June is Dairy month and the St. Louis District Dairy Council is taking the opportunity to dispel some myths about dairy.
Registered dietician Erin McGraw talked with WSIU about some of the persistent misunderstandings people have about milk and other dairy products.
1. Chocolate milk has too much sugar.
"Kids who drink chocolate milk don't get any more sugar in their diet. It only accounts for about 4% of the sugar in their diet," McGraw said. "And milk has such great nutrition. Chocolate milk has the exact same nutrients as white milk."
2. Milk isn't as important as kids get older.
"You lay down the majority of your bone mass by the time you're in your late teens or early 20s," she said. "That's a really important time to have the bone mass for your life."
McGraw said that even if you're over 20, milk still contains important nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and phosphorus. She recommended that everyone get three servings a day.
3. Lactose intolerance neans giving up dairy.
"Lactose intolerance does not mean you cannot enjoy the nutrition benefits of dairy food," McGraw said.
People with lactose intolerance may be able to tolerate other dairy foods like cheese and yogurt more easily. Lactose-free milk is also an option.
4. Milk can be replaced by dairy alternatives like soy, almond, or coconut milk.
"The nutrition doesn't match up to dairy," McGraw said.
Milk alternatives are fortified wiht additional nutrients but don't have the same nutritional content as dairy milk.
5. The nutrients in dairy can be replaced by supplements.
"Whenever a nutrient is naturally occuring in a food you do absorb and use it so much better than in a supplement," McGraw said.
She also noted that dairy products are a much tastier and enjoyable way to get nutrients than taking a pill.
The dairy council is answering questions and busting other myths on their Facebook page and website.
