MILK

-         Milk is a nutrient-rich liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals.

-         It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals, including breastfed human infants before they are able to digest solid food. 

-         Early-lactation milk is called colostrum, which contains antibodies that strengthen the immune system and thus reduces the risk of many diseases.

-         It holds many other nutrients, including protein and lactose. Interspecies consumption of milk is not uncommon, particularly among humans, many of whom consume the milk of other mammals.

 

·        Milk is a widely consumed beverage that is essential to the diet of several millions of people worldwide because it provides important macro- and micronutrients.

 

·        Milk is recognized as being useful during childhood and adolescence because of its composition; however, its relatively high saturated fat proportion raises issues of potential detrimental effects, namely on the cardiovascular system.

Milk is an essential component of the diet of approx. 6 billion people.

The world production of milk reaches 730 million tons/y (1, 2).

 Even though mammals produce milk to feed their offspring, in many areas of the world humans continue to consume milk throughout their life.

 However, it must be emphasized that lactose intolerance is widespread throughout the world and that a large proportion of the world's population would not benefit from the putative benefits of milk.

In addition to milk, several dairy products such as cream, butter, yogurt, kefir, and cheese have been produced and consumed worldwide for millennia.

Therefore, the impact of milk and dairy products on human health is quantitatively relevant and has been the subject of several investigations, on both whole products and their isolated components.

In particular, the fat portion of milk (largely composed of SFAs) and some of its minor components, notably calcium and oligosaccharides, are being actively researched for their potential health roles.

Milk and dairy products are nutrient-dense foods, supplying energy and high-quality protein with a range of essential micronutrients such as: -

·        calcium,

·        magnesium,

·        potassium,

·        zinc, and

·        phosphorus in an easily absorbed form.

Milk minerals are crucial for human health and development as well as in dairy processes as cheese-making and for all traits involving salt-protein interactions.

They play a key role in healthy human nutrition and development throughout life, but especially in childhood.

Dairy products are rich in nutrients that are essential for:

-         Good bone health, including calcium, protein, vitamin D, potassium, and phosphorus.

Adequate calcium intake influences skeletal calcium retention during growth and thus affects peak bone mass achieved in early adulthood. The high levels of calcium play an important role in the development, strength, and density of bones for children and in the prevention of bone loss and osteoporotic fractures in elderly people.

Studies show that frequent consumption of dairy foods and milk should be recommended in order to prevent periodontal disease. Calcium also has been shown to be beneficial in reducing cholesterol absorption, and in controlling body weight and blood pressure.