The truth about five food myths

Milk produces phlegm

In the 12th century the physician Moses Maimonides recommended removing dairy products from the diet to help breathing or congestion problems. Chinese medicine similarly attributes increased mucus production to eating too many dairy products.

One scientific study has shown that drinking milk increases the amount of saliva we produce but then again so does water. Other studies have found no difference in the weight of the nasal secretions of people with colds who drank milk as against those who drunk no milk - so there appears to be nothing special about milk when it comes to saliva production

In conclusion our expert doctors say the chemicals that make your saliva thicker are not increased by milk consumption.