Health & Wellness

Dairy foods are a safe, wholesome and delicious source of essential nutrients — available at a reasonable cost. Combined, milk, cheese and yogurt contain high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D and more, making dairy foods an important part of overall health.

NDC is committed to providing practical solutions to bring nutritious foods to people’s kitchens and lives. We are also dedicated to providing people of all ages with a variety of dairy foods to choose from to meet their lifestyle needs.

Health Benefits

The body of science indicates that eating nutritious dairy foods — such as milk, cheese and yogurt — improves bone health, especially in children and adolescents. They are also associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and lower blood pressure in adults.

Bone Health

Dairy foods are a good to excellent source of many essential nutrients that help support bones.

Heart Health

Dairy food consumption is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and lower blood pressure in adults.

Type 2 Diabetes

Dairy food consumption is associated with reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Dietary Guidance

Three servings of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt are recommended for those 9 years and older as a part of an overall balanced, healthy eating style, and there are options in the dairy case for almost everyone — including those with lactose intolerance.

Improve Diet Quality with 3 Daily Servings of Dairy

Read the Nutrient Contribution Science Summary
What Does the Nutrition Facts Panel on the Food Label Mean?
Learn How Other Beverages Compare
Read about How You Can Make a Difference in Reducing Food Waste
Read About Dairy's Role in Helping Develop Nutrition-Sensitive Food Systems Around the World
See all of our Science Summaries on dietary guidance topics

Child Nutrition

Children deserve to be happy and healthy. It is up to adults to help ensure the right environment is there for them to thrive. NDC has always been committed to child health and wellness, including programs that encourage quality nutrition and physical fitness to support growth and development.

Fuel up to Play 60

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a national in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Football League and National Dairy Council, founded by America’s dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. As a result of the program, 13 million students are making better food choices and 16 million students are getting more physically active during the school day since the program began.

Visit FuelUptoPlay60.com

Better Academic Performance

Helping move children from a risk of being unhealthy or hungry to healthy and giving them access to nutritious meals, especially breakfast, is essential. Research shows better nutrition — including consumption of nutrient-dense foods such as low-fat and fat-free dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins — may lead to better performance in school.

National Dairy Council and Fuel Up To Play 60 work to drive action around the importance of quality nutrition and regular physical activity for all kids, helping to support learning and alleviate hunger.

Download the School Milk Report Download the School Milk Report: Executive Summary Nourish to Flourish: Scaling Up School Meals Springfield Schools: When You Nourish, They Flourish The Value of School Meals View Our School Articles & Resources

Hunger

Dairy foods can be a practical solution for the food-insecure. They deliver a powerhouse of nutrition, including high-quality protein, at a reasonable cost and in an appealing and readily available way.

Our partnerships, including Future of Food with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Feeding America, and the Great American Milk Drive with MilkPEP, have helped bring nutritious foods, including wholesome dairy foods, to Americans in need.

Download the Hunger in America Report Read about How You Can Make a Difference in Reducing Food Waste Learn about the "Milk Gap" in America's Food Banks

Related Resources