June is Dairy Month!

June is national dairy month and we must celebrate! With all the new “milk” products that have flooded the market, I wanted to take a step back to exam cow milk.

We have to understand that each of us is a very unique individual. What drives me absolutely crazy is when we base decision for ourselves off what other people are doing. Your body is different from everybody else’s. Just because something works or doesn’t work for them, doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same for you. Do your own study about how milk and dairy products affect you. Don’t rely on somebody else telling you how it affects you.

Growing up we drank milk and water. Pop was for very special occasions and really we only drank less than half a can. Milk has a whole bunch of nutrients in it. One cup of whole cow’s milk will fuel your body with 149 calories, 88% water, 7.7 grams of protein, 11.7 grams of carbs, 12.3 grams of sugar and 8 grams of fat. There are two groups of protein in milk (casein and whey protein). Both of these have high essential amino acids and good digestibility.

Milk is one of the most nutritious forms of food you will find. On a budget, don’t scrimp on the milk. We’ve always heard it, milk will build strong bones. Cow’s milk promotes bone growth and development! All of this is transferred into the dairy products that are made from cows milk-yogurt, cream, cheese and butter.

Lately, I’ve gotten into reading labels while buying foods. I know, I know, I’m late to the bandwagon. I don’t look for organic or non-GMO. What I look for and what I tell people to look for, can you pronounce the ingredients in what you’re buying? How close is it to it’s natural form? How many things are added to it? Labels are a whole other blog that will come later.

Milk is pretty pure. You want to eat/drink “whole” foods, incorporate dairy products back into your diet. Quit eliminating foods based on what the most famous person is doing at the moment. Eat and drink foods that make you feel good. Maybe dairy doesn’t make you feel your best, but make sure you’ve done the study of yourself and can correctly identify that dairy is the reason because you’re going to look pretty hard to find a replacement drink that is packed full of nutrients for the affordable price that milk is.