Celebrating Dairy During June

The dairy industry has made many contributions to the world and to public health over the years, which is why every year we celebrate National Dairy Month in June.  Dairy Month began back in 1937 as National Milk Month, as a means to promote drinking milk and stabilize the dairy demand when there was a production surplus.  Now, however, it is important to appreciate all dairy products for their rich nutrient quality, delicious taste and the versatile functions they serve in the foods we eat.

Whether you’re eating cheese, ice cream, yogurt or drinking milk in your morning coffee, dairy products are one of the largest essential food groups in our diets.  Over the years, dairy has gotten a bad rep as many fad diets claim that it is “bad” for you for reasons such as digestive issues and weight gain.  Non-dairy products seem to be all the rage in the health industry as people switch to dairy free cheeses, soy or almond milk or non-dairy ice cream and yogurts. Though a lot of these dairy alternatives are fortified with calcium and vitamin D, they still fail to compete with the abundance of vitamins and minerals dairy products have to offer.

So why should you be incorporating dairy products into your meals?  The FDA includes dairy in MyPlate as one of the five building blocks for a healthy diet.  Milk and all milk products that retain their calcium content (calcium fortified soymilk is also a part of this group) are included in this group and it is recommended that most dairy group choices be fat free or low fat.  Even though cream cheese, cream and butter are made from milk, they not included in this group because they have little to no calcium.

The major nutrients you get from dairy products are calcium, potassium, vitamin D and protein.  Calcium is necessary for building strong bones and maintaining bone mass.  Calcium is a nutrient that is important at every life stage – in childhood to aid in growth and development and in adulthood to prevent osteoporosis.

Yogurt, fluid milk and soymilk are especially high in potassium, a nutrient that is essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure, fluid balance and muscle contraction.

Vitamin D has become a nutrient of concern over the past few years.  This fat soluble vitamin is fortified into all dairy products because vitamin D is necessary for maintaining proper levels of calcium and phosphorous in the body, which therefore makes it an important player in building and maintaining bone health.  Milk also provides 8 grams of protein per serving and by choosing fat free or low fat dairy products you will be getting a high protein food or beverage with little or no solid fat.
Unless you have a lactose intolerance, milk and dairy products are nothing to fear!  This food group is a nutrient powerhouse and should be incorporated into your meals every day.  Celebrate National Dairy Month by drinking your milk and eating your yogurt today!

Your turn to take action: How will you include dairy products into your meals?

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