Nutrition

Milk and dairy products form one of the four essential dietary groups according to the Canadian Food Guide. Health Canada recommends a daily intake of two cups of milk.

Milk is nutrient-rich and is even considered one of the most complete foods. It supplies vitamin A and D and is a great source of B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B9 and B12). It contains important minerals (calcium and phosphorus), trace elements, carbohydrates, lipids and high-nutritional-value proteins that contain essential amino acids.

Regular intake of milk and dairy products contributes to a balanced diet. Easily available calcium found in dairy products is almost impossible to find in other types of food in enough quantity recommended by nutritionists.

Calcium is essential all life long :

• Calcium circulating in the organism (not part of the skeleton) plays a major role. It intervenes in vital processes: blood coagulation, arterial pressure, nerve flux transmission, muscle contraction, hormone functions, enzyme activities, etc.
• During childhood and adolescence, calcium helps building and mineralizing teeth.
• All life long, it assures the renewal of bone tissues. During a life time the skeleton is renewed entirely four to five times!
• Pregnant women supplies calcium to its child from the milk and dairy products she intakes.
• It also mitigates consequences of ageing process on bone density, more specifically osteoporosis.
• With milk, senior citizens have at hand a nutrient-rich food easy to ingest that will prevent dehydration.

Here are some links who will learn you more about dairy products:

• Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec (also check Le lait and La crème!!!)
• Plaisirs laitiers. Nourrir votre quotidien.
• La face cachée du lait au chocolat (Cyberpresse)
• Le lait au chocolat (Radio-Canada)
• Lait et produits laitiers, des aliments incontournables (Doctissimo)Milk benefits for human health: