Are You A Dairy Dodger?

Today is World Milk Day – a day meant to recognise the contribution made by dairy farmers and the blood, sweat, and tears they pour into milk production to make sure you have some for your cereal and coffee and all the cheese and yoghurt and other dairy products your heart desires.

But are you actually getting enough milk in your life?  You might be one of the one in six Australians who isn’t, according to new research.

A new study from the CSIRO and University of Adelaide has found that one in six Aussies avoid milk and dairy foods even if they have no medical reason to do so, and found that most people avoiding dairy are influenced by fad diets, friends, alternative health practitioners and celebrities.

The study of 1200 people has  been published in the journal Public Health Nutrition this month.

It also found that almost 75% of those avoiding dairy do so to relieve symptoms like stomach cramps, bloating and wind, while a smaller number said they didn’t like the taste or they think dairy products are fattening.

The researchers also revealed that women are avoiding dairy more than men are – which they found concerning. Women especially need calcium to reduce their risk of osteoporosis.

The Herald Sun reports a spokeswoman for Australian Dairy Farmers, a dairy farmers advocacy group, is urging people to drink more milk:

“Where possible we encourage people to consume more dairy products when they can and to buy branded products “” we understand not everyone can afford brand products but even so we would hope people would consume as much dairy as they can,” she said.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend women aged 19 to 50 have two and a half serves of dairy per day. This should increase to four serves per day after the age of 50.

Men are recommended to have two and a half serves, and increase to three and a half serves once they are 70.

One serve of dairy is the equivalent of 250mls of milk, 40g of cheese or a 200gm tub of yoghurt.

Dairy foods are important because they are rick in nutrients such as calcium, vitamins A, D and B12 as well as iodine. As well as reducing the risk of osteoporosis, dairy consumption has been linked to lowering the risk of colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes.

If you’ve been dodging dairy lately, it’s never too late to get back on the horse (or cow?). Do your bit to support our struggling dairy farmers too… and if you’re stuck for inspo, try some of our delicious dairy recipes to get you going!