Benefits of Dairy Products

There are many benefits of dairy products. Consuming these products provides health benefits especially building and maintaining strong bones. They help you have a healthy weight. Foods in the dairy group provide nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of your body.

Dairy products are also healthy for your teeth and gums

by reducing your risk for gum disease. Dairy products are high in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, magnesium, zinc, and protein. We use the calcium that we get from dairy products to build our bones, to help our blood clot, to make sure our nerves work well and to help build strong muscles. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.

Health benefits associated with dairy foods extend far beyond building and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Having enough milk, yoghurt and cheese can also be good for heart health, blood pressure and maintaining a healthy weight. Milk, cheese and yoghurt are naturally full of important nutrients such as calcium and protein. The unique package of vitamins and minerals they provide means these dairy products pack some pretty important health benefits. Many people do not get enough potassium. Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain healthy blood pressure. Dairy products, especially dairy milk and yoghurt, and fortified soy milk, provide potassium.

Vitamin D functions in the body to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorous, thereby helping to build and maintain bones. Milk and soy milk that are fortified with vitamin D are good sources of this nutrient. Other sources include some fish such as salmon, and other foods fortified with vitamin D. Consumption of milk, cheese and yoghurt is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and colorectal cancer. 

Fermented dairy products such as yoghurt, culture drinks and kefir are some of the most common and easily available sources of probiotics. These products are an ideal vehicle for probiotics as the composition of milk which includes carbohydrates, protein and fat acts as a protective matrix to help the survival of probiotics from the digestive system through to the gut, including helping them survive the adverse conditions of the stomach.

Bones are living tissue, constantly in a state of renewal, so building and maintaining bones from childhood through to elderly age is important. The key ingredients for strong bones for life include weight-bearing exercise, calcium-rich foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, as well as vitamin D from safe sun exposure.

Not looking after bones can increase the risk of osteoporosis, a disease where bones become brittle and are at high risk of fracture. Bone health is determined by both genetics and lifestyle factors, and adopting a bone-friendly lifestyle at any age can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Achieving dental health involves more than just the right oral hygiene. Healthy nutrition and eating habits also help to keep teeth healthy. Dairy foods have a specific role to play in dental health as they contain a unique combination of special anti-decay nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus and the protein, casein. Milk has been linked to reduced risk of cavities, making it a good drink choice between meals and hard cheese has been linked to decreased risk of dental cavities and erosion

Maintaining healthy body weight is a matter of balancing the energy taken in with the energy used through daily activities or exercise. When trying to lose weight through a calorie-controlled diet, studies show that including at least three serves of milk, yoghurt or cheese a day can help people lose more weight, more centimetres from the waist and more body fat compared to people who ate fewer serves of dairy foods. Therefore there are several benefits of dairy products associated with human health. Consuming dairy products is a must for good health.