Celebrate National Dairy Month

Farm Journal logo

It’s June, that means it’s time to celebrate National Dairy Month!
By: Marjorie Zastrow, Nutrition Field Specialist, SDSU Extension

June is National Dairy Month. Initially it was stared to help promote drinking milk and has now changed into a celebration for the contributions made to the world by the dairy industry. National Dairy Month is a great way to kick start the summer by consuming nutrient-rich dairy foods.

Dairy foods contains essential nutrients to help better manage a healthy lifestyle. Consuming dairy foods provides health benefits through these essential nutrients:

  • Calcium is used for building bones and helps maintain bone mass, which may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
  • Potassium helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure.
  • Vitamin D functions in the body to maintain the proper levels of calcium and phosphorous therefore helping maintain and build bones.
  • Protein helps to build and repair muscle tissue.
  • Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy skin.


Consuming dairy foods is important, but it is also important to choose fat-free or low-fat choices within the dairy group. Choosing foods within the dairy group with high saturated fats and cholesterol can lead to health implications. Diets that are high in saturated fats can increase the "bad" cholesterol levels or LDL (low-density lipoprotein). High LDL levels in the blood can increase heart disease. So to help keep cholesterol levels healthy, select fat-free or low-fat dairy products.

There are many different choices of dairy foods, and you are not limited to milk and cheese. Some examples include: yogurt, calcium-fortified soymilk, milk-based desserts. And for those who are lactose intolerant, smaller portions may be better tolerated and there are lactose-free and lower-lactose products available.

These are many reasons to celebrate and consume dairy foods all year long!

For more information on dairy products you can visit ChooseMyPlate or the Midwest Dairy Council.

 

Latest News

APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies
APHIS Now Thinks Wild Birds Are to Blame for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza's Arrival on Four U.S. Dairies

The livestock industry continues to grapple with the first confirmed cases of HPAI in cattle, while federal and state agencies continue to assure consumers there's no concern about the safety of the U.S. milk supply.

Success is All in the Details at Kansas Dairy Development
Success is All in the Details at Kansas Dairy Development

Kansas Dairy Development provides temporary housing for up to 80,000 head of cattle — from a few days old to springers nearly ready to calve. Their formula for success is all in the details.

Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps
Skills Survey Reveals U.S. Agriculture & Food Industry Workforce Needs and Gaps

U.S. employers report challenges in finding suitable job candidates with work-ready skills to fill open roles in ag. The AgCareers.com U.S. Skills Survey offers insights, data and trends to address skill development.

Built Out of Love: How Two Sisters Created a Super-Fast-Growing Yogurt Company
Built Out of Love: How Two Sisters Created a Super-Fast-Growing Yogurt Company

Travel to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and you’ll meet Hayley and Stephanie Painter who not only made the Forbes 30 under 30 list, but have also created one of the fastest growing yogurt company in the U.S.

"Boring" Technology Will Reshape Dairy Over the Next 10 Years
"Boring" Technology Will Reshape Dairy Over the Next 10 Years

Once a technology becomes a boring experience it means it has become proven, well-adopted, and easy to utilize. There are three "boring" technologies silently shaping the industry.

Influential Dairy Leaders Awarded World Dairy Expo Recognition Awards
Influential Dairy Leaders Awarded World Dairy Expo Recognition Awards

World Dairy Expo is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 Expo Recognition Awards. These individuals have made remarkable contributions to the dairy industry and their communities.