Midwest Dairy Association

Nutrition Education

Midwest Dairy Council offers a variety of handouts and resources for consumers and health professionals. Evidence-based education materials provide the latest research for health professionals to counsel patients, clients and students. Watch this section for the latest in nutrition research with a focus on eating healthy with the basic five food groups including nutritious, delicious dairy.



Raw Milk and Food Safety

Milk products need to be pasteurized (or quickly heated) in order to get rid of bacteria and other germs that can lead to illness. Don't fret, however, because "pasteurization does not significantly change the nutritional value of milk," according to the CDC. It is still nutrient-rich and contains protein and carbohydrates.

DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH ) is a low-fat eating plan which could be a useful tool in your nutrition education efforts. Research shows that DASH, which includes two to three servings of dairy foods and eight to ten servings of fruits and vegetables every day, may help manage blood pressure. In fact, a trio of minerals found in dairy foods - calcium, potassium and magnesium - may play an important role in maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Bone Health

Research has long shown that dairy’s nutrients are vital to the development of strong bones and reduce the risk for developing rickets and osteoporosis. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis (2004) recognizes the role of nutrients in dairy foods that work together to help protect bones.



Related Content

DairyDelivers: Food for Thought

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Recommends that Americans 9 and older include 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods in their diet each day. On average, Americans ages 2 and older consume only 2 servings of dairy a day. By adding 1 more serving of milk, cheese or yogurt, Americans can help close the calcium gap and meet their needs for this and other key nutrients.

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Why Dairy Makes Sense Fact Sheet

Dairy foods continue to make sense when it comes to nutritional and economic value. Consumers can bank on the basics when they select nutrient-rich dairy foods such as milk, cheese or yogurt, because these foods deliver incomparable nutrition, value and taste.

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Handouts and Promotional Items

Visit the Materials Section to download a variety of dairy nutrition and health messaging as well as find ordering information for a variety of promotional items. The Midwest Dairy Council Promotional Items Order Form is also available for ordering dairy-themed merchandise.