Idaho Dairy Products Commission

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A new study released in the Journal of American College of Nutrition found that adolescents who consumed closer to the recommended three servings of dairy foods per day had a lower body mass index (BMI) and less body fat than those with lower daily dairy consumption.¹

"The results of the study further support existing evidence that nutrient-rich foods, such as low-fat and fat-free dairy products, are a core part of a healthy diet and may protect against adding excess body fat for children and adolescents," said [S/R Name], [S/R Title]. "Encouraging kids to eat three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day is a deliciously easy way to help them build and maintain strong, healthy bones, muscles and teeth."

The study explored the association between dairy consumption and body fat among more than 10,000 U.S. children and adolescents participating in two of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), from 1988-1994 and 1999-2002. Results showed that, in both survey periods, a low dairy intake among 12-16 year-olds—less than one serving per day for girls and less than two servings per day for boys—was associated with a higher BMI and greater body fat. Additionally, similar results were seen when examining total calcium intake in relation to body fat among the same age range. However, among younger children, ages 5-11, there was no consistent association between dairy food or calcium intake and body fat levels. More...

Web Site Launches Nutrient Rich Foods Coalitions Efforts to Help Americans Live Well and Add More Nutrients into their Diets

As Americans struggle with often conflicting, confusing advice about what they should and shouldn't eat, the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition has launched a new web site, www.nutrientrichfoods.org, as a first step towards clarifying current nutrition information and guidelines. It offers guidance on how to choose more nutrient-rich foods for a healthier diet, echoing the advice of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and MyPyramid.

Nutrient density is a long-standing dietary principle and the foundation of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) report, which stated that Americans are becoming overfed yet undernourished and need to find ways to get more nutrition from their calories. However, consumers need help understanding how to follow this guidance and enjoy nutrient-dense foods first. The Nutrient Rich foods Coalition is advancing scientific and market research to develop tools that make it easier for people to understand and incorporate nutrient-rich foods - or those that provide the riches source of nutrients relative to calories - into their healthy lifestyle.

"Now is the time to clear up consumer confusion and provide a simple, science-based way for people to feel good about what they can eat for better nutrition," said Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition Scientific Advisory Committee member and principal researcher, Adam Drewnowski, PhD, University of Washington. "Our research helps identify foods that provide more nutrition per bite in order to help people make smarter food and beverage choices. You are in control; we do the math." The Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition is working closely with Drewnowski to develop a scientific score to identify the most nutrient-rich foods from the many choices available.

Recognizing that people want easy-to-use advice based on the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid, part of the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition's efforts include offering that advice through educational guidance to health professionals and through the new web site, which will include a searchable nutrient-rich recipe database in the future and updated information on the latest scientific research. The site's nutrient-rich menus, recipe ideas, tips and grocery shopping lists make enjoying a nutrient-riche diet easier and more appetizing. These nutrient rich foods are emphasized as the foundation for a healthy diet:
  • Brightly colored fruits and 100% fruit juice
  • Vibrant colored vegetables
  • Whole, fortified and fiber-rich grain foods
  • Low-fat and fat-free milk, cheese and yogurt
  • Lean meats, skinless poultry, fish, eggs, beans and nuts
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