Women, whether in the workplace or at home, use more of their brainpower than men – or at least, women who constantly strive to multi-task. It sounds counterintuitive, but that explains why women actually require more sleep than men. Professor Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University and author of Sleepfaring: A Journey Through The Science Of Sleep explains that, “On average, women need 20 more minutes of sleep than men.”

Yet, long working hours jam-packed with meetings and tedious efforts caring for the family may not necessarily allow for sufficient sleep; let alone translate into quality sleep. Fortunately enough, there are omega-3 fatty acids to turn to, to boost brain memory and performance, in the midst of sleepless nights.

Taking into consideration that there are a million and one things to do in a day, omega-3 milk is one of the few options that offers well-desired convenience and all the necessary nutrients for boosting brainpower and combatting a lack of sleep. Not only is this milk[1] full of natural hearty goodness, it is also 25% lower in saturated fat and higher in calcium compared to regular milk! A velvety chocolate version of the omega-3 milk is also available if you’re one who prefers reduced milkiness. What’s even better is that chocolate omega-3 milk[2] contains 25% less sugar!

What Makes Omega-3 Milk So Special?

First and foremost, omega-3 fatty acids with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in particular, are vital for optimal brain function. Since the brain is made up of 60% fat and 15 to 20% of that fat is DHA, it is logical that a regular intake of these essential fats will have a significant impact on your cognitive functions. Think of DHA in omega-3 acids as the legs of runners in a relay race. In order for the runners to pass the baton to one another, they first need their legs to carry them forward. In the presence of DHA, messages get transmitted within the brain quickly; which is what will increase your ability to think and analyze faster.

Calcium also plays a similar bridging role where it delivers signals from the outside to the inside of brain cells, through the joining of key proteins. Coupled with the fact that calcium is needed for nerves in the brain to communicate with each other, calcium plays a crucial role for storing and retrieving memory.

A sufficient amount of DHA also ensures that the brain does not overwork itself by regulating the energy it uses. In simple terms, this acid helps reduce pro-inflammatory mediators and increase anti-inflammatory compounds so that the brain does not tire out easily. And since calcium can lower your heart rate by generating and transmitting currents to regulate the rhythm of your heartbeat, omega-3 milk could quite easily be a stress reliever when you are faced with tight timelines at work and challenging family situations.

With osteoporosis as the lead cause of 1.5 million fractures including 300,000 broken hips in women (as published by Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health), milk should not be excluded from the diet. What’s more, milk has the highest concentration per serving of highly absorbable calcium; and contains vitamin D – a nutrient that supports further absorption of calcium into your digestive tract.

For all these reasons, omega-3 milk[1] should make it to your list of mainstay items in your work or home refrigerator.

Making Sure Fresh Milk is Safe for Consumption

When stocking up on fresh milk, be sure that it is fresh and safe for consumption at all times. While milk is pasteurized to make it safe to drink, the nutrient-laden creamy beverage still remains a delicate fresh produce. Once a carton of milk is opened, it is exposed to oxidation, loses quality and begins to lose its freshness rapidly

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) recommends that milk when opened be consumed within two to three days [1]. Milk opened any longer than this runs the risk of becoming infested with unhealthy bacteria. It is therefore advisable for all children (and even adults) to consume milk within three days, as it is during this period that milk stays its freshest after its seal has been broken.

Simply follow these three short and sharp guidelines to ensure the freshness of your fresh milk: Preserve, Store, Consume:

Preserve the cold chain from supermarket to home by refrigerating fresh milk immediately upon reaching home
Store fresh milk at the back of the refrigerator instead of having it near the door, where its most likely to be exposed to bacteria
Consume it within two to three days of opening
You should too change up your supermarket shopping habit to purchase two 1-litre cartons of fresh milk, instead of two 2-litre bottles.

[1] [2] [3] The description for oat milk is in reference to Magnolia’s Omega-3 Lo-Fat Hi-Cal Milk