Dairy foods help kids build stronger bones

One of the biggest dietary changes that has taken hold in our culture — over the past 40 years — is that milk has been replaced by sodas as the kids’ drink of choice.

Now, according to new research reported in the Journal of Pediatrics, when you eat dairy foods, meat, and other high-protein foods in childhood, you get stronger and healthier bones in adolescence.

This was true for boys and girls. And, you don’t have to overconsume dairy, but have about two servings per day throughout childhood. These kids had a higher bone mineral content, greater bone area, and greater bone mineral density than those who ate less.

In fact, dairy and protein seemed to have additive effects, with children who consumed the most of both types of food having the densest, largest bones; those who consumed the least had the thinnest bones.

So. A bit of cheese, a glass of milk, a breakfast of (real) yogurt, these do the body good … in the long term!!