The rich mix of nutrients in milk and dairy foods make them a valuable part of the diets of older people.
Dairy is tasty, convenient and affordable
Dairy foods provide high–quality protein which, along with physical activity, contributes to maintaining muscle as we get older. Protein contributes to maintaining bone health too
Milk and dairy foods are good calcium–providers for helping to maintain bones
Calcium can help to reduce loss of bone mineral in postmenopausal women; for women over 50 years an extra 500mg is suggested so 1,200mg calcium per day in total. The recommendation for men is 700mg calcium per day
In Northern Ireland, over 40% of the calcium intake of the over 65s comes from milk, cheese and yogurt making dairy the biggest contributor
Foods from the dairy group contain other important nutrients for older people too – for example, yogurt and milk have riboflavin (also known as vitamin B2), which contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system, and vitamin B12 for normal red blood cell formation and the immune system.
This section of our website is specifically for nutrition and health professionals to help keep you up to date with the latest nutrition research, particularly in relation to milk and dairy products. You’ll find summaries and presentations from our conferences and events, together with scientific overviews of dairy and health topics.