LUVAS Paneer why drink: In a remarkable development showcased on National Milk Day, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar, has introduced a groundbreaking health drink made from paneer whey—the liquid that remains after milk is curdled to produce paneer (cottage cheese). Traditionally, this whey is wasted in large quantities across the dairy industry, despite being rich in nutrition.
Scientists from the Dairy Technology College of LUVAS have turned this underutilized resource into a low-fat, high-protein, easy-to-digest health drink that is especially suitable for children who reject milk, as well as for patients suffering from high blood pressure (BP), cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. This innovation has already undergone sensory testing and safety checks, earning positive feedback. With several companies showing interest, the product may soon be available in the commercial market.
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What is Whey and Its Underuse in India?
Whey is the nutrient-rich liquid left behind after milk is coagulated during the production of cheese or paneer. Globally, whey is considered a valuable component used for:
- Protein supplements
- Sports nutrition
- Infant formula
- Functional beverages
- Probiotics and nutraceuticals
However, in India, especially in unorganized and semi-organized dairy sectors, most whey is discarded due to:
- Lack of processing facilities
- Limited awareness
- Cost constraints
- Absence of technology for whey utilization
- Low demand from commercial industries
Discarding whey is not only wasteful, but it also causes environmental pollution, as whey is high in organic load and can contaminate water bodies.
LUVAS has attempted to solve both the nutrition and waste-management issues through this breakthrough innovation.
Turning Paneer Water Into a Healthy Drink
The Dairy Technology College at LUVAS, Hisar, has formulated a specialized whey-based drink that maintains:
- Low Fat
This low-fat whey-based drink is an ideal choice for weight-conscious consumers, as well as those managing high blood pressure (BP) or heart conditions. With its reduced fat content, the drink helps support a balanced, heart-healthy diet while promoting weight management. Its formulation makes it a perfect option for individuals seeking to maintain or lose weight without compromising on essential nutrients. The drink is also gentle on the heart, offering a nourishing alternative for people with BP and heart-related concerns, providing a healthy, easily digestible beverage that contributes to overall well-being.
- Low Calories
This low-calorie whey-based drink is an excellent choice for both children and adults who need a lighter, more balanced diet. With its reduced calorie content, it offers a nutritious option that doesn’t add unnecessary calories, making it ideal for growing children or adults seeking to manage their weight without sacrificing essential nutrients.
The drink provides a healthy source of protein and vital nutrients, ensuring that those on a calorie-conscious diet can still enjoy a satisfying and nourishing beverage. Whether for active children or adults aiming for a lighter, more mindful approach to eating, this drink supports their dietary needs while maintaining a healthy calorie count.
- High Protein
Whey protein is considered a “complete protein” because it contains all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own. This makes it an excellent source of high-quality protein, ideal for promoting muscle growth, repair, and overall tissue health. The presence of these essential amino acids also supports various bodily functions, including immune support, hormone production, and enzyme function. As a result, whey protein is highly valued not only for its nutritional benefits but also for its ability to support the body’s repair and recovery processes, making it a great choice for people of all ages, from children to the elderly.
- Rich in Vitamins and Minerals
This whey-based drink is rich in essential vitamins and minerals, providing a well-rounded nutritional profile. It is particularly high in calcium, which is crucial for bone health and strength, as well as B vitamins that support energy metabolism and overall vitality. Additionally, the drink is a good source of potassium, which helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels, and magnesium, which plays a key role in muscle function, nerve health, and regulating blood sugar levels.
By offering these important nutrients in a single, easy-to-consume beverage, it contributes to overall health and wellness, supporting everything from bone density to energy production and muscle function.
- Easy Digestibility
Whey is naturally light and easy on the stomach, making it an ideal choice for individuals with sensitive digestive systems, including children, the elderly, and patients recovering from illness or surgery. Its easily digestible nature ensures that it can be absorbed quickly by the body without causing discomfort, bloating, or digestive strain.
This makes it a gentle option for those who may have difficulty processing heavier, more complex foods, allowing them to benefit from its high-quality protein and essential nutrients without digestive distress. Whether for young children, older adults, or people with specific health conditions, whey provides a nourishing yet easy-to-digest beverage that supports overall health.
- Very Good Taste (as per sensory evaluation)
The whey-based drink has been praised for its excellent taste, as confirmed by sensory evaluations, which is a crucial factor for ensuring its appeal, especially to children. Many Indian parents struggle to get their kids to drink milk due to its taste or smell, but this drink offers a pleasant and enjoyable flavor, making it easier for children to consume. In addition to its great taste, the drink meets stringent safety regulations and has been thoroughly verified for its shelf-life, nutritional value, and overall quality. This makes it not only a nutritious option but also a reliable and safe choice for families, providing both health benefits and a taste that children will enjoy.
Why This Drink Is Ideal for Children Who Avoid Milk
Many children dislike the taste or smell of plain milk. This leads to:
- Calcium deficiency
- Weak bones
- Low immunity
- Poor growth
- Lack of essential nutrients
Whey contains easily absorbable nutrients that aid:
- Muscle growth
- Immunity strengthening
- Brain development
- Bone mineralization
Because the drink is tasty, light, and flavored, it becomes easier for parents to include it in children’s diets.
Benefits for BP Patients, Diabetics, and Heart Patients
Health experts and the scientists involved in the project have highlighted several medicinal benefits:
- Beneficial for Hypertension (BP) Patients
Whey is particularly beneficial for hypertension (high blood pressure) patients due to its natural bioactive peptides, which have been shown to help lower blood pressure. These peptides work by reducing vascular stiffness and improving blood flow, thereby promoting healthier circulation. Regular consumption of whey-based drinks can support heart health by gently moderating blood pressure levels, making it a valuable addition to the diet of those managing hypertension. This natural approach offers an alternative to pharmaceutical interventions, providing a functional, nutrient-rich beverage that contributes to overall cardiovascular well-being.
- Excellent for Heart Patients
This whey-based drink is excellent for heart patients due to its low fat and cholesterol content, which helps reduce the strain on the cardiovascular system. By minimizing the intake of harmful fats, it supports overall heart health and reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, the drink is rich in potassium and magnesium, two essential minerals that play a crucial role in regulating heart rhythm and maintaining normal blood pressure. These nutrients contribute to better heart function and can help prevent complications like arrhythmias, making the drink a heart-healthy option for those managing heart conditions.
- Safe for Diabetics
Whey is safe and beneficial for diabetics due to its ability to improve insulin sensitivity and stabilize blood glucose levels. The protein and bioactive compounds in whey help regulate blood sugar, reducing post-meal sugar spikes that can be harmful to individuals with diabetes. By enhancing the body’s response to insulin and providing a slow, steady release of energy, whey-based drinks offer a nutritious, low-glycemic option for managing blood sugar levels. This makes it an ideal beverage for diabetic patients, supporting better glycemic control while providing essential nutrients without causing fluctuations in blood glucose.
- Good for the Elderly
Whey is particularly beneficial for the elderly, as it provides a light, easily digestible source of high-quality protein, which is essential for maintaining muscle mass and overall health. Many older adults struggle with low appetites or digestion issues, making it challenging to meet their nutritional needs. Whey-based drinks offer a gentle and nutritious solution, as they are easy on the stomach while delivering key nutrients like protein, vitamins, and minerals. This makes it an ideal choice for the elderly, helping them maintain strength, improve recovery, and support their overall well-being without overwhelming their digestive systems.
Why This Innovation Matters for India’s Dairy Industry
India is the world’s largest milk producer, but whey utilization is extremely low.
This leads to:
- Massive nutritional wastage
- Environmental degradation
- Economic loss for dairy processors
Through this innovation, LUVAS showcases how India can:
Reduce wastage
Millions of liters of whey, a byproduct from paneer factories, often go to waste, contributing to environmental pollution. However, this valuable resource can now be converted into profitable beverages, significantly reducing wastage. By transforming whey into nutritious drinks, not only is the waste minimized, but it also creates new revenue streams for the dairy industry. This shift helps make the most of every part of milk, supporting both sustainability and economic growth, while providing consumers with a healthy, functional beverage.
Boost the dairy value chain
By converting whey into profitable beverages, small and medium-sized dairies can boost their value chain and diversify their product offerings. This allows them to move beyond traditional dairy products like milk and cheese, tapping into new markets with innovative, health-conscious drinks. Such diversification not only increases revenue potential but also strengthens the overall dairy industry by providing more value-added products. This approach helps smaller dairies stay competitive, improve profitability, and contribute to the growth of a sustainable dairy economy.
Cater to the growing health drink market
The nutraceutical and protein drink market in India is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing consumer awareness about health and fitness. This presents a significant opportunity for the dairy industry to cater to the rising demand for functional beverages that offer both nutrition and convenience.
By leveraging whey, which is rich in protein and essential nutrients, dairies can tap into this expanding market with innovative, health-focused drinks. These whey-based beverages can cater to a wide range of consumers, from fitness enthusiasts to those with specific dietary needs, positioning dairies to capitalize on the booming health drink trend in India.
Provide low-cost nutritious beverages to the public
Whey-based drinks provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional protein powders, making nutritious beverages more accessible to the public. While protein powders can be expensive, whey drinks offer a budget-friendly option that delivers similar nutritional benefits, including high-quality protein, essential amino acids, and other key vitamins and minerals.
This affordability makes whey-based drinks an attractive choice for health-conscious individuals, especially those looking for a more economical way to supplement their diet with high-protein, nutrient-dense beverages. By offering these drinks at a lower price point, dairies can cater to a broader audience, promoting better health without the high cost of premium protein products.
Milk Production and Availability
Haryana has emerged as one of India’s top dairy-revolution states.
The article highlights the following data:
In 1998:
- Per-capita milk availability: 662 grams/day
- Total milk production: 4373 tons/day
In 2024:
- Per-capita milk availability: 1105 grams/day
- Total milk production: 7220 tons/day
- This tremendous growth shows that Haryana is now ahead of many states, standing among the top milk-producing regions in India.
- The increasing availability of milk also makes whey-based processing more feasible.
Commercial Interest and Market Potential
The whey-based drink has been praised for its excellent taste, as confirmed by sensory evaluations, which is a crucial factor for ensuring its appeal, especially to children. Many Indian parents struggle to get their kids to drink milk due to its taste or smell, but this drink offers a pleasant and enjoyable flavor, making it easier for children to consume.
In addition to its great taste, the drink meets stringent safety regulations and has been thoroughly verified for its shelf-life, nutritional value, and overall quality. This makes it not only a nutritious option but also a reliable and safe choice for families, providing both health benefits and a taste that children will enjoy.
Why Companies Want to Produce This Drink
- Low production cost
- High nutritional value
- Rising consumer demand for health beverages
- Government encouragement for value-added dairy products
- High market potential in urban and rural areas
This drink can soon be available in:
- Retail stores
- Hospitals
- Schools and cafeterias
- Fitness centers
- Online marketplaces
- Dairy parlors
This could provide a new revenue stream for dairy firms and support farmers by creating demand for milk byproducts.
Environmental Benefits
Whey disposal can harm the environment due to its high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD).
By converting whey into a drink:
Pollution decreases
By converting whey into a valuable product like a nutritious drink, pollution is significantly reduced, as there is no longer a need to discharge whey into sewage systems or rivers. Whey, when improperly disposed of, contributes to water contamination due to its high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), which can deplete oxygen levels in aquatic environments, harming marine life.
By utilizing whey instead of discarding it, this process not only prevents such environmental harm but also promotes cleaner, healthier ecosystems. This approach helps mitigate the negative impact of dairy production on the environment, aligning with sustainable waste management practices.
Resource utilization increases
By converting whey into a valuable product, resource utilization is significantly increased, as every part of the milk is put to good use. Traditionally, whey, a byproduct of cheese and yogurt production, would be discarded or wasted, contributing to inefficiency in the dairy industry. However, when whey is repurposed into drinks, protein powders, and other products, it not only minimizes waste but also maximizes the value derived from each liter of milk.
This practice promotes sustainability by ensuring that no part of the milk goes unused, leading to a more resource-efficient production system and helping the dairy industry move closer to a circular economy, where waste is minimized and resources are optimized.
Farmer income increases
By transforming whey into a high-value product, farmers can significantly increase their income without needing to produce more milk. Traditionally, whey was often considered a waste byproduct with little economic value, but by utilizing it in nutrient-rich drinks and other products, the dairy industry unlocks new revenue streams.
This means farmers can earn more from the same quantity of milk, as every part of the milk, including the whey, is now being fully utilized. This added value not only improves their financial stability but also encourages more sustainable farming practices, as it creates a stronger economic incentive for farmers to produce high-quality milk while reducing waste.
Dairy industry moves toward zero-waste production
The dairy industry is making significant strides toward zero-waste production by finding innovative ways to repurpose byproducts like whey, aligning with global sustainability goals. Traditionally, large amounts of whey were discarded, contributing to waste and environmental pollution. However, by converting whey into valuable products such as nutritious drinks, protein powders, and other functional foods, the industry is reducing waste, lowering its carbon footprint, and utilizing resources more efficiently.
This shift not only minimizes environmental harm but also contributes to a circular economy, where waste is minimized, and every part of the production process is used to its full potential. By embracing this sustainable approach, the dairy industry is helping to meet the broader global objectives of reducing waste, promoting resource efficiency, and fostering environmental responsibility.
Potential Future Products Using Whey
Following the success of this drink, several other whey-based products can be developed in India:
- Whey-based sports drinks
- Protein powders
- Probiotic beverages
- Flavored whey tonics
- Whey-based smoothies
- Whey gel beverages
- High-protein snacks
- Infant nutrition products
India’s massive dairy output makes this a huge opportunity.
Why Whey Is the “Future of Dairy”
Whey is being hailed as the “future of dairy” due to its exceptional nutritional profile, as highlighted by Dr. Jaswinder Singh and other experts from LUVAS. Rich in essential amino acids, high-quality proteins, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, whey offers a wide range of health benefits. It supports muscle repair, enhances immunity, and promotes heart health, while also improving metabolism and aiding in weight management. These properties make whey-based beverages a highly promising functional food, poised to meet the growing demand for nutrient-dense, health-boosting products in the market. As a versatile and sustainable dairy byproduct, whey is quickly becoming a cornerstone of modern nutrition.
The whey-based health drink developed by LUVAS marks a significant scientific and nutritional breakthrough for India. It solves three important challenges:
- Nutrition:
This nutrition drink is designed to be a healthy, easily digestible option that supports the needs of children, individuals with high blood pressure, heart patients, diabetics, and the elderly. With a low-fat, high-protein formula, it promotes overall health while helping to manage weight, improve muscle strength, and maintain stable blood sugar levels. The drink is crafted to be gentle on the digestive system, making it suitable for sensitive individuals, and its balanced nutrient profile supports heart health and helps regulate blood pressure, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of dietary needs.
- Economy:
This product supports dairy companies by offering a low-cost, high-demand solution that can drive increased sales and profitability. By utilizing locally sourced dairy, it helps to stabilize and boost farmer income, ensuring fair compensation for their hard work. The high demand for such nutritious, specialized products creates a reliable market for dairy producers, benefiting the entire supply chain from farm to consumer. This fosters economic growth within the dairy industry, improves farmers’ financial stability, and encourages sustainable agricultural practices, all while meeting the needs of health-conscious consumers.
- Environment:
This innovative drink helps prevent whey wastage, a byproduct of dairy production, by effectively utilizing it in a nutrient-rich product, thereby reducing environmental impact. By turning what would otherwise be discarded into a valuable resource, it helps minimize pollution and supports a more sustainable dairy economy. The drink’s popularity is growing, with several companies already showing interest, and it has the potential to become a staple in daily nutrition for millions of Indians. This shift not only supports the dairy industry’s sustainability efforts but also aligns with a growing consumer demand for eco-friendly and health-conscious products.
