There’s broad interest in “living your best life” with a recent report highlighting that 82% of Americans consider health and wellness a top priority.
However, for many Americans, achieving optimal health remains a challenge, especially in managing chronic diet-related diseases like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
To address these health gaps, it is essential that everyone can reach their full nutritional potential. Unfortunately, most Americans do not meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendations, and data backs up this troubling trend: 90% fall short of the recommended three daily servings from the dairy and vegetable groups, and 98% do not meet the whole grain recommendations.
Among these gaps, dairy consumption is particularly low among Black Americans. From an early age, black children consume less dairy than white children, and this trend persists into adulthood. A significant factor is the perception that dairy foods are not physiologically suitable due to lactose intolerance, leading them to choose nondairy alternatives. However, there are dairy-based solutions, including lactose-free dairy milk and lower lactose fermented options like yogurt, kefir, and cheese.
The importance of the role of dairy foods in supporting the health of Black Americans was acknowledged through a Supplement to the Journal of the National Medical Association published last April. The supplement outlined dairy-first lactose-free and lower lactose solutions to help manage lactose intolerance so Black Americans can enjoy dairy without discomfort.
The farmer-founded National Dairy Council (NDC) is addressing these gaps by educating people about the vast options to help inspire all Americans on how dairy foods can deliver nutrition and help improve health outcomes. NDC and state and regional dairy councils are collaborating to connect people to dairy’s culinary lineage, from Mediterranean, Spanish, and Afro-Caribbean dishes to Creole and soul food.
With people of color expected to comprise 56% of the population by 2060, it’s crucial to incorporate approaches to nutrition education that encourage healthy eating patterns through cuisines and relevant, tailored solutions and tips. Improving the health of all Americans is not only a moral imperative but one that is essential for the nation’s overall well-being. Diet-related diseases like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes are more prevalent among Black Americans, and increasing dairy consumption to recommended levels could help reduce these risks.
Through NDC’s science-backed and nutrition-focused collaboration with the National Medical Association, there is an opportunity to reach more people and narrow the nutrition and health gap. Increasing dairy consumption to meet daily recommendations can lead to better health outcomes and ensure that all Americans can “live their best life.”
To learn more about your national dairy checkoff, visit www.dairycheckoff.com or to reach us directly, send an email.
