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Jan 29

The benefits of including dairy in your diet – Thecountypress

A well-balanced diet has long been touted as a necessary component to a healthy lifestyle. When combined with routine exercise, a well-balanced diet can improve quality of life and reduce a persons risk for various diseases.

No well-balanced diet is complete without dairy. While many people may immediately associate milk with dairy, dairy products are much more diverse than that. In fact, including various dairy products in your diet can provide a host of diverse health benefits.

Dairy products are nutrient-rich

The United States Department of Agriculture notes that dairy products provide a host of nutrients that are vital to overall health.

Calcium: The nutrient most often linked to dairy, calcium is vital for building strong bones and healthy teeth. Dairy also helps to maintain bone mass, helping men and women combat age-related bone loss.

Potassium: Dairy products such as yogurt, fluid milk and soy milk are good sources of potassium. Thats beneficial because diets rich in potassium help men and women maintain healthy blood pressures.

Vitamin D: Like calcium, vitamin D is widely associated with dairy, particularly milk. Vitamin D helps bodies build and maintain strong bones, and products such as fluid milk and soy milk are great sources of vitamin D. Yogurts and cereals fortified with vitamin D also can be great sources of this valuable vitamin.

Health benefits

Osteoporosis is a condition in which a persons bones become fragile and brittle due to loss of tissue. Age is a risk factor for osteoporosis, but a poor diet that does not include sufficient amounts of dairy also can increase a persons risk for osteoporosis.

The Department of Agriculture notes that dairy can help men and women lower their risk for ailments other than osteoporosis. Adequate dairy intake has been associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Athletes may be especially motivated to consume dairy, as its effect on bone strength and maintenance can help them reduce their risk for injury while practicing and competing.

Adolescents and children can benefit greatly from diets that contain adequate amounts of dairy. Bone mass is built during childhood and adolescence, so foods such as dairy that promote bone health can help children and teenagers develop strong, healthy bones.

In regard to which dairy products to include in ones diet, the Department of Agriculture notes the importance of avoiding foods that are high in saturated fat. Dairy products high in saturated fats can contribute to high amounts of bad cholesterol in the blood, increasing a persons risk for coronary heart disease. Low-fat dairy products make for a healthy alternative to dairy that is high in saturated fats, and men and women can discuss such products with their physicians.

No balanced diet is complete without dairy, which benefits the body in myriad ways.

See the rest here:
The benefits of including dairy in your diet - Thecountypress

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