The Health Benefits Of Dairy

"There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies. Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have." - Winston Churchill

It is a proven fact that the high dairy consumption of Dutch people resulted in becoming the tallest nation on this planet! As a 100% Dutchman I am part of the living proof: I'm 191cm/ 6' 3.2" tall and being tall was not in my genes or family; both of my parents are much shorter (approx. 172cm/5' 6.4").
Most people do not believe me when I tell them that, although I started the first 11 years of my live consuming lots of dairy products (in those 11 years my dad ran a large international dairy business), till my 15th birthday I used to be the shortest boy in class. I started my last growth phase when I was 16 and by 17 I was one of the tallest boys at school! My secret growth recipe was: extraordinary dairy consumption! For over three years I was drinking at least 2 litres of milk a day and consuming loads of Dutch yogurt and cheese....

So drinking milk and eating milk products as child can really make you grow. Well now scientists have proven various additional benefits of dairy consumption when you are young: it extends your length of life and minimises various health risks! Hear, hear!

According to their research; children who eat plenty of dairy foods such as milk and cheese can expect to live longer. They found those who had high dairy and calcium intakes as children had been protected against stroke and other causes of death, journal Heart reports. Despite dairy containing artery furring fat and cholesterol, high consumption did not raise the heart disease risk. The findings appear to back the practice of giving extra milk to schoolchildren.

The study looked at family diets and found higher intakes of both calcium and dairy, predominantly from milk, cut mortality by a quarter! A higher daily intake of calcium, of at least 400mg as found in just over half a pint of milk (approx. 280 ml), cut the chance of dying from stroke by as much as 60%!

These beneficial effects were seen at estimated intake levels similar to those currently recommended by experts. Three servings of dairy foods - for example, a 200ml glass of milk, a pot of yogurt and a small piece of cheese - will provide all the calcium most people need each day! Other factors may play a part - though researchers say they took into account that children with the highest dairy intakes came from wealthier families and ate better diets overall - but there is evidence that high calcium intake is good for blood pressure.

Dairy consumption may also influence heart and circulation health through a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), say the study authors from the UK's University of Bristol and Australia's Queensland Institute of Medical Research. In adults, high circulating levels of IGF-1 are linked with reduced cases of heart failure and heart disease deaths.

Joanne Murphy of The Stroke Association said: "This is an interesting study, but we need to take a further look to really assess the benefits of milk in reducing the chances of dying from stroke. "In the meantime, we advise parents to opt for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and low in saturated fat and salt for the overall health of their children." "However, older children and adults should consume low-fat dairy products such as semi-skimmed, 1% or skimmed milk and low-fat yogurts, which will help keep saturated fat intake low to help protect the heart."

Studies investigating a link between cancer and dairy products have not given clear results. Some research shows an increase in the risk of developing cancer, and some shows a decrease.

As you might know, tall and healthy people are usually more successful in live. So please invest in the future of your children by allowing them to consume as much diary products as is healthy for them! Children have the future and will create our future!

"Cheese, milk's leap toward immortality!" - Clifton Fadiman

Make this a Positive & Healthy Day…..unless you have made other plans!

Warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

© Patrick W. Driessen. All rights reserved.