Even by drinking a glass of milk a day, we can do a lot for our health

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Many of us would not even imagine how many minerals and micronutrients such a basic food as cow’s milk contains. By consuming milk and milk products, we can do a lot to preserve our health – draw the attention of the National Chamber of Agrarian Economy (NAK) and the Milk Product Council.

Milk provides vital nutrients for our body

Vitamin A helps the body to recover faster from diseases and is important for maintaining the health of the eyes, skin, intestines and lungs. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the development of the nervous system and supports the formation of blood cells, while magnesium is essential for the healthy functioning of the heart, muscles and nervous system. Milk is also an important source of calcium, which supports healthy heart function and bones. Calcium deficiency causes osteoporosis and reduced mobility.

A healthy diet includes both milk and milk products, thereby providing an opportunity to prevent the negative health effects associated with calcium deficiency

Milk, yogurt and cheese contain large amounts of bioavailable calcium. Vitamin D found in eggs, meat, mushrooms and oily fish supports the absorption of calcium. This is also why it is important to consume an adequate amount of animal protein in addition to plant-based products. The role of milk in a healthy diet was also recently pointed out by a policy overview prepared by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Agriculture. FAO previously prepared a comprehensive, evidence-based global assessment of the contribution of livestock to food security, the development and maintenance of sustainable food systems, and a healthy, balanced diet, taking into account environmental, economic and social sustainability. The completed evaluation consists of four sub-documents. The first is the policy overview published under the title “Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes”. The summary provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of animal foods in a healthy diet and how they contribute to a balanced diet and improve human health. In connection with this, the organization also published informative and visual infographics, which contain a lot of useful information about food of animal origin in an easily understandable form.

The FAO documentation can also be read in Hungarian

NAK considers it a priority task to provide its members, the public and decision-makers with as wide and authentic information as possible in the field of agricultural production and food production, which is why it prepared the Hungarian translations of the infographics published by the FAO. The first part of this article series focuses on milk. The Hungarian translation of the infographic entitled “Milk – supplies essential micronutrients and contributes to healthy diets” is now available on the NAK website. From the infographic, we can find out, among other things, what vital micronutrients milk contains, how a glass of milk a day contributes to covering the mineral and vitamin needs of particular age groups, and how milk helps prevent calcium deficiency. The NAK and the Milk Product Council are confident that with the Hungarian translations of the infographics published by the FAO, they can broaden the knowledge related to animal husbandry and animal product production, provide a more diverse perspective for society as a whole and decision-makers, and thereby contribute to the widest possible acceptance of the animal husbandry industry to create.

NAK/Milk Product Council