News

Independent Expert Highlights the Importance of a Dairy Rich Diet
- Arrabawn & NDC’s Health & Wellbeing Event -

Friday 8 May, 2009 The National Dairy Council & Arrabawn Co-op Health & Wellbeing evening took place in Claregalway, Co Galway on Thursday, 7 May with expert nutritionist Paula Mee, Michele O’Brien from the Irish Osteoporosis Society and Silvanna Landa, Area Manager with Biotherm, offering updates and guidance on how to improve the balance of a healthy diet and wellbeing, in the face of increasingly busy lifestyles.

In a lively presentation entitled “Celebrating the Nutrient Richness of Dairy”, RTE TV personality and one of the country’s leading independent nutritionists Paula Mee – originally from Co. Galway - told the audience that there’s more to dairy than healthy bones and teeth. She looked at more recent medical and research findings to explore in detail the full package of nutrients in milk and some of the health benefits of dairy as part of a balanced diet.

Evidence of Calcium Deficiencies

42% of Irish teenage girls and 23% of Irish teenage boys do not have enough calcium as part of their regular diets. In adulthood, research shows that 23% of Irish women do not have enough calcium as part their regular diets, compared with 11% of Irish men. “Such dietary trends could be placing those people at increased risk of serious long term health problems in the future, such as osteoporosis – also known as brittle bone disease,” says Paula Mee.

Your Bones are Your Scaffolding

Describing our bones as the “scaffolding for our body”, Paula Mee makes the point that the risks associated with osteoporosis can be related to calcium deficiency and can also be affected by lifestyle factors including intakes of caffeine and alcohol, excessive intakes of salt or vitamin A, low weight and low activity levels or lack of exercise.

“Many of these factors are modifiable – which means we have the capacity to control them,” says Paula Mee. “Every meal and snack is an opportunity to boost the nutrient quality of our diet. Balance, variety and moderation are the key.”

“Milk and dairy products have a natural nutritional package which includes protein, B vitamins (riboflavin, vitamin B12), carbohydrate and phosphorous – as well as calcium,” says Paula Mee.

Emerging Evidence supports New Benefits

Paula Mee described how emerging research is pointing to the potential beneficial role of milk’s calcium and milk peptides in the management of blood pressure.

Skimmed Milk may also have a powerful role to play for athletes in tackling dehydration caused by exercise, training and competition, with research from the UK showing that skimmed milk may be more effective for retaining fluid than plain water or a commercially available sports drink.

Osteoporosis is Preventable

Michele O’Brien, National Health Promotion Officer with the Irish Osteoporosis Society also spoke at the Health and Wellbeing event in Claregalway on Thursday evening.

In Ireland, osteoporosis affects one in two women and one in five men over fifty. It is known as the ‘silent disease’ as the majority of people have no pain until they fracture, however it is estimated that only 15% of those affected are diagnosed.

Emphasising that osteoporosis affects people of all age groups, including children, Michele O’Brien challenged the audience in Claregalway to think about osteoporosis prevention from childhood.

“Osteoporosis is a disease which is preventable and treatable in the majority of people,” according to Michele O’Brien. She described how good nutrition and healthy eating are important because consuming the daily recommended amounts of calcium, vitamin D, proteins and adequate calories are all part of leading a “bone healthy” lifestyle. However bones also need regular weight bearing exercises to maintain and build strength. “We need to think of exercise more as an opportunity for enjoyment, for revitalization and as a regular part of our health and wellbeing,” said Michele O’Brien.

Put Pride Aside – High Percentage of Falls Can Be Prevented

Michele O’Brien also encouraged everyone to think about measures which can reduce the risks of falling, thereby reducing the risks of bone fractures. “Falls in the elderly are one of the main causes of loss of independence, with the bathroom being the most common fall area in the home,” explained Michele O’Brien.

Inside Out

The Health and Wellbeing evening concluded with a presentation on skincare, “from the inside out,” from Biotherm Area Manager Silvanna Landa and delicious samples of dairy products from Arrabawn Co-op.

Proceeds For CROI

The Health and Wellbeing evening was organised jointly by Arrabawn co-op and the National Dairy Council, so that all proceeds from the evening were donated to CROI. The Irish word for “heart”, Croi is a charity dedicated to reducing the impact of cardiovascular disease on families living in the West of Ireland.

It does this by supporting and developing initiatives across a number of areas of cardiac care, for example in-hospital patient care, heart failure and other specialised clinics, patient care in the community or family support.

Fact Sheets

The National Dairy Council nutritional team has produced fact sheets a Guide to Healthy Eating and a Guide to Weight Loss. These are available free of charge by telephoning 01-616 9726 or download by clicking on the names of the guides above.

A booklet about Osteoporosis is also available free of charge. Download the guide here or for a printed copy, call the Irish Osteoporosis Society at 1890 252 751 or the National Dairy Council on 01-616 9726.