Dairy foods build stronger bones in children, report says

Tips for building stronger bones in children

The campaign for healthy bones in children is more easily traveled with three running mates – milk, cheese and yogurt.
Eating calcium-rich dairy foods during childhood and adolescence will help build strong bones and reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life, according to a report released recently by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The report comes at a critical time, with USDA data indicating that 7 out of 10 teen boys and 9 out of 10 teen girls are not getting the calcium they need. Calcium is important for the development of peak bone mass.

“The AAP recommends children eat three servings of milk, flavored milk, cheese or yogurt a day,” says Frank Greer, MD, chairman of the AAP Committee on Nutrition, and author of the report. “While there’s no cure for osteoporosis, eating 3-4 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods will help children get the calcium they need to build strong bones, which will benefit them throughout life.”

The report says that most people can meet their calcium needs by consuming 3 servings of low-fat milk, flavored milk, cheese or yogurt each day.

Seventy-two percent of dietary calcium in the U.S. food supply comes from milk and other dairy foods. In addition to calcium, milk is the number one source of several key nutrients in the American diet, including potassium, phosphorous and magnesium.

In fact, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, appointed by the United States Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), recognized that people who consume more dairy foods have better overall diets, consume more nutrients and have improved bone health.

Milk is also an excellent source of vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption and retention and also is recommended by the AAP for the development of strong bones. Not surprisingly, research has shown that children who regularly avoid milk have lower bone mineral density and have more bone fractures. The AAP report also highlights the importance of meeting calcium recommendations for the entire family.

“We know that children’s healthy eating habits are established early in life, and parents are the primary role models,” says registered dietitian Mary Martin Nordness, nutrition communications director for the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA). “Parents can encourage their children to make healthful food choices by including three servings of low-fat dairy foods in their own diet every day.”

###