June is National Dairy Month. It was established in 1937 as a way to promote drinking milk and highlight its beneficial properties. Cows milk and dairy products can be very nutritious. Milk is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and key nutrients that build and sustain our muscles, bones, and teeth. Whole cows milk offers a little bit of almost everything your body needs like calcium, vitamin D, potassium, phosphorus, and the list goes on. Dairy products such as yogurt, cottage cheese, and milk are some of the best sources of calcium available to humans. Most health professionals recommend getting 2 to 3 servings of dairy per day so we can build and maintain bone health.
The nutrient composition of milk can depend on the animal’s diet and living conditions. The fatty acids available through milk can be different depending on the amount of fat in the product (skim vs whole). Cows that are grass fed and have been raised on a pasture typically offer a lot more omega 3 fatty acids Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). Grass-fed dairy is also higher in vitamin K which is important for heart and bone health. There are many different varieties of milk available to consumers at local grocery stores. Each option has different benefits depending on a person’s individual needs, allergies and health concerns. During National Dairy Month strive to consume your daily 2 to 3 servings of dairy and consider the nutrition profile of the milk in your refrigerator.
Here are dairy recipes to try this month: