Importance of milk cited

MANILA, Philippines – Calcium and potassium top the list of essential nutrients that milk can supply and which the human body needs, a study undertaken by the National Dairy Authority (NDA) showed.

Attached to the Department of Agriculture and chaired by Secretary Arthur Yap, NDA has been tasked to accelerate the development of the country’s dairy industry through policy direction and program implementation.

“Milk has not been among the priority food items of our countrymen especially in the rural areas. They have overlooked its importance,” NDA Administrator Orkhan Usman told The STAR.

Usman pointed out that for one 200-milliliter (ml) glass of semi-skimmed milk, a person gets 7.2 grams of protein, 247 mg. calcium, 194 mg. phosphorous, potassium, 321 mg., 23 mg. magnesium, 89 mg. sodium, 179 mg. chloride, 62 ug. iodine, 39 ug. vitamin A, 1.9 ug vitamin B12, and 19 ug. folate.

He said that for milk drinkers 11-18 years old, the calcium and phosporos nutrient supply from a glass of milk are enough to provide 25 percent of what the body needs, while the iodine component satisfies 44 percent of the body requirement and the vitamn B12 content provides 127 percent of what the body needs.

He urged Filipinos to take milk as part of a healthy and balanced diet saying that three portions a day is the ideal situation. – Teddy Molina