Consumers and the struggle for active lifestyle

 In the recent time, there have been some myths associated with drinking milk as Nigerians struggle for active lifestyle. But nutrition experts maintain that consumption of milk brands with low cholesterol and free from fat complements healthy lifestyle as it gives much needed vitamins. Daniel Obi writes.

Discussions about healthy eating or active lifestyle among consumers have not been as heightened as it is today globally. This is simply and partly due to the increasing side effects of unhealthy eating coupled with lack of physical activity to overall health and well-being to keep life running normally. Again, there has been emergence, in large scale, of strange illness which could have been in existence prior to this time but in minute cases.

According to experts, it is true that “unhealthy eating is responsible for a plethora of health problems that plague today’s society. An unhealthy diet is a major risk factor for obesity, nutritional deficiencies and several chronic diseases” but scientists would advice for certain foods to be taken in moderation but strongly advice for regular physical exercises to keep the body fit and vigorous.

But more of a concern and risk today is where almost everybody has become a health expert, prescribing what is good or bad for healthy living, thereby putting many people in further health hazard instead. For instance, drinking milk has not been a conundrum or raised questions on health issues until lately. What many people ever know are the positive sides of milk consumption such as protein and calcium and more minerals as our forefathers drank milk in their childhood, teens, 20s to 70s and 80s without qualms.

Though the forefathers embarked on regular physical activities mainly trekking and riding bicycles without knowing the positive effects of the unconscious exercises.

Throughout history, milk has commonly been regarded as a vital part of a balanced diet. Popular sayings and slogans have it that for drinking milk “it does the body good”. Milk drinking could be traced back to thousands of years and it is surprising that its supposed negative effects such as calcium loss, weight gain, increased cancer risk and  fracture risk associated with it today are just coming up in last few years.

Today, analysts who are raising questions about milk drinking have even deepened confusion among consumers who have ever believed in milk health benefits. The market analysts have instead turned the age-long belief of positive effects of drinking milk to negative.

Milk generally has more positive impact than negative effects on people’s health according to experts as it is known for strong bones and growth. But recently, there have been associated myths about drinking milk including that milk drinking causes risk fracture as against popular held view. The myth also has it that milk drinking increases the calcium loss in the body.

Vivian Goldschmidt arguing in Save institute website quotes a nutritionist in Washington as saying that “The countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk and have the most calcium in their diets. The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost nonexistent.”

Writing in Drhyam.com, Mark Hyman, said  scientists found no data to support the claim that the consumption of dairy leads to better bones, weight loss, or improved health.  They also found some serious risks tied to dairy consumption, including weight gain, increased cancer risk, and increased fracture risk.  It turns out milk does not build strong bones! They also found that dairy may cause other problems like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, gas, diarrhea, allergies, eczema, and acne.

He acknowledged that while it is true that some people can tolerate dairy in small amounts and people who don’t have allergies, lactose intolerance, or a leaky gut—it should not be a staple of our diet.

Debunking certain myths about milk drinking, Connie M. Weaver, PhD, who directs the nutrition department at Purdue University was quoted by webmd.com that “Milk contains a big package of nutrients that are especially important to bone health. People who drink milk don’t tend to be deficient in them. So it makes good sense to encourage people to consume dairy products.”

The same report had said that United States Department for Agriculture had recommended regular taking of milk because it is the prime source of nutrients: calcium, potassium and Vitamin D.

“Milk is also a good source of potassium — another compelling reason the USDA committee increased the recommended servings from two to three in 2005”, according to Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, who served on the committee.

Milk, according to experts can come from many different species. But cow’s milk is popularly consumed in Africa.  Even the cow’s milk experts say, comes in many varieties including flavored, lactose-free, organic and reduced fat milk and some of these are canned in Nigeria.

Magan Ware who shared some thought on milk in Nutrition Diet website, said whether milk is actually a healthy choice depends on the individual and type of milk being consumed. According to him milk is high in protein, low in added sugar and free of unnecessary additives, but there are also flavored milks that have much sugar.

On healthy living, Bimbo  Coker who spoke on lifestyle symposium organized last year by Nigerian Breweries said “We all know the basic classes of food; these are carbohydrates, protein, fats and oil. Very important also are the micro nutrients comprising of vitamins and minerals. Water and fibre are also of great essence. When we talk of balanced diet, it simply means that your choices are from different classes of food within the recommended daily intake. It is  a guide to healthy feeding.

“I do not believe that there are no good foods and there are no bad foods. Every food has its own nutrients and beneficial limits. For good nutrition, eat a variety of food in moderation”

Writing in Healthline.com, various experts argue against the myths with strong belief that milk offers nutrients that are good for the body. Toby Amidor, Ambassador of the National Dairy Council, US argues that “Absolutely! Milk is a nutrient-packed food providing nine essential nutrients in every glass, including calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. These are three of four nutrients that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report identified as under-consumed nutrients. There aren’t many other single foods that come close to the nutrients you get from one cup of milk”.

Susan Duncan,  Vice President of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and professor of food science and technology at Virginia Tech further posits that “Milk is rich in many nutrients essential for life and well-being. Milk that’s 2 percent fat or less is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, delivering 20 percent or more of each nutrient per 8-ounce serving. Through our mid-20s, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are necessary to build strong and dense bone structure and essential for many other biological functions. We need these nutrients daily through adulthood. If these nutrients are not available from dietary sources, calcium and phosphorus are withdrawn from our bones. Can too much calcium be detrimental to bone health? In excess, calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D may disrupt biochemical processes. But milk contains nutrients that are necessary for bone health, maintaining heart health, and reducing the risk of cancer.”

The nutritional value of milk is so well known that people all around the world include it as a staple part of their diet. Adding milk to your daily diet can also help you to achieve a well-balanced diet, experts believe.

Nutrition experts maintain that the health benefits of milk include increased bone strength, smoother skin, stronger immune system, prevention of illnesses such as hypertension, dental decay, dehydration, respiratory problems.

A Consultant and advocate of healthy living, fitness and lifestyle,  Bisi Abiola, recently said that adequate intake of milk fortifies the human body against diseases and supplies essential nutritional requirement for healthy living. The nutrition expert described milk as a wholesome food that is highly rich in calcium, Potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, Zinc, protein, iodine, phosphorus and vitamins B2 and B12,” adding that milk, “is nature’s wellness gift to mankind.”

 Abiola refuted the popular misgiving by adults that milk is meant for children because it helps in their formative years. She said: “Milk is well known to guarantee a balanced diet and is healthier than carbonated drinks hence the need for its regular intake.” She stated that some milk brands in the Nigerian market are highly beneficial to children and adults alike.

For milk consumption, according to experts, what is important is identifying milk brands in the market that have less facts, low cholesterol that can give energy, calcium and vitamins and can encourage active lifestyle.