Dairy & weight loss

Dairy’s place in the pyramid
Every five years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans – the official government recommendations on what Americans should eat. Updated guidelines were last issued in 2005 along with MyPyramid, a personalized and interactive food guide that helps Americans put the recommendations into everyday practice.

These guidelines provide a foundation for the government, nutrition experts and the industry to communicate the value of consuming nutrient-rich foods from all five food groups. The checkoff-funded 3-A-Day of Dairy nutrition-based, marketing and education program has been embraced by the public health community and consumers alike, due in large part to its alignment with the Dietary Guidelines.

New guidelines will be rolled out in 2010, and the revision process is already under way. Last fall, HHS/USDA named 13 prominent medical and scientific researchers to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which plays a key role in developing the recommendations. The committee has met twice, and a third meeting is scheduled to take place in late April.

As part of the Dietary Guidelines review process, the National Dairy Council (NDC) – the nutrition research and education arm of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) – and other groups are invited to share relevant nutrition research with the committee in person and in writing as part of an open, public comment process. NDC funds nutrition research which helps identify the health benefits of consuming dairy foods especially in the reduction of chronic diseases.

In addition, NDC works with the Nutrient-Rich Foods Coalition (NRFC), a partnership of leading scientific researchers, health professionals, communications experts and commodity organizations, to bring science-based nutrition research to public health leaders. The coalition has worked to develop a scientifically valid definition of nutrient density and an approach to help the public to build healthier diets and get more nutrition from their calories by evaluating the total nutrient package of foods and beverages.

NDC and local dairy councils communicate this work from coast to coast with education efforts targeting physicians, dietitians and other health professionals. Through collaboration with national and state health professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association, scientific research supporting the recommended three servings of dairy foods each day is shared with more than 250,000 health professionals, who in turn can educate their patients. NDC also maintains a network of health and nutrition media spokespeople who are credible to both reporters and consumers. PD

Should I respond?

Yes. You can remind your friends and neighbors why it’s important to get three servings of dairy foods, as the current Dietary Guidelines recommend, each day for better health.

• Dairy foods offer a unique nutrient package. In addition to calcium, dairy foods are major contributors of many essential nutrients to the diet including potassium; phosphorus; magnesium; zinc; protein; vitamins A, D and B12; and riboflavin.

• Government research shows most Americans do not consume the recommended levels of calcium, potassium or magnesium – critical nutrients required for optimum health.

• Nutrient-rich milk and milk products provide three of the five nutrients that are lacking in children’s diets: calcium, magnesium and potassium.

• Leading health authorities recognize that people who consume 3-4 daily servings of dairy foods have better nutrient intakes and better diet quality. In addition, research shows dairy improves bone health and may reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases.

NDC is sharing these points with dairy producers to explain the work of the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition (NRFC):

• The Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition brings science-based nutrition research to public health leaders.

• In 2008, the coalition worked to help people build healthier diets by forming a scientifically validated nutrition index that measures the full nutrient contribution of a food, rather than examining it only for specific nutrients to avoid.

• Dairy checkoff staff will communicate NDC’s nutrition research during the formation of the government’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

Related resources

Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition

www.nutrientrichfoods.org

The NRF Coalition is a partnership that brings together leading scientific researchers, health professionals, communications experts and commodity organizations representing the five basic MyPyramid food groups. The NRF Coalition is advancing scientific and market research to develop tools that make it easier for people to get the most nutrition from their calories, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid.

Dietary Guidelines 2010:
www.dietaryguidelines.gov

3-A-Day of Dairy:
www.3aday.org

National Dairy Council:
www.nationaldairycouncil.org/NationalDairyCouncil/Nutrition/Guidelines/

Test your answer

What does the dairy industry do to encourage good eating habits in children?

ANSWER: Encouraging kids to eat three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day is a deliciously easy way to help them build and maintain strong, healthy bones, muscles and teeth. The dairy industry educates and collaborates with health professionals, schools and parents to ensure that children reap the many benefits of nutrient-rich low-fat and fat-free dairy foods.

One example of this is the improvements made to increase milk’s appeal to children. Plastic packaging, enhanced labeling, additional flavors, and better refrigeration and merchandising have resulted in an increase in school milk consumption.