Press Releases
New Research Confirms Dairy’s Health Benefits
PHILADELPHIA (September 5, 2006) - Two new studies confirm the benefits of eating dairy products. First, a study published recently in the Journal of the American Heart Association states that consuming lowfat dairy products may help lower blood pressure and improve heart health. The study supports a growing body of research that shows how dairy foods are key elements of a heart-healthy diet. A second study also gives consumers reason to include dairy – middle-aged women who consume about three servings of lowfat dairy a day may have a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume one or fewer daily servings, according to a recent study published in Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association.
Lowfat Dairy May Lower Blood Pressure
In the study, participants who consumed three or more servings of dairy foods a day had significantly lower blood pressure than those who consumed less than half a serving a day. The study specifically found that consuming dairy is inversely related with systolic blood pressure, a key predictor of cardiovascular disease. People with high blood pressure are at a significant risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and heart failure.
“This is very good news for the millions of Americans who are affected by high blood pressure,” said Greg Miller, Ph.D., executive vice president of innovation for the National Dairy Council®, the nutrition research and education arm of the dairy farmer-funded checkoff program. “Studies like this help reinforce the value of including lowfat dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, in your daily diet to help lead a healthier lifestyle.”
In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines also recommend Americans consume three daily servings of lowfat or fat-free milk or dairy products to help meet their nutrition needs.
Dairy Intake Linked with Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women
According to the study, middle-aged women who consumed about three daily servings of dairy had a 21 percent reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, compared to participants who consumed one or fewer servings a day. The results provide further support for dairy promotion’s 3-A-Day™ of Dairy program that aims to increase average dairy consumption from its current 1.6 servings a day to three servings a day.
“This study further builds on existing research confirming that three servings of dairy a day can improve nutrient density in your overall diet, improve bone quality and reduce the risk for hypertension, kidney stones and obesity,” said Miller. The study showed that the positive effect of dairy consumption on the risk of type 2 diabetes was independent of consumption of individual dairy nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D and magnesium, suggesting that the intake of dairy’s total nutrient package is more important than intake of the individual nutrients.
National, state and regional dairy council staffs are sharing the results of this study with key newspaper, magazine, radio, and TV outlets. Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc. are the local planning and management organizations funded by dairy farmer checkoff dollars. They work closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ and are responsible for increasing demand for U.S. produced dairy products on behalf of area dairy farmers.