Undeniably Dairy: The Facts Behind Dairy Nutrition

Farm visitors joined Sue Mazrolle, Register Dietitian for Big Y for a discussion about dairy nutrition and dairy in a healthy diet for the Dairy Month Lecture Series on Sunday, June 17!

In case you missed it, we have this short recap for you:

  • Dairy foods are recommended to help meet calcium and vitamin D recommendations, and are linked with improved bone health in children and adolescents. In fact, milk is the No. 1 food source of nine essential nutrients in the diets of America’s children including calcium, vitamin D and potassium, three of the four nutrients the DGA notes children don’t get enough of.
  • Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake as part of a balanced diet throughout life helps build and maintain strong bones and can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
  • The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan includes 2 to 3 daily servings of dairy foods and 8 to 10 daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and is recommended by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association to prevent and control high blood pressure.
  • Rice, almond, and soy beverages contain a different set of nutrients than cow’s milk. These beverages are often fortified with a few key nutrients, but lack many of the vitamins and minerals found naturally in cow’s milk. Milk is a source of high quality protein, providing 8 grams of protein per cup. Alternative beverages, such as almond, coconut, and rice, have only a small amount of protein.
  • Those who are lactose intolerant don’t have to miss out on the great taste and health benefits of dairy. Different people can handle different amounts of lactose, and there’s a solution to meet most needs in the dairy case – from lactose-free milk to dairy foods that are typically easier to digest like hard cheeses and yogurt.

Questions?  Barstow’s is honored to be an educational resource for our community.  Always feel free to reach out with your dairy and agriculture questions on our Contact Page.

Join us for the Dairy Month Lecture Series every Sunday in June!

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