There’s no better way to optimize your overall wellness than with dairy products made in Oregon. With 13 nutrients essential for growth and overall well-being, consuming locally made dairy products is a great way to fortify your diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Whether for strength, endurance, or overall day-to-day activity, dairy foods provide a powerhouse of nutrition to meet all of your fitness needs. Milk takes home the gold in providing a perfect blend of energy and fluid to refuel, recover, and rehydrate after activity. Add on cheese and yogurt, and you have a game-winning protein combo to support muscle development and sustained energy throughout the day.
Dairy foods play a crucial role in brain development during infancy and childhood, and provide half of the nutrients recognized by the AAP in being essential for the growth and maintenance of healthy brain cells, neurotransmitters, and overall cognitive function. Research suggests that adequate intake of dairy foods, especially during early life stages, may contribute to improved memory, learning, and cognitive abilities across the lifespan.
Low lactose and lactose-free dairy options are widely available, and provide the same nutritional benefits as normal dairy products. Whether you’re lactose-intolerant, or simply looking to boost your digestive health, fermented dairy foods are one of the best, low-lactose choices to nurture your gut on a daily basis. Foods like yogurt and kefir contain live and active probiotic cultures that promote an optimal balance of gut bacteria for happy, healthy digestion.
Consuming dairy foods as a part of a balanced diet is a way to get the key nutrients your body needs, including important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support your immune system. Research also suggests a strong link between immunity and digestive health, so nourish your gut with probiotic-rich dairy foods like yogurt and kefir!
As part of an overall healthy diet, dairy foods provide a holistic balance of nutrition to optimize your nervous system, promote balanced mental health, and support regular sleep and rest cycles. Research suggests that regularly enjoying fermented dairy foods can even offset symptoms of depression. Additionally, enjoying dairy treats like ice cream or frozen yogurt on occasion can fit into a healthy eating pattern and boost mood – especially when shared socially with friends and family.
