Dairy – ‘Good Health Tips’ fact sheet series

Enjoying a wide variety of foods every day is essential for good health and well-being.

Aim to choose foods from the five food groups:

• Breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles

• Vegetables, legumes

• Fruit

• Milk, yogurt, cheese

• Lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, legumes

Maintaining a good diet, as well as a healthy lifestyle, will help improve well-being and reduce the risk of disease.

Dairy Australia has developed some ‘Good Health Tips’ Fact Sheets which provide information on a wide range of diet and health-related topics.

Three serves of dairy every day for calcium and good health

Dairy foods – such as milk, yogurt and cheese – are one of the five core food groups.

The Dietary Guidelines for Australians recommend that dairy foods be included in our daily diet because of their readily available calcium. Eating three serves of dairy every day as part of a healthy, balanced diet can virtually ensure you meet your daily requirement for calcium.

Dairy foods also contain significant amounts of over nine other essential nutrients, such as:

• protein and carbohydrate

• vitamins A, B12 and riboflavin

• phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc

Dairy foods and their unique package of nutrients don’t just contribute to strong bones and overall good health, but they may also play a role in reducing the risk of other conditions.

Dairy Australia’s ‘Three serves of dairy every day for calcium and good health’ Fact Sheet contains further information, including the topics:

• Three serves of dairy

• Calcium

• Alternative sources of calcium

• Dairy’s package of nutrients

• Beyond bones – some of dairy’s other health benefits

• Getting your 3 serves

• Quick, simple ideas

The information on this Fact Sheet has been reviewed by Osteoporosis Australia.