Dairy Every Day:
An Evidence-Based Guide to Nourishing Brains, Bones & Bodies

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  2. National Dairy Council. 9 ways yogurt can help your body. 2024. https://www.usdairy.com/getmedia/265be8b3-d1e3-497f-b1b3-0c3a7efd4929/ndc_yogurt_handout_2024.pdf

  3. National Dairy Council. 8 ways cheese can help your body. 2024. https://www.usdairy.com/getmedia/b31d62d7-73d8-4cd0-a64b-0672ea6ed3b6/ndc_cheese_handout_2024.pdf

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  13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Second nutrition report factsheet: Iodine levels in young women border on insufficiency. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition-report/media/2nd-Nutrition-Report-Iodine-Factsheet.pdf

  14. National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements. Iodine fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional

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  19. He W, Wu G. Metabolism of amino acids in the brain and their roles in regulating food intake. In: Wu, G. (eds) Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1265. Springer, Cham. 2020;1265:167-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45328-2_10

  20. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 2023. Usual Nutrient Intake from Food and Beverages, by Gender and Age, What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017-March 2020 Prepandemic. Available www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg

  21. Taormina VM, Unger AL, Kraft J. Full-fat dairy products and cardiometabolic health outcomes: Does the dairy-fat matrix matter? Frontiers in Nutrition. 2024;11:1386257. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1386257

  22. Hess JM, Cifelli CJ, Fulgoni VL 3rd. Modeling the impact of fat flexibility with dairy food servings in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2020;7:595880. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.595880

  23. Weaver CM. Dairy matrix: Is the whole greater than the sum of the parts? Nutrition Reviews. 2021;79(suppl 2):4-15. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuab081

  24. Circana Group, L.P. data over 52 weeks ending 10-8-2023. Total US MULO+C.

  25. Circana — Latest 52 Weeks February 25, 2024. Milk and Plant Alternative Beverage Report by Race and Ethnicity. TTL US MULO+C Panel Data.

  26. International Food Information Council (IFIC). Understanding Fluid Milk & Dairy Food Consumption Patterns to Enhance Diet Quality & Nutrition Equity. May 2024. https://foodinsight.org/ific-research-dairy-consumption-diet-quality-nutrition-equity/.

  27. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. 2021. Average Healthy Eating Index-2015 Scores for Children, Adolescents and Adults by Age Groups. What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017-2018.

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  29. Calder PC, Carr AC, Gombart AF, Eggersdorfer M. Optimal nutritional status for a well-functioning immune system is an important factor to protect against viral infections. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1181. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041181

  30. Wiertsema SP, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Garssen J, Knippels LMJ. The interplay between the gut microbiome and the immune system. Nutrients. 2021;13(3):886. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030886

  31. James LJ, Stevenson EJ, Rumbold PLS, Hulston CJ. Cow's milk as a post-exercise recovery drink: Implications for performance and health. European Journal of Sport Science. 2019;19(1):40-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2018.1534989

  32. U.S. Dairy. Is Milk a Good Hydration Choice for Young Athletes? 2026. https://www.usdairy.com/news-articles/milk-an-unexpected-way-to-hydrate-young-athletes

  33. Jakobsen DD, Brader L, Bruun JM. Association between food, beverages and overweight/obesity in children and adolescents — A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Nutrients. 2023;15(3):764. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030764

  34. Lott M, Callahan E, Welker Duffy E, Story M, Daniels S. Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations. Technical Scientific Report. Durham, NC: Healthy Eating Research, 2019. Available at http://healthyeatingresearch.org

  35. Lott M, Reed L, Deuman K, Story M, Cradock A, Patel AI. Healthy Beverage Consumption in School-Age Children and Adolescents: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations. Consensus Statement. Durham, NC: Healthy Eating Research, 2025. Available at http://healthyeatingresearch.org

  36. Golden NH, Abrams SA, Committee on Nutrition, Daniels SR, Abrams SA, Corkins MR, de Ferranti SD, Golden NH, Magge SN, Schwarzenberg SJ. Optimizing bone health in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2014;134(4):e1229-e1243. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-2173

  37. Wallace TC, Bailey RL, Lappe J, O'Brien KO, Wang DD, Sahni S, Weaver CM. Dairy intake and bone health across the lifespan: A systematic review and expert narrative. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2021;61(21):3661-3707. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2020.1810624

  38. Weaver CM, Gordon CM, Janz KF, Kalkwarf HJ, Lappe JM, Lewis R, O'Karma M, Wallace TC, Zemel BS. The National Osteoporosis Foundation's position statement on peak bone mass development and lifestyle factors. Osteoporosis International. 2016;27(4):1281-1386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-015-3440-3

  39. Kouvelioti R, Josse AR, Klentrou P. Effects of dairy consumption on body composition and bone properties in youth: A systematic review. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2017;1(8):e001214. https://doi.org/10.3945/cdn.117.001214

  40. de Lamas C, de Castro MJ, Gil-Campos M, Gil Á, Couce ML, Leis R. Effects of dairy product consumption on height and bone mineral content in children: A systematic review of controlled trials. Advances in Nutrition. 2018;10(2):S88-S96. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy096

  41. Vogel KA, Martin BR, McCabe LD, Peacock M, Warden SJ, McCabe GP, Weaver CM. The effect of dairy intake on bone mass and body composition in early pubertal girls and boys: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2017;105(5):1214-1229. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.116.140418

  42. Porto A. Lactose intolerance in infants and children: Parent FAQs. American Academy of Pediatrics. HealthyChildren.org. 2016. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Lactose-Intolerance-in-Children.aspx

  43. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf. Published January 7, 2026. Accessed January 7, 2026.

  44. Committee on Nutrition. Serving sizes for toddlers. American Academy of Pediatrics. HealthyChildren.org. 2024. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/serving-sizes-for-toddlers.aspx

  45. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Dietary Reference Intakes for energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26818.

  46. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Nutrition. Pediatric Nutrition. 9th ed. Greer FR, Abrams SA, eds. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2025.

  47. Food Allergy Research and Education. Milk allergy. https://www.foodallergy.org/living-food-allergy/food-allergy-essentials/common-allergens/milk

  48. Savaiano DA, Hutkins RW. Yogurt, cultured fermented milk, and health: A systematic review. Nutrition Reviews. 2021;79(5):599-614. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa013

  49. Donovan SM, Rao G. Health benefits of yogurt among infants and toddlers aged 4 to 24 months: A systematic review. Nutrition Reviews. 2019;77(7):478-486. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuz009

  50. Nicklas TA, Saab R, Fulgoni VL. Is flavored milk really a bad beverage choice? The nutritional benefits of flavored milk outweigh the added sugars content. Acta Scientific. 2022;6(1):114-132. https://doi.org/10.31080/ASNH.2022.06.0985

  51. International Dairy Foods Association. School milk is critical to child nutrition. 2025. https://www.idfa.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Back-to-School-Fact-Sheet-2023_2024_Updated-May-2025.pdf.

  52. International Dairy Foods Association. The healthy school milk commitment. https://www.idfa.org/healthyschoolmilk

  53. Ricklefs-Johnson K, Pikosky MA. Perspective: The benefits of including flavored milk in healthy dietary patterns. Advances in Nutrition. 2023;14(5):959-972. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37290718/

  54. U.S. Dairy. What Is Milk Pasteurization? 2025. https://www.usdairy.com/news-articles/why-is-milk-pasteurized-4-questions-answered

  55. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Raw milk. 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/raw-milk.html

  56. Tang J, Xue P, Huang X, Lin C, Liu S. Diet and nutrients intakes during infancy and childhood in relation to early puberty: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2022;14(23):5004. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235004

  57. Wiley AS. Milk intake and total dairy consumption: Associations with early menarche in NHANES 1999-2004. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(2):e14685. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0014685

  58. American Dairy Association, Canadian Society of Animal Science, American Society of Animal Science. Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rbST): A Safety Assessment. 2010.

Food Images Credit:

Patient Handout:

  • Page 1: Food images credit: Pulse for National Dairy Council. AI-generated using ChatGPT.

  • Page 2:  Food images under “Building Healthy Meals and Snacks with Dairy Foods” credit: Pulse for National Dairy Council. AI-generated using ChatGPT.

Exam Room Poster:

  1. Food images credit: Pulse for National Dairy Council. AI-generated using ChatGPT.