By Bill Smith

The Daily Iberian

June is Dairy Month and the National Dairy Council uses this promotion to tout the benefits of dairy products toward good health and nutrition.

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Mandy G. Armentor, associate extension agent with the LSU AgCenter who covers Vermilion and Iberia parishes, agrees with the council concerning the benefits of foods from the milk, yogurt and cheese groups from the My Pyramid.gov, Steps to a Healthier You plan for healthy eating.

The plan recommends that people consume three daily servings from the dairy food group, in particular the low-fat or non-fat versions of milk, cheese and yogurt.

Armentor said the dairy food group contain essentials vitamins and minerals such as calcium, Vitamin D, protein, Vitamin A, potassium and Vitamin B12, just to name a few.

Research shows that dairy products contain essential nutrients that help reduce the risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers, and can even help with weight loss.

Armentor said consuming three servings of dairy products daily helps one reach the daily goal of 1,000 to 1,200 mg of calcium that is needed each day for good health. An 8-ounce glass of milk provides 300 mg of calcium needed daily. Calcium is responsible for maintaining and building strong bones and teeth. Other dairy foods such as yogurt and cheese  are a good substitute for those who do not like milk. Foods such as calcium fortified orange juice or leafy green vegetables such as broccoli are also high in calcium.

The National Dairy Council Web site states that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2003-2004, an estimated 18 percent of American children were overweight and another 35 percent were at risk for becoming overweight. Over the next five years, dairy farmers will invest significantly to help fight childhood obesity in schools by supporting access to naturally nutrient-rich foods, providing nutrition education and encouraging physical fitness.

Also, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating nutrient-rich foods each day and encourages more low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains because these can be good sources of nutrients of which most children don’t get enough—fiber, vitamin E, calcium, potassium and magnesium. Together, dairy foods supply three of the five shortfall nutrients — calcium, potassium and magnesium.

For those families looking to get the most nutrition they can with their food budget, dairy is a naturally nutrient-rich food group that, for the most part, comes at a low cost — often just pennies per serving. One 8-ounce glass of milk provides nine essential nutrients: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and niacin (niacin equivalents).

“June is National Dairy Month, a great opportunity for Americans to recognize that low-fat and fat-free dairy foods present a unique combination of both nutritional and economic

value,” the National Dairy Council reports.

Devon Richard, 4, knows the benefits of a glass of cold milk.

“It goes pretty good with Oreo’s,” the

New Iberia resident said. “I like it

with chocolate or strawberry stuff mixed in it.”