This section of our site is dedicated to featuring articles and health information about milk and dairy products. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.

Latinos & Health

As the U.S. Hispanic population grows, health experts are becoming more aware of the health issues impacting the Latino community. The high incidence of diabetes and obesity are alarming trends. Poor eating habits plus lack of exercise contribute to rising health problems.

Good nutrition can be easy with the right foods. The low fat milk and fruit in licuados can be part of a healthy diet. Milk has the nutrients everybody needs to stay healthy, with calcium, vitamins D, A, B12, potassium and magnesium.

And you don’t have to run on a treadmill to stay healthy. Salsa dancing is a fun way to keep the heart pumping and the body moving! —Sources

Workout Nutrition

Fitness enthusiasts don’t need expensive high tech powders and supplements to rebuild muscles and to recover after exercise. A new study points to what nutritionists have been telling us all along. Good
old fashioned milk does the job.

Muscle routinely breaks down after exercise. Active people need to supply their bodies with the right kind of protein for muscle to recover fully. Milk has that kind of protein, plus a whole host of other nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Milk is a very nutrient dense food.

For muscle rebuilding and recovering after your workouts, skip the high tech supplements — just reach for a milk shake! —Sources

Lactose Intolerance OR Food Allergy?

Many parents are confused about the differences between food allergies and food intolerances, and treatment for each. A new survey reveals that many parents are self-diagnosing food allergies and eliminating nutrient-rich foods from their child’s diet without seeing a doctor first.

Parents are sometimes quick to point the finger at milk when their child comes down with unexplained symptoms like intestinal problems or allergic reactions. Eliminating milk from your child’s diet, without talking to your doctor first, is not a smart idea.

Milk is an important source of calcium and other nutrients that facilitate growth during a critical bone building time. —Sources

Chocolate Milk: The Sports Drink of Champions

Chocolate milk effectively helps athletes recover from intense workouts, according to recent research. With its high carbohydrate and protein content, chocolate milk may be considered an excellent alternative to commercially available sports drinks.

When it comes to fueling young athletes for demanding sports like soccer, what's important is to consume a diet rich in carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients that provide essential glycogen stores for running the body.

You don’t have to buy high tech sports drinks — chocolate milk has everything you need and it’s right there in your refrigerator. —Sources

Hair & Milk

Many people think that great hair starts with shampoo and conditioner — but it really begins with what you eat. Beautiful hair needs vitamin and protein-packed beauty foods. And at the top of the "beauty foods" list is good old-fashioned milk.

In fact, milk is one of the best sources of the vital nutrients that help maintain strong and healthy locks. Milk contains the ideal mix of essential nutrients for beautiful healthy hair: proteins, lipids, calcium, vitamins A, B6, biotin and potassium.

All of the nutrients in milk work together to keep hair soft and shiny. Beautiful hair is a reflection of a healthy body! —Sources

Got Latte?

Want a simple way of getting some dietary calcium every day — without even thinking about it? Your morning latte is packed! You can easily get about 25% of the recommended daily calcium just by drinking your coffee with milk.

Milk is a great source for nutrients. It's easily absorbed by the body, has a very high calcium content, and milk contains other essential bone-building nutrients.

Low-fat and nonfat milk pack the same nutritional punch as regular milk, but with fewer calories. Drinking another latte can be better for you than coffee alone. So... go ahead and grab an extra latte a day! —Sources

Healthy School Lunches

Because children spend approximately one-third of their day at school, schools play an important role in children's ability to get adequate nutrients. And proper nutrition is linked to strong school performance.

Recent studies have shown that good nutrition results in less obesity, better attendance, better concentration and performance, and better grades.

Parents, schools, and lawmakers are working to remove junk food and sodas from schools, replacing them with fruits, vegetables, and milk. And school districts are finding that healthy foods and beverages are affordable — and that kids will actually eat and drink them! —Sources

Things you should know about PMS

By conservative estimates, one in every two menstruating women suffers from moderate to severe Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) each month. Researchers have found that calcium — naturally occurring in milk — cuts the physical and emotional symptoms of PMS in half.

Recent studies have shown that over 70 percent of relationships are affected to some extent by PMS. So PMS impacts nearly everyone, including men!

Certain foods and drugs can trigger the effects of PMS — like sugar, caffeine, alcohol, salt, and smoking. High protein and calcium-rich foods, however, have been shown to help alleviate PMS symptoms. —Sources

Girls Skip Breakfast

Girls increasingly skip breakfast as they get older — and they're skipping breakfast because they're rushing to get to school on time, needing more sleep, and not feeling hungry.

Teens who skip breakfast are ravenous by lunch and tend to overeat or make unhealthy food choices. And they're actually more prone to weight gain. Breakfast skippers also miss out on vital dietary sources of bone building calcium. Most bone mass accumulates before age 20.

Parents can help prepare quick meals girls can take and eat on their way to school. It can be as easy as blending a smoothie at night for your daughter to put in a portable shaker the next morning. —Sources

Milk: Performance Enhancement Substance

Milk isn't only a calcium source, it's a nutritional powerhouse with additional performance enhancing properties like protein and vitamin D. That's why top athletes drink four to five 8-ounce glasses of milk daily.

Research shows that milk supports muscle protein accretion, as well as being an excellent choice for a long lasting muscle-protecting protein. Plus, milk contains whey — the most common form of protein found in bodybuilding supplements.

Anyone who cares about being active and keeping fit should drink milk. And it's good to know that low-fat and nonfat milk pack the same nutritional punch as regular milk. —Sources

Got Cavities? Milk Promotes Healthy Teeth

Cavities are the most prevalent chronic childhood disease — more than 40% of children have cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. The good news is that prevention could be as easy as opening the milk carton.

New research finds that milk helps build strong teeth and may help prevent tooth decay. Besides calcium, milk contains proteins that work against cavity-causing bacteria, as well as antibacterials that promote oral health overall.

Want to maintain a healthy smile? Instead of a soft drink, grab a carton of milk. —Sources

Got Sleep? Milk Improves Shuteye

Lack of sleep is the single most overlooked health problem in the country — and it's only getting worse. Many Americans are chronically sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation impairs memory, well-being and even endangers life.

Milk contains a protein that tells the brain to sleep, improving sleep quality and next day alertness. Dating back to 1500 BC, the oldest medical text advises poor sleepers to drink a glass of milk before bed.

Are you among the estimated 126 million Americans who experience insomnia symptoms? Relief may be in your refrigerator! Try drinking milk at bedtime instead of taking a pill. —Sources & Recipes

Milk to The Rescue!

Half the population of menstruating women suffer moderate to severe PMS each month. And studies reveal over 70% of relationships are affected by PMS. So it's a male issue too — something most men already know.

The good news: Research shows calcium significantly reduces the severity of PMS, cutting the physical and emotional symptoms in half. Women in the study on high-calcium diets were less irritable, weepy, and depressed. Plus they avoided backaches, cramping and bloating.

Need the ultimate comfort food? Try milk. It's right there in your fridge. —Sources