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IFT sessions reinforce milk's value for proper nutritional balance.
The rest of the world is discovering what the dairy industry has known all along - that dairy foods are one of the best sources for nutrition, health and a balanced diet. That was the theme reflected at IFT this year-both with the multitude of dairy products on the show floor and in various dairy-oriented technical sessions.
The Phosphorus Dilemma
Several technical sessions focused on the components of milk that are intrinsic to proper health and how the vitamins and minerals that are part of cow's milk work together to ensure proper nutritional balance.
Dr. John Anderson, professor of food science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., presented a recent study analyzing calcium intake levels. Anderson's presentation, "The Role of Calcium and Vitamin D in Bone Modeling and Remodeling in Adolescent Girls," discussed the manner in which calcium absorption is affected by simultaneous intake of vitamins such as Vitamin D, phosphorus, fluoride, protein, Vitamin K and magnesium. Appropriate levels of these nutrients are essential to maximize calcium absorption and protect against later development of osteoporosis.
"Because the biggest response of bone building occurs in pre-adolescent girls, it is crucial to understand the factors affecting calcium absorption of girls aged 9 to 18," Anderson said. "In a 15-year longitudinal study, we specifically monitored how diets, lifestyles and the intake of all nutrients are playing into resultant bone mass."
For girls between the ages of 9 and 18, experts recommend 1,300 mg of calcium per day as adequate intake, which equates to four milk servings. Anderson noted that 60 percent of the average consumer's calcium intake comes from dairy foods; 43.4 percent from milk and 18 percent from cheese.
Anderson postulated that the primary source for proper calcium intake is dairy foods, based on a study in which he was one of the primary researchers. This study found that adolescent girls are failing to ingest the daily adequate intake level, as most adolescents are consuming more carbonated soft drinks than milk. This trend is continuing despite recent highprofile advertising for milk and the recent repackaging to position milk as a drink as a snack for on-the-go consumption. Anderson's study found that as a result...