Does Taking Malt and Milk Help Increase Blood Levels?

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April 18, 2025

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Introduction

After donating blood, you might have heard that drinking malt and milk can help restore your blood levels. It’s a widespread belief in Nigeria, it is even a tradition.�

But is there any scientific backing to this? Can malt and milk really help boost your blood after donation, or could it actually do more harm than good?�

Let’s dive into what happens in your body when you take this combination and whether it’s the right thing to do.

What Happens When You Take Malt & Milk?

Malt and milk are popular beverages, and yes, they’re packed with nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. But here’s the thing: neither malt nor milk contains the one nutrient crucial for increasing blood levels—iron. Iron is the building block of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Without enough iron, your body can’t produce enough healthy red blood cells, which leads to iron-deficiency anemia.

So, while malt and milk can give you a quick energy boost due to their high carbohydrate content, they won’t help your body replace the lost iron or blood cells after you donate blood.

What Does a Real Blood Tonic Contain?

Blood tonics are formulated to prevent and treat iron-deficiency anemia by providing your body with the necessary iron to produce hemoglobin. The main ingredients in a typical blood tonic include:

Iron: To replenish the iron lost from blood donation or anemia.
Vitamins B12 and C: To enhance the absorption of iron and support red blood cell production.
Folic acid: Another key nutrient that helps your body produce healthy red blood cells.

These tonics are designed to help your body recover from low iron levels, whether due to blood loss, pregnancy, or other causes of anemia.

But can malt and milk do the same?

What Are the Nutritional Contents of Malt and Milk?

Let’s break down the ingredients of two popular products: Peak Milk and Maltina.

Peak Milk (per 100g):

Fat: 28g (18g of this is saturated fat, which is considered unhealthy for your heart)
Protein: 27g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Iron: 0.17mg (a very small amount, far below what’s needed for blood replenishment).

Maltina:

Carbohydrates
Vitamins and minerals.

As you can see, neither malt nor milk contains enough iron to significantly impact your blood levels. In fact, Peak Milk contains only a tiny amount of iron, which is far from enough to help replenish your blood after donation or to treat anemia.

The Misconception About Malt and Milk

So, where did the idea that malt and milk could help increase blood levels come from? It’s likely a traditional belief passed down through generations. While malt and milk might be good for energy recovery, they fall short when it comes to providing the iron your body needs after donating blood or treating anemia. This misconception has been around for so long that many people simply accept it as fact, but it’s time to debunk it.

Potential Health Risks of Drinking Malt and Milk

While drinking malt and milk occasionally won’t harm you, relying on it regularly to “boost blood” could pose health risks:

High Saturated Fat Content: milk is high in saturated fat, which can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, and even heart attacks if consumed in excess.
Increased Blood Pressure: High cholesterol levels from excessive saturated fat can also contribute to hypertension and cardiovascular problems.
No Impact on Iron Levels: The iron content in these drinks is too low to benefit your blood health in any significant way.

What Should You Eat After Donating Blood?

If you’re looking to replenish your blood and energy levels after donating, here are some iron-rich foods that are actually effective:

Leafy vegetables e.g. spinach.
Red meat
Bananas
Cereals

Bottom Line

Taking malt and milk after donating blood may be a comforting tradition but it won’t do much to help increase your blood levels. In fact, relying on this combination could even pose health risks due to its high fat content.

Instead, focus on iron-rich foods and supplements to replenish your blood after donation or when dealing with anemia.

What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to share your experiences or opinions in the comment section below!