For many years, dairy products have played an important role in healthy, balanced diets for people around the world. But over the past few decades, a decline in milk consumption has coincided with an explosion in beverage choices, as well as consumer questions about the healthfulness of dairy products. Consumer confusion is driven often by contradictory research and evolving nutritional recommendations that create a fog around certain foods such as eggs, vegetable oils, nuts and dairy.
But the fog is now clearing. In September, a panel of child health experts from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association strongly recommended children ages 1 to 5 consume only cow’s milk and water — the former for its unique, powerful nutritional package. Moreover, a growing body of new and overlooked scientific evidence about the benefits of dairy — especially fuller-fat dairy — is changing the perception of dairy’s healthfulness for older individuals.