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Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
a great
tool (PDF: 618k) to show families how to get their 3-A-Day of Dairy
every day for stronger bones.
Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
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Dairy Council Digest Archives
Dairy Foods' Role in Minority Health
Summary
Minority groups such as African Americans experience diet-related chronic diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, overweight/ obesity, diabetes, and some cancers at disproportionately high rates compared to Caucasians. African Americans' low intake of dairy foods and therefore dairy food nutrients such as calcium may contribute to these disparities in health. Studies indicate that African Americans consume fewer servings of dairy foods/day and lower amounts of dairy food nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D than Caucasians.
A large body of scientific evidence demonstrates that adequate intake of calcium, especially in combination with other nutrients in dairy foods, helps to reduce the risk for several chronic diseases affecting African Americans. Consumption of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) dietary pattern, a low fat diet including 2 to 3 servings of lowfat dairy products and 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables, is twice as effective in lowering blood pressure in African Americans as in Caucasians. Dairy foods and dairy food nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium have been shown to lower blood pressure. Intake of dairy foods may help prevent heart disease in African Americans by reducing risk factors for this disease, including hypertension, insulin resistance and diabetes, and obesity. Intake of the DASH diet has also been shown to favorably affect blood lipid and homocysteine levels, which may reduce the risk for heart disease.
Although African Americans may be at lower risk for osteoporosis than Caucasians, a substantial number of African American women over 50 years of age have low bone density or osteoporosis and are at greater risk of mortality following hip surgery. A calcium-rich diet adequate in vitamin D (e.g., as found in vitamin D-fortified milk), along with regular physical activity, benefits bone health of minorities and non-minorities.
Lactose intolerance, real or perceived, may contribute to African Americans' low intake of dairy foods. Although many African Americans have low levels of the lactase enzyme necessary to digest lactose (milk's sugar), many can still comfortably consume recommended intakes of dairy foods by following some simple strategies. These include consuming smaller servings of milk with meals, yogurt with active cultures, hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan, and lactose-reduced or lactose-free dairy products. Gradually increasing intake of lactose-containing foods also improves one's tolerance to lactose..
The National Medical Association, the nation's oldest and largest organization representing African American physicians, recommends that the American public in general and African Americans in particular consume 3 to 4 servings of lowfat milk, cheese, or yogurt a day to help reduce the risk of nutrient-related chronic diseases and improve health.
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