To begin with, the nutritional facts of milk, Milk has been an important part of human diet for years together, and it can then package of essential nutrients. We all know that milk is rich in calcium, but milk and milk products also contain protein, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, iodine, riboflavin, vitamin A and vitamin B12, selenium and other important fatty acids. So, it is a vital part of a once balanced diet.

Calcium is not only important for building strong bones and teeth, as we all know, but they have other important role in our body, like calcium helps in clotting blood for sending and receiving nerve signals for optimal muscle function, for releasing hormones and other chemicals in our body and for maintaining normal heartbeat. Calcium has got a lot of important roles in our body.

Yes, there are many non-milk sources of calcium and calcium fortified foods are available now. However, it is impossible to meet the daily recommendations along with meeting other nutrient requirements such as with milk due to absorption and bioavailability issues with other calcium containing foods and supplements.

Also, milk contains protein, mostly Kazan and Whey protein, which helps in binding calcium and prevents the calcium precipitation and increases calcium absorption in our body. Phosphorus is present in milk as inorganic phosphates along with calcium, it interacts with the intestinal and renal levels and has positive impact on the bone health.

So, milk in many ways, they helped send calcium absorption and increase calcium levels in our body to especially people with low calcium levels. Calcium is needed for all age groups, except for infants, for whom it has to be guided by your paediatrician accordingly. Milk forms an important diet for all age groups, including pregnant women, children, adolescents and elderly people.

  • Consuming milk by pregnant women, promote bone health in the child by increasing skeletal growth and bone mass density when they are in utero.
  • For children, consuming dietary, calcium and protein intake are essential to achieve optimal peak bone mass during their important vital skeletal growth period. It is study that long term avoidance of milk is associated with small stature, low mineral mass and increased fracture risk before puberty in children.
  • For elderly, calcium from milk is effective for preventing early fractures in osteoporotic management, so milk forms an important part of diet for all age group. Finally, milk is an excellent source of calcium and other nutrients available. Easily and affordable to all.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.
Dr Anu Krithiga B
Dr Anu Krithiga B

Dr Anu Krithiga B (MBBS, MD (Pediatrics), Drnb (Pediatric Critical Care), Fellowship In Ecmo) is a Consultant, Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Prashanth Hospital, Kolathur.