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-----Tel 020 7395 4030 -----Fax 020 7240 9679 [email protected] -----www.milk.co.uk 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 Henrietta House, 17/18 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8QH Registered in England (203597) Limited Liability. 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.