Dairy Facts

Dieticians and doctors agree - milk, cheese and yoghurt can help build stronger bones and healthy bodies. Eating 3 servings of milk, cheese or yoghurt each day is a deliciously easy way to help build and maintain strong, healthy bones, muscles and teeth. Dairy foods pack a powerful nutrient punch!

What's a serving of dairy?

Milk: 250ml (1 cup)
Natural Cheese: 40g or about 3-4 cheese cubes
Yoghurt: one 250ml container

There are three things to consider in doing the best for your bones:

Calcium intake - Dairy is recommended as the richest source of calcium in your diet.

Exercise - Any exercise that carries your weight to create impact is great for your bones such as netball, tennis and even walking the dog.

Vitamin D - Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Most people get enough through exposure to the sunlight.

Cheese Facts

Did you know that...

Cheese is made from milk and it takes around 10 litres of milk to make 1kg of cheese.

Cheese can be made from lots of different types of milk, such as buffalo’s milk, sheep’s milk and goat's milk; most of the cheese eaten is made from cow’s milk.

Some cheeses, like Mature Cheddar, are stored for one year or longer before they are ready to eat. They are kept in special rooms and sometimes even caves!

Cheddar is named after the Cheddar Gorge caves in Somerset where the cheese used to be stored to ripen. Cheddar is one of the most widely made cheeses in the world.

A small matchbox-sized piece of Cheddar contains as much calcium as a third of a glass of milk.

Cheese is a great source of vitamin A, which you need for healthy skin and eyes and to keep your defence system working properly, helping to fight illnesses caused by nasty bugs and viruses.

Cheese is an excellent source of energy - a bite of cheese instead of a sugary drink keeps you and your teeth on the go all day!

How is cheese made?

The basic principles for making cheese are the same for the majority of cheeses. Essentially, this involves forming curds and whey, draining the whey and then treating the remaining curds to produce the type of cheese required. For harder cheeses (e.g. Cheddar), which have less water, the curds will be heated or cut to remove the water; for soft cheeses (such as cottage cheese), which have high water content, little further treatment of the curds will take place.

Fighting tooth decay...

Good dental health means looking after your teeth to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing regularly is an important part of looking after your teeth but diet can play a big role as well.

To reduce the risk of tooth decay go easy on overly sweet and sticky foods and drinks and try to include 3 servings of dairy in your daily diet. Dairy provides essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorous, important for building and maintaining strong healthy teeth.

Cheese in particular is great because it can act as a buffer for the tooth against acid attack.

Yoghurt facts?

Did you know that...

The words "live and active cultures" refer to the living organisms, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermaophilus, which convert pasteurised milk to yoghurt during fermentation. Note that the milk is pasteurised before culturing to remove any harmful bacteria. The process is very similar to that used when making beer, wine or cheese, in that beneficial organisms ferment and transform the basic food. This fermentation process is what creates yoghurt with its unique taste, texture and healthful attributes.

You already know that yoghurt is good for you. But do you know why you and your family should eat DairyBelle Yoghurt everyday?

Helps digestion
DairyBelle Yoghurt contains live "cultures" - too small to see unless you look through a microscope. These cultures transform the milk into yoghurt, making it easier to digest.

The cultures also play a role in breaking down nutrients, helping them to be easily absorbed by the body.

Helps lactose intolerance.
Many people suffer from lactose intolerance, where the body has trouble digesting lactose, the sugar found naturally in milk. Symptoms can be stomach pains, cramps, flatulence and sometimes diarrhoea (runny tummy). The unique live cultures in DairyBelle yoghurt help the body to break down lactose in milk, making it easier to digest. So people who can't drink milk, because they are lactose intolerant, can enjoy yoghurt and its health benefits!

Healthy Insides

DairyBelle yoghurt contains unique live and active AB cultures, which help to keep the correct balance of bacteria in our intestinal flora and make it function smoothly. The cultures help reduce problems with digestion like diarrhea (runny tummy) or constipation. Remember to eat extra DairyBelle Yoghurt when taking antibiotics, to restore a balance of your intestinal flora. Antibiotics destroy good and bad bacteria, so to restore good bacteria, eat DairyBelle yoghurt.

The potential of yoghurt to prevent diseases: Research is being conducted into “live” yoghurts helpfulness in preventing certain diseases, as well as its role in reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Milk Facts

Did you know that...

Calcium is one of the nutrients most likely to be lacking in most people’s diet. The calcium found in milk helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth. This mineral also plays an important role in nerve function, muscle contraction and blood clotting. Each 250ml glass of milk provides 300 mg or 30% of the Daily Value (or recommended intake).

The vitamin D found in milk helps promote the absorption of calcium and enhances bone mineralisation. Milk is one of the few dietary sources of vitamin D. Each 250ml serving of milk provides about 25% of the Daily Value.

Nearly 9 out of 10 teenage girls fail to get enough calcium in their diets and almost 7 out of 10 teenage boys don't meet daily calcium recommendations. Teenagers need 1,300 mg of calcium per day, or the equivalent of at least four 250ml glasses of milk.

Low fat and fat free milk have the same nutrients as whole milk with little or no fat. Drink fat free and low fat milk to reduce fat in your diet, but still get nutrients you need every day.

About 3 out of 4 of people (or about 75%) do not get enough calcium in their diets. 9 out of 10 women and 7 out of 10 men fall short of current calcium recommendations.

Many studies suggest that fat free or low fat milk, as part of a low fat diet, may help reduce the risk of hypertension. Hypertension or high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart disease and stroke.

Drinking milk helps prevent osteoporosis when you get older. Milk helps build strong bones because it's rich in calcium and vitamin D, which can double the amount of calcium absorbed by your body. You should drink more milk to help prevent osteoporosis.

Milk is a great nutrient package of 9 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamins A, D and B12, protein, potassium, riboflavin, niacin (includes niacin equivalent) and phosphorus. Milk provides good nutrition for your body.

Nutrients in Milk

Milk will give you more nutrients than many other beverages. Drinking milk is one of the most natural ways to give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to get through a hectic day. Plus, milk is a natural nutrient powerhouse. So, whether you want full-bodied whole milk, fat-free skim, chocolate or anything in between, all types of milk offer virtually the same nutrient package. Milk also provides a healthy alternative to soda and juices for teens everywhere.

Milk is a great beverage to replenish your hard-working body - milk's carbohydrates help fuel your muscles.

We all know that the calcium in milk helps build strong bones, but milk is loaded with eight other essential vitamins and minerals, including:

Calcium: Helps build and maintain strong bones. Also vital for nerve function, muscle contraction, and blood clotting.

Protein: Important for a number of bodily functions - vital to brain development and the growth of body tissues.

Vitamin A: Maintains normal vision and skin. Helps regulate cell growth and integrity of the immune system.

Vitamin B-12: Essential for the growth and health of the nervous system. Linked to normal activity of folic acid and is involved in blood formation.

Vitamin D: Promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and influences bone mineralisation, the strengthening of bones.

Potassium: Regulates the body's fluid balance and blood pressure. Also needed for muscle activity and contractions.

Phosphorus: Helps generate energy in the body's cells and influences bone mineralisation, the strengthening of bones.

Niacin: Keeps enzymes functioning normally and helps the body process sugars and fatty acids. Important for the development of the nervous system.

Riboflavin: Helps produce energy in the body's cells and plays a vital role in the development of the nervous system.

Bones need more than just calcium to be strong. They also need vitamin D to promote the utilization of calcium and help optimise bone mineralisation. Without vitamin D, your body only absorbs 10 to 15% of the calcium you take in.