703.htm). > [@](#): > > “A food allergy hits you like a Mack truck,” he says, adding that symptoms of cow’s milk allergy such as rashes, vomiting and breathing difficulties hit within the first 15 minutes to hour. The people who talk about getting mucus from milk manifestly don’t have a true milk allergy, don’t have runny noses, and don’t know what they’re talking about. You’ve obviously never read the crank literature on milk. Here’s a good, i.e. insane, [example](http://www.dherbs.com/articles/dangerous-dairy-238.html#ixzz1Ml08P02V): > [@](#): > > Mucus is the result of excess acid in the body, referred to as acidosis. This acidosis stems from eating far too many acid-forming so-called foods, i.e. meat, dairy products, refined grains, refined starches; processed foods, etc. > > The acid-forming foods break down in our bodies via the digestion process. A byproduct produced in our bodies from dairy consumption is LACTIC ACID. > > Lactic acid forms and stores in the blood and tissues of the body. It is produced by anaerobic respiration. It is what is responsible for the stiffness after you work out. > > Lactic acid inflames the mucous membranes (internal skin). To protect the body, the body begins to produce vast amounts of thick mucus to serve as a barrier between the acid and the mucous membranes; but because we eat so much acid-forming foods and non-stop, more acid is produced in the body and in turn the body has to produce more mucus; well, the mucus builds up so much so that the mucus now becomes a problem to the body. The mucus obstructs the mucous membranes and now there arises a problem with the blood and skin, usually of an inflammatory nature. > > Mucus causes inflammation (burning). It the medical world, inflammation is denoted by the suffix ‘itis.’ The English word (actually a suffix) “itis” denotes or means “inflammation” and said inflammation is due to mucus which is the result of eating too much acid-forming so-called foods, i.e., meat (hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, fried chicken, pork chops, sausages, fish, lamb chops, shrimp, lobster, etc.), pizza, potato chips, cake, donuts, spaghetti, pasta, bread, bagels, muffins, etc. Yes, all the good tasting stuff (that only seemingly taste good due to the chemical food additives added to them). > > The excess mucus eventually stores in areas of the body whereby there is space and room for it, i.e. joints, female reproductive tract, etc. or will store in certain organs where the energy is low so as to convey a metaphysical message to the person. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/16 "2011-05-19T04:12:25Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I think milk allergies are exactly like other food allergies, which is an excellent way of saying that milk doesn’t cause mucus production in the throat. You asked for a site and I gave you one from the Mayo Clinic even though it’s common knowledge. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I don’t think anyone confuses a runny nose with increased mucus production in the throat. That wasn’t the question posted by the op. Milk, as an allergen creates excess mucus. so not only will drinking fat laden milk coat the throat but so will additional mucus depending on the severity of the allergic reaction. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/17 "2011-05-19T10:39:23Z")
That Sear’s link is no cite and has no more value than my stating something without documentation. The Mayo cite does not respond to the question in any meaningful way and appeal to “common knowledge” is laughable. While milk allergy is common for a food allergy, it is still not so [common](http://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(10)62120-5/abstract) (certainly not the 75% that Sears states), primarily respiratory manifestations less common yet, and most that does occur occurs only in infancy and is outgrown. > [@](#): > > A review of 229 PubMed (National Library of Medicine) articles on cow’s milk allergy (CMPA) for the years 1967 through 2001 was performed. … The diagnosis of reproducible adverse reactions to cow’s milk protein (CMP), ie, CMPA, has to be confirmed by controlled elimination and challenge procedures. The incidence of CMPA in infancy seems to be approximately 2 to 3% in developed countries. … approximately 20 to 30% respiratory symptoms … with a remission rate of approximately 45 to 50% at 1 year, 60 to 75% at 2 years, and 85 to 90% at 3 years So at most 3% cow milk allergic in infancy, at most 1% with respiratory symptoms, and as little as 0.04% to at most 0.4% with any respiratory symptoms that persist past age 3 years of age. Respiratory symptoms also do not equal “thickens mucus”; usually allergic respiratory symptoms are a increased production of thinner mucous and congestion of the mucousa and/or sneezing. Food allergies _are_ very different than other allergies and milk allergies are different than many other food allergies. (Some food allergies develop later in childhood and persist; milk allergy shows up early and almost always resolves during early childhood.) It is certainly not impossible for a rare adult to have a milk allergy that manifests primarily with respiratory symptoms that are somehow perceived as thick mucous - but it would be a very rare occurrence. It is also possible for an occasional adult to have milk trigger some mild gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) symptoms which can be perceived as a feeling in the back of the throat, but again, it would be an exceptional circumstance. There is no medical justification for avoiding milk before singing, unless one has lactose intolerance and does not want to be also singing some unintended extra notes from some … lower registers (although any singer is always prepared to be told they stink). That said, I would never contradict a singer’s personal experience of what they find is true for them. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/18 "2011-05-19T12:53:38Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > That Sear’s link is no cite and has no more value than my stating something without documentation. He’s not a reliable source of information. He’s proven that year after year after year. He’s the Dr. Phil of Pediatrics. [Here is an actual source of information if you were interested.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2154152) Anecdotally, my pediatrician swears on the milk/mucus myth as does my father-in-law who is an MD. The 2 year old has been tested for milk allergies and the results were negative - but I’m still not supposed to give cow’s milk because of this stupid misconception. The nice part about cow’s milk is that it’s an extremely convenient source of protein for kids. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/19 "2011-05-19T14:32:26Z")
You are correct about the link between milk and mucous production being a myth, and here are some articles from medical journals that say so. Some of these were linked to in the articles Exapno cited. (All bolding is mine) [Journal of Asthma](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1938769) > [@](#): > > Since Maimonides, it has been common in folk medicine to proscribe milk for asthmatics because its putative stimulation of mucus production can exacerbate asthma symptoms. A literature review, however, **failed to reveal any data supporting this notion**. [American Journal of Clinical Nutrition](http://www.jacn.org/content/24/suppl_6/547S.abstract) > [@](#): > > There is a belief among some members of the public that the consumption of milk and dairy products increases the production of mucus in the respiratory system. Therefore, some who believe in this effect renounce drinking milk. … In individuals inoculated with the common cold virus, **milk intake was not associated with increased nasal secretions** , symptoms of cough, nose symptoms or congestion. Nevertheless, individuals who believe in the mucus and milk theory report more respiratory symptoms after drinking milk. [From the American Review of Respiratory Disease](http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19910445281.html) > [@](#): > > 27.5% of subjects reported eating fewer milk products when they had a cold and/or considered milk and milk product consumption to be bad for colds, mainly because it increased mucus/phlegm production; these subjects reported significantly more cough and congestion symptoms, but did not produce higher levels of nasal secretion. **Milk and milk product intake was not significantly correlated with wt of mucus production in healthy adults** although a trend was observed of increasing looseness of the cough with increasing milk and milk product intake. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307/20 "2011-05-19T19:20:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This is really interesting to me. I’m one of those people for whom milk does create an odd, back-of-the-throat coating feeling, which I would describe as “thick mucus.” Sure as hell feels like mucus to me. I just assumed this happened to everyone. It happens to me with orange juice, too. I guess it must be the texture of the milk itself. Come to think of it, it doesn’t happen with skim milk; only whole. And not any other dairy products, so far as I’ve noticed. same for me. definitely something to how much milk fat there is in what you’re drinking. i was in radio for seven years and at the time, i quit drinking 2% milk altogether because of that odd feeling at the back of the throat you mentioned - especially when i was about to speak on-air. you lower the pitch of your voice in radio and the milk seemed to cause all kind of phlegm issues that interfered with my ‘radio voice.’ after i moved on to another career, i began drinking it again, but this time skim milk only and never had that problem again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dairy-thicken-mucus/582307.md?page=2)