Consumers told ‘Don’t Ditch the Milk’
Nearly half of the UK (41%) went on a health kick during January, with more than one in ten choosing to cut their intake of dairy.
Experts warn that this decision is misinformed, potentially detrimental to health and could actually mean that you lose less weight.
Cravendale milk has announced a re-education programme to halt the anti-dairy trend in the UK.
Its "Don't Ditch the Milk" campaign aims to inform consumers about the detrimental effects of cutting milk from their diet. With two thirds of the UK on a diet at any one time, five facts that will be news to many are:
- Milk drinkers are slimmer than those who drink little or no milk. Proven.
- Milk is isotonic and may be as effective as water and sports drinks as a post work-out drink
- Milk is a source of 17 essential vitamins and minerals and many essential trace elements
- A 200ml glass of semi-skimmed contains over a third of the riboflavin (vitamin B2), calcium, phosphorus and iodine needed daily by a 19-50 year old adult. It also provides all the vitamin B12 they require and many other essential vitamins and minerals
- Both semi skimmed and skimmed milk are naturally low in fat
Cravendale's head nutritionist, Sue Malcolm, explains: "Milk is wrongly thought to be a fatty, unhealthy option and this notion is perpetuated by many faddy diet trends. The reality is that it is a vital part of a balanced diet, and by cutting out milk, not only could you negatively impact on your desired weight loss, but you could also risk health implications from osteoporosis to a possible increased risk of heart disease in men."
Sue Baic, dietician and spokesperson of the British Dietetic Association, says: "As dieticians we recognise that a varied diet is vital for good health. To achieve this we need to choose a range of foods selecting some from each food group, one of which is dairy foods.
"This group includes milk, cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais. In the UK these foods are important sources of protein, calcium (for strong bones) and essential B vitamins such as riboflavin (B2) and B12. As a guideline aim for a pint of milk a day, or a mix of dairy foods such as a carton of yoghurt or a small (matchbox size) piece of cheese each of which is equivalent to about 1/3 pint milk. Try to choose reduced or lower fat versions, such as semi skimmed milk where you can."
Cravendale's "Don't Ditch the Milk" campaign aims to keep consumers informed about the benefits of milk and help people keep their regular intake of milk up with clever, healthy recipes, dieting advice and tips, training, post exercise information and more.
All this information is available online at www.milkmatters.co.uk/dontditchthemilk
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