Benefits of Milk  With Listeria making the headlines recently linking it as the cause of 2 deaths and 1 miscarriage, here are some facts.  Listeria is a microbe that lurks almost everywhere.  In soil, in all meats and vegetables and survives even in your refrigerator.  Even the most careful sanitary measures do not eradicate this microbe.  Listeria can make you sick and one can die from it if one’s immune system is weakened by some other cause.   However, the benefits of milk can far outweight the risks. Milk benefits Weight Loss.  In a study researchers found that overweight people who drank three servings of milk a day lost more belly fat than those who do not. Researchers also discovered that calcium supplements didn’t work as well as milk. They believe that while calcium may increase the rate at which your body burns fat, other active compounds in dairy (such as milk proteins) provide an additional fat-burning effect.  Weight loss in the waist area is really important because excess fat in this area is associated with greater health risks. Milk benefits muscles.  The protein in milk is about 80 percent whey and 20 percent casein and good for muscles. Whey is known as a “fast protein” it is quickly broken down into amino acids and absorbed into the bloodstream.  Casein is digested slowly, it provides your body with a steady supply of smaller amounts of protein for a longer period of time.  Milk benefits high blood pressure/hypertension.  Increasing studies show that milk may offer blood pressure lowering benefits.  Milk contains potassium, magnesium and calcium all linked to lowering blood pressure. Milk benefits dental health.  Milk is a rich source of calcium and other tooth friendly nutrients.  Proteins promote growth and repair.    The American Academy for Pediatric Dentistry (1992) reported foods containing milk, calcium, phosphorus, casein, and cocoa are less likely to contribute to dental cavities than table sugar or solid snack foods.  Dentists recommend milk or water as the only safe beverage as the lactose (milk sugar) is the least carcinogenic of all sugars. Milk offers benefit in terms of protecting against certain cancers, i.e. colonrectal cancer.  A study of 45,000 Swedish men who drank 1.5 glasses of milk a day or more had a 33% lower risk of the disease than those who had lower milk intake.  Studies examined the role of diet and breast cancer have not proven any link between dairy foods and this disease, however a study of over 40,000 Norwegian women found that those who drank milk as children and continued to do so as adults had a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Type 2 Diabetes - Scientific studies suggest a role for milk in helping to prevent type-2 diabetes.  The effect of dairy on diabetes is believed to be partly related to the presence of minerals such as magnesium and calcium in dairy foods, but also the fact that dairy foods have a low glycaemic index. Cardiovascular Disease - Recent studies suggest that milk my be protective in terms of cardiovascular disease.  A study of Welsh men found that those who drank the most milk had fewer heart attacks than those who had little or no milk in their diets. Milk plays an important role in the diet.  Milk contains a wide range of nutrients needed for good health.  Milk contains calcium, protein, phosphorus, and magnesium, all important to bone health.  Milk and dairy foods are important to growing toddlers and children, teenagers, pregnant and breastfeeding women and even the older adults.  Appetite is often poor in the elderly and although they still need nutrients, they often eat less than they should. A glass of milk provides Vitamin B12 for red blood cells; Calcium for strong bones and teeth; carbohydrate for energy, Magnesium for muscle function; Phosphorus for release of energy; Potassium for nerve function; Protein for growth and repair; Riboflavin for healthy skin and Zinc for the immune system. Sources of information - Alan Aragon, Maters of Science in Nutrition and The Dairy Council website www.milk.co.uk.