TV presenter Julia Bradbury turned into the Dairy Fairy yesterday to get National Dairy Week celebrations off to a sparkling start.
Beaming Julia launched a nationwide Smile for Dairy Campaign as part of National Dairy Week. People across Britain are being urged to submit pictures of themselves smiling to
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to demonstrate their love of dairy products.
Julia Bradbury said: “Everyone knows I’m a country girl at heart and I am delighted to wave my magic wand in National Dairy Week and become the Dairy Fairy.
“Just about every household in Britain uses milk, cheese, yogurt and we should be proud that we produce such natural and nutritious foods. It’s something many of us perhaps take for granted.”
According to recent research Britain remains second in the EU in terms of total liquid milk consumption. The 2009 consumer survey conducted by The Dairy Council shows:
- 97% of UK households consumed dairy products.
- Fresh milk and cheese were the most consumed dairy products.
- Of the 97% of respondents who consumed dairy products 86% consumed them every day.
- Over two thirds of people think that dairy products are healthy especially as part of children’s diets.
The Smile for Dairy Campaign has been launched by The Dairy Council - which promotes the nutritional benefits of dairy products. This year The Dairy Council will be celebrating its 90th birthday during National Dairy Week.
Sandy Wilkie, Chairman of The Dairy Council, said: “National Dairy Week is a time for us all to remember just how much dairy is part of our lives. British dairy products are among the nation’s favourite foods and something to celebrate.”
Dr Judith Bryans, Director of The Dairy Council, said: “For thousands of years people have realised the nutritional benefits of dairy foods. Dairy products are natural, high quality and generally readily available and inexpensive products to buy.
“With so many varieties of dairy products available to us on the supermarket shelves these days there is a dairy product for us all whether that be semi skimmed milk, whole milk, 1% milk or skimmed milk. We have types of cheeses in abundance and a wide range of spreads and yogurts to choose from. Healthy eating is top priority for most of us, a healthy balanced diet is essential in optimising health, consuming dairy foods is one way to improve your diet and help you get the essential nutrients we all need. Just imagine a world without dairy.”
To show your support and love of dairy products Smile for Dairy and send us a picture of you smiling to
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Visit the Smile for dairy Website to see Julia Bradbury and many more smiles at www.smilefordairy.com
Milk Takes Female Athletes From Strength To Strength (8 March 2010)
Athletes are turning more to milk as a highly effective drink following an increase in the number of research studies revealing its sporting potential.
Until now most research on the benefit of milk to athletes was conducted among men. However, a recent study by researchers at McMasters University in Canada has shown that women too can reap the potential benefits of milk in their exercise and training regimes as much as their male counterparts.
The new study investigated whether women consuming skimmed milk versus a carbohydrate drink such as readily available sports drinks with an equal number of calories would gain lean muscle mass and lose fat mass after resistance exercise.
The young women drank either fat-free skimmed milk or a carbohydrate drink immediately after exercise and then an hour later. They exercised five days a week for 12 weeks and changes in their body composition were measured.
The women consuming the carbohydrate drink gained weight post-training and lean muscle mass increased in both those drinking milk and carbohydrate but with a greater gain in those drinking milk. Fat mass was decreased after training in the milk drinkers only.
The researchers concluded that after 12 weeks women consuming milk as opposed to carbohydrate in the early post-exercise period following resistance training gained lean muscle and strength as well as losing fat. The results of the study are similar to those in men, underlining the fact that milk is an effective drink to support favourable body composition changes in women with resistance training.
The Dairy Council welcomed the research saying “It’s a priority for us to get across the importance of physical activity and how milk can be a useful part of training and sporting activities. This study highlights the nutritional benefits of milk for athletes, a product that is readily available, natural, high quality and inexpensive.”
Judith Bryans Director of The Dairy Council said: “This study is very positive for young female athletes trying to enhance their performance. Many studies regarding sports nutrition are conducted in men and this shows how the same benefits of consuming milk can be applied to women.”
Milk Provides Nutritional Value for Money (6 April 2010)
Milk is one of the best value-for-money nutritional foods, according to extensive new research.
Scientists tried to discover the most affordable and nutritious foods by comparing nutrient content to cost.
Milk was one of the highest scoring foods and was shown to be one of the lowest-cost sources of protein, calcium and several vitamins. Other foods providing nutritional value for money included juices, cereals, beans and eggs.
Dr Judith Bryans Director of the Dairy Council said: “One of the major influences on food selection is cost which plays a big role in the decisions we make at the supermarket. Milk is known to be an inexpensive product, it is readily available, it has many nutritional benefits and it is easy and adaptable to make into many nutritious meals.
“The study could lead to consumers making smarter choices in the supermarket by having a better understanding of nutrient rich products which are affordable.”
The study was carried out in the United States. Nine major food groups, as defined by the US Department of Agriculture, were analysed using the Nutrient Rich Foods index (NRF), a formal scoring system that ranks foods on the basis of their nutrient content with a food prices database.
The groups were: milk and milk products/meat, poultry and fish/eggs/dry beans, nuts and seeds/grain products/fruit/vegetables/fats and oils/sugars, sweets and beverages.
The study has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
