Download the health benefits of milk

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THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MILK
A nutritious food
Milk can be described as one of the most nutritionally complete foods available. As well as being
a great source of calcium, providing half of a child’s (4-6 year olds) daily calcium requirement, a
serving of milk contains:
•
•
•
Protein for growth and repair
Vitamin B12 for red blood cells
Iodine for growth
•
•
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) for healthy skin
Carbohydrate for energy
Did you know?
A carton of milk (189ml) will help give children many of the nutrients they need daily. Children
aged 7-10 years will get 40% of all the calcium they need daily while older children will get a fifth
of the calcium they need. This 189ml carton of milk will also contribute other essential nutrients,
vitamins and minerals.
Improving children’s diets
Research indicates that drinking milk is associated with improved intakes of vitamins and
minerals including vitamin A, zinc, calcium and magnesium. For example, a study by Ballew and
colleagues (2000) found that consuming a carton of milk more than doubled the chances of a
child achieving his/her daily calcium requirement, whereas a can of carbonated drink actually
lowered this likelihood by one third.
Hydration
Regular fluid intake throughout the day is essential for children to be well hydrated. Dietetic
experts recommend that children should be offered about 6-8 glasses of fluid per day. As milk
contains a high percentage of water, it is a useful vehicle for rehydration.
Bone Health
A glass of milk will help contribute to a child’s daily calcium intake. Adequate intakes of calcium
in childhood and adolescence are important for the development of healthy bones. Optimising
bone mass in this age group can help to reduce the risk of fragile bones in later life.
Recent research shows that children who avoid drinking cow’s milk may be at an increased risk
of childhood fracture. This may be partly due to calcium-poor soft drinks displacing calcium-rich
milk in children’s diets.
Dental Health
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey showed that nearly 60% of 4- to 10-year-olds had tooth
erosion and almost a third of 4- to 6-year-olds had evidence of tooth decay (dental caries).
Encouraging children to consume milk helps to avoid the over consumption of soft drinks and
thereby helps reduce the risk of dental erosion and decay. Milk also provides fluid in a form that
will not harm children’s teeth; in fact it can help protect teeth from damage caused by sugary
substances. Studies show that the proteins in milk help protect the teeth by forming a protective
barrier on the enamel surface, and the high levels of calcium and phosphate in milk help to
prevent demineralisation (or dissolving) of the tooth enamel when exposed to acidic substances
(such as sugary foods and drinks).
©The Dairy Council
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Obesity
Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that children who consume milk and dairy foods
are likely to be slimmer than those who do not. Milk is also not a high fat product. Whole milk
contains 4% fat, semi-skimmed milk contains 1.7% fat and skimmed milk contains 0.3% fat.
School milk and the National School Fruit Scheme
Milk contains many of the nutrients that children are not getting enough of. School milk together
with a piece of fruit (under the National school Fruit Scheme) provides a more complete package
of nutrients than fruit alone (see table 1 below).
Table 1: The percentage of a 6-year-old’s Reference Nutrient Intake of some vitamins and minerals in an apple
and a carton of semi-skimmed milk compared with school milk plus an apple.
Nutrient
One small apple
Vitamin A
Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Folate
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Calcium
Iodine
Iron
Magnesium
Potassium
Zinc
1
3
2
1
1
4
0
13
1
<1
1
3
8
1
One 189ml carton of
semi-skimmed milk
10
8
59
2
17
13
212
13
52
59
1
17
28
12
One small apple plus one 189ml
carton of semi-skimmed milk
11
11
61
3
18
17
212
26
53
59
2
20
36
13
Ten reasons to offer children school milk
Thirst quencher
School milk provides fluid which can help keep children properly hydrated.
Builds strong bones
One serving of school milk will provide a 6-year-old with half his/her
calcium requirement, needed for optimal bone health.
Good for teeth
Water or milk as the best drinks for teeth in-between meals.
Helps tackle obesity
Drinking milk is associated with a lower body weight whereas sugary drinks are
associated with excessive weight gain.
Tackle inequalities
School milk can help to provide the nutrients that children with poorer quality diets
tend to miss out on.
Provides important
nutrients
Some children’s intakes of vitamin A, calcium, magnesium and zinc are
too low-a serving of school milk can help contribute some of these nutrients.
Improves children’s
diets
Children who include plenty of milk in their diet, generally have better
nutrient intakes than those who do not.
Establishes a healthy Studies show that children who don’t drink milk are unlikely to consume it in
beverage habit
later life, may have poorer nutrient intakes and be at risk of poor bone and dental
health. The provision of milk at a young age can be key to influencing future
health.
Complements the
school fruit scheme
Providing school milk and school fruit provides a more complete nutrient package
than school fruit alone (see table 1 above).
The perfect breaktime snack
A carton of milk together with a piece of fruit is the perfect break-time snack.
©The Dairy Council
A list of references is available on request from The Dairy Council. For further information and leaflets
Please contact The Dairy Council on 020 7395 4030 or visit www.milk.co.uk.