Australian Fine Foods

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Dairy and your Health

There are a lot of myths about dairy foods. But we’re here to set the record straight.

Truth

Research shows many people mistakenly believe regular fat milk contains, on average, 22 per cent fat. The fact is, regular fat milk actually contains only 3.8 per cent fat. Reduced-fat milk has less at around 2 per cent fat or 2 grams per 100 ml.

Read more about the nutrient content of dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt on our Dairy Products pages or download the Proximate Composition of Dairy Foods booklet.

Truth

The Australian Dietary Guidelines recognise there is no scientific evidence of a link between milk and mucous. You may experience a thin, temporary coating over their mouth and throat after drinking milk. This is often mistaken for mucous but it’s actually milk’s natural, creamy texture. It’s not harmful and the sensation lasts for only a short period.

Truth

Milk is rarely a trigger for asthma. Currently, there is no strong evidence directly linking milk and asthma. Common triggers for asthma include allergens such as house dust mites and pollens, viral infections, weather changes and exercise.

If you have asthma, the National Asthma Council recommends you eat a nutritious diet from a wide variety of foods, including milk and other dairy products.

Truth

Research shows having milk, cheese and yogurt, including regular-fat varieties, is not linked to weight gain or body fat gain. In fact, the health benefits linked to dairy foods relate to both reduced-fat and regular-fat milk, cheese and yogurt. With a variety of dairy foods available in the dairy cabinet, it’s easy to include milk, cheese and yogurt in your diet every day.

Truth

Milk, yogurt and cheese, both regular-fat and reduced-fat varieties, are one of the five food groups that make up a healthy, balanced diet. Including three to four daily serves milk, yogurt or cheese as part of a balanced diet is not linked to weight gain. And if you’re trying to lose weight through a kilojoule-controlled diet, clinical studies show including three to four servings of dairy foods can help accelerate the loss of weight and body fat, improve muscle retention and reduce waistlines.

Read more in our Dairy and Healthy Weight section.

Truth

Acne isn’t caused by diet or eating dairy foods. Skin type, genetics, hormones and exposure to pollutants are more likely to be linked to acne. Eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, yogurt and cheese will help your skin get all the nutrients it needs.

Truth

Milk isn’t just a great source of calcium, it’s also a source of protein, carbohydrate, riboflavin, vitamin B12, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. A calcium tablet won’t provide you with all the other nutrients dairy foods add to the diet. The Australian Dietary Guidelines advise foods may be preferable to calcium from some supplements.

Truth

The International Osteoporosis Foundation predicts 50 per cent of all osteoporotic hip fractures will occur in Asia by the year 2050. Fractures in the spine are as common in Asian populations as in Caucasian populations. Research shows that getting enough calcium-rich foods like milk, cheese and yogurt is important for bone health in both Asian and Western populations.

Truth

Dairy foods don’t need to be eliminated from the diet if you have difficulty digesting the carbohydrate lactose in milk, or lactose maldigestion. If you have lactose intolerance, the Australian Dietary Guidelines suggest up to 250 ml of milk may be well tolerated if it’s eaten with other foods, or throughout the day. Most cheeses contain virtually no lactose and yogurt contains ‘good’ bacteria that help to digest lactose. Low-lactose and lactose-free milk are also available. Read more in our lactose intolerance fact sheet.

Seek advice from your doctor if you suspect an allergy or intolerance to foods.

For more information on dairy and digestive health click here.

Truth

The humble cheese toastie is more complex than you might think. Although cheese contains saturated fat and salt, it also contains lots of beneficial nutrients that make cheese a healthy choice. Studies have shown that eating cheese does not raise ‘bad’ cholesterol levels – this is thought to be due to the calcium in cheese. Similarly, studies show that cheese is not linked to high blood pressure.