Nutrition News & Views

May 11, 1999
Don't Forget--June Is Dairy Month - May 1999/No. 3

June marks the 62nd year of celebrating June Dairy Month. This year's theme is "got milk? It does a body good!"

Calcium, protein, and vitamin D are some of many nutrients that dairy products provide. Calcium makes bones strong and dense, helping to prevent bone fractures today and bone- crippling osteoporosis later in life. Protein builds and repairs body tissue and helps form germ- fighting antibodies. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is required for healthy bones and teeth.

Dairy products can also help lower blood pressure, according to a Harvard-based study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, known as Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), showed that a diet of eight to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables and two to three servings of low-fat milk and milk products each day may help lower blood pressure within two weeks.

The USDA's Food Guide Pyramid suggests two to four servings of milk, each day, for Americans. The following list shows how much milk, yogurt, or cheese you need to make a serving:

  • 1 cup of milk
  • 1 cup of yogurt
  • 1 ½ to 2 ounces of cheese
  • 1 ½ cups frozen yogurt
Take time to pour yourself a glass of refreshing, ice-cold milk to celebrate June Dairy Month! You will do a body good!

Submitted by: Lisa Selman, MSU Dietetic Intern
Distributed by: Barbara McLaurin, PhD., R.D., L.D., Human Nutrition Specialist, MSU Extension Service, May 1999

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