The trail to good health isn’t always clear. Almost every day, we’re swamped with commercials about the latest fad diets that promise thinner waistlines and longer lives.

This year’s June Is Dairy Month theme, “Find the Healthy Way with 3-A-Day,” urges people to get three servings of dairy a day by consuming a glass of milk, a cup of yogurt or a slice of cheese. Making this powerful trio a daily part of your diet can put you on the right road to good health.

Milk and milk products are great nutrient packages of nine essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, potassium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamins A, D and B-12, and protein. Dairy products are what dietitians call nutrient-dense foods, containing an abundance of vitamins and minerals per calorie.

In 2005, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee suggested that Americans increase their consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese from two or three servings a day to three servings a day. The federal government develops and releases the guidelines every five years based on expert testimony and exhaustive scientific research.

The research showed how critical it is to consume dairy and live a healthy lifestyle. A recent study published in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests that eating three to four servings of dairy every day could lead to healthcare savings of more than $214 billion over five years through reduced risks of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and some forms of cancer.

Other studies show that including dairy as part of a balanced diet will help with weight management. A study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that higher intake of dietary calcium, such as that found in milk, cheese and yogurt, is associated with lower body fat in young children.

The study looked at 52 children, from age 2 to age 8, and their mothers.

Results showed that dietary calcium and polyunsaturated fat intake were associated with a lower percentage of body fat. Milk and other dairy foods were the main sources of dietary calcium in the study, with milk alone accounting for 50 percent of the total calcium intake.

The health benefits are unquestionable. That’s why June has marked an annual salute to America’s dairy farmers since 1937, when grocer organizations sponsored “National Milk Month.” Two years later, the observation became known as dairy month, promoting the consumption of all dairy foods.

Over the years, dairy foods have evolved to satisfy taste buds as well as provide vitamins and minerals for good health. New flavors of milk such as vanilla, strawberry and banana to countless varieties of cheeses and dozens of flavors of yogurt line the shelves of your nearest grocery store.

Great taste, healthy weight management and stronger bones are clear road signs that will guide you from childhood to the golden years. Follow the road and make sure your refrigerator is well stocked with milk, cheese and yogurt.

You must be logged in to comment.