This post is in collaboration with Aussie Farmers Direct.
I’m a big fan of dairy products; I would really struggle is I had to eliminate all dairy from my diet.
Luckily, I don’t have to!
Many people mistakenly think that avoiding dairy can benefit your health. But in fact, I spoke to a nutritionist a while ago and found out that it’s quite the opposite!
Regularly eating dairy foods, such as cheese, milk and yoghurt, can actually help you feel better, live longer and even lose weight. (Though you won’t find me eating yoghurt any time soon – it’s the one dairy product I can’t stand!)
I had to share my findings – so no more dissing dairy products, mmmm-kay?!
1. Reduced risk of high blood pressure
High blood pressure affects one in five Aussie adults, meaning far too many of us are at risk of kidney disease, heart disease and stroke.
But don’t worry, dairy could be our lifesaver! Studies show that three daily servings of dairy can reduce our risk of hypertension and lower our blood pressure. It is said that the protein and minerals found in dairy like calcium and potassium could be the reason for keeping our blood pressure down.
I can’t say if that’s true or not, but it sounds good to me … I do love a dollop of sour cream on my spuds!
2. Decreased risk of dental cavities and erosion
I don’t know about you, but I loathe the dentist (no offence Dr A – you’re actually a really nice bloke) – so do my best to keep my teeth cavity-free.
Move over apples – the Australian Dental Association recommends eating a small piece of hard cheese after consuming sugary foods and drinks, as hard cheese is linked to a decreased risk of dental cavities, tooth decay and erosion.
This was music to my ears – now I never have to feel guilty about buying a cheese platter from Aussie Farmers Direct!
3. Increases your intake of good bacteria (probiotics)
We’ve all seen the ads – having a balance of good and bad bacteria in our digestive system is really important for our overall health.
But you don’t need to buy supplements if you just eat a balanced diet. Good bacteria (or “probiotics”) can be found in heaps of dairy products, and especially in yoghurt (I’m really beginning to wish I actually liked the stuff now!) – and also benefits your immune system and even your mental health, not just your digestion!
Hubster and the kids always make a big fuss of how yummy yoghurt is, and how it’s the ideal snack or dessert or breakfast or … but I’m still not convinced.
4. Great source of vitamin D
We all know that dairy foods contain calcium, which is great for our bones and teeth.
But what you might not know is that dairy is also packed with vitamin D, which allows the calcium to be better absorbed and distributed throughout our bodies.
A deficiency of vitamin D can lead to low calcium absorption, which can result in softening of the bones – often a problem as we grow older. Nutrition surveys show that most people do not get the calcium they need to grow and maintain healthy bones, so it’s vital that you don’t skip your daily intake of dairy!
5. Eases symptoms of PMS
If you suffer from PMS (thankfully that’s all behind me now!), then you need to start chowing down on some cheddar, camembert or chevre.
Cheese is high in riboflavin (aka vitamin B2), and it’s been proven that boosting your intake of foods rich in vitamin B can significantly lower the odds of suffering from PMS. So ladies, go buy yourself some cheese online and banish those monthly mood swings and cramps!
It seems nearly everything we eat these days is bad for us – I know that I for one was delighted to find out that dairy is not one of them!
Do you hate yoghurt too? What’s your favourite way to include dairy in your diet?
Toni @ Finding Myself Young says
We had no choice but to eliminate dairy for 2yrs because bub was severely allergic to it. Her allergy testing at 2.5 showed she outgrew it though and now it’s her favourite food group. She can’t get enough cheese, yoghurt and chocolate! #teamIBOT
Janet Camilleri says
My sister was the same, and also grew out of it 🙂
Jodi Gibson says
We’re not a huge dairy household here, as although we don’t have allergies, we do suffer from mild degrees of intolerance, which means we limit the type of dairy. We have A2 milk which still contains all the goodness, but doesn’t seem to upset our tummies. Cheese is fine, and a great way to still have dairy. Cream and ice-cream are the worst culprits for us though.
Janet Camilleri says
There are so many alternatives and varieties these days!
Jo says
Love dairy. We eat it all the time in our house and it’s great to read all the new research about dairy’s health benefits after it was given such a bad wrap for so many years.
Janet Camilleri says
I know, such a relief. Seems like everything has been bad for us at one stage or another, it gets to the point I just stop paying attention!
Vanessa says
I eat some yoghurt, but it depends on the brand and stuff. I go on and off of it really easily. Cheese, however…that is good! I was talking to my dietican the other week and although we haven’t medically tested it but it seems I am lactose intolerant. Thankfully, I can eat cheese, so that’s good and really all that matters in life 🙂
Janet Camilleri says
Mmmmm cheese. Quite a lot of people don’t tolerate milk very well, to be honest I don’t drink it at all except in my coffee, tea or cereal. But I have lots of other dairy to make up for it!
Deborah says
My maternal grandmother had osteoporosis and my mum’s always been particularly worried and had a few bone density tests etc…
I’ve had one – just after being diagnosed as coeliac as poor bone strength etc can be a symptom.
I’m not a big fan of dairy. (I blame those hot little bottles of milk we drank as kids at school!) But I’m conscious of its importance. I am supposedly lactose intolerant but make sure I have some dairy each day. I enjoy sour cream and mozzarella cheese for eg.
And because of my recent surgery I’m on calcium / Vitamin D tablets every day.
Janet Camilleri says
Yes weren’t they HORRIBLE! I still remember having to sit out playtime at big lunch because I could never eat all my sandwiches – probably because my tummy was still full from all the milk at little lunch 🙁
Kathy says
Wine and cheese are a food group aren’t they? At least I reckon they help me with PMS and pre-menopausal moods.
Janet Camilleri says
They should definitely be!
Bec Bowyer says
Ooooh you should try Tamar Valley yoghurt! My mum hated yoghurt all her life until she tried it about a year ago and now she’s addicted. I think yoghurt has come a long way since the watery crap we put up with in the 80s and 90s!
Janet Camilleri says
I’ll get some for the hubster (he loves yoghurt) and give it a try then x
Sammie says
I love yoghurt, we use it to make pizza bases, to cool down curries and in overnight oats. It’s also a tasty (and healthy) alternative to cream, I love a dollop on some grilled mango. I know it sounds so wrong but it tastes so right 🙂
Janet Camilleri says
It’s kind of annoying how I don’t like it, coz I know it can be so good for you. And I like sour cream and other dairy products which are similar, so I don’t understand what I have against yoghurt. Maybe I had a bad experience as a kid?!!
Paula says
Great post! I love my dairy! I like yoghurt but find I only eat it in fits and spurts. I do find that I have a limit to how much I can eat a day but I’m still thankful that I can down a big glass of milk, some cheese, and naughty ice-cream and cope OK. ?
Janet Camilleri says
I have a confession to make – I don’t actually drink milk! But I have plenty in my cereal and cups of tea, plus other dairy. And when I got a bone scan earlier this year, apparently my bone density is great for somebody my age!
Beth | AlmostPosh.com says
OMG yes! I wish I was more into yoghurt but there’s something so tangy and sour about it, even the sweeter flavours. I love cheese though. Not so much a fan of milk and drink lactose-free and definitely not keen on lots of cream. Ice cream is fine though, haha.
Janet Camilleri says
I have a confession to make – I don’t actually drink milk! But I have plenty in my cereal and cups of tea, plus other dairy, so I’m not worried 🙂