The move away from traditional dairy products risks leaving millions without enough calcium and could affect consumer’s bone health in later life, a UK charity has warned.
A survey from the National Osteoporosis Society found that nearly a fifth of consumers aged under 25 had sought to reduce the amount of dairy in their diets. It adds to recent research from the Food Standards Agency, which discovered almost a fifth of 16 to 24-year-olds claimed to be intolerant to cow’s milk and dairy products, despite less than a quarter of those having had their intolerance diagnosed by a doctor.
A fall in consumption of dairy milks and a move away from dairy yogurt and cheese could leave consumers more vulnerable to breaks and fractures, the charity said.
Prof Susan Lanham-New, head of nutritional sciences at the University of Surrey and a clinical advisor to the National Osteoporosis Society, told the BBC’s Today programme that she was concerned that young consumers were being influenced to avoid dairy without replacing the important nutrients in their diet.
Prof Lanham-New said: “I think the survey that the National Osteoporosis Society has done very much backs up the findings of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which is a government-run survey, that looks at diets in which it showed that almost 20% of young girls have calcium intakes well below 400mg per day, which is a very low intake of calcium.”
Analysis: Why are consumers turning away from dairy?
This warning from the National Osteoporosis Society is very clear that younger consumers are most at risk of jeopardising their bone health later in life. The move away from dairy products has been motivated by the rise in popularity, and availability, of alternative milks like almond milk and coconut milk. It’s also possible that social media influencers have had a part to play, with the society warning that young consumers are prone to latching on to unhealthy dietary fads. Health expert Liz Earle, who is leading a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of fad diets, said that there was less pressure around food in previous generations. “When I was growing up, my meals weren’t photographed and shared on social media,” she said. “The pressure young women are under to match what their idols on Instagram are eating is really high.”
In the case of dairy, the consequences are significant too. A lack of calcium in earlier life risks consumers becoming more prone to breaks and fractures, with Prof Lanham-New warning that it could become just a way of life. As well as calcium, a glass of milk also offers a good source of protein, potassium, magnesium and vitamin B12, which could help to fight against the onset of dementia.
Prof Lanham-New continued: “Diet in early adulthood is so important because by the time we get into our late 20s it is too late to reverse the damage caused by poor diet and nutrient deficiencies and the opportunity to build strong bones has passed.
“Without urgent action being taken to encourage young adults to incorporate all food groups into their diets and avoid particular ‘clean eating’ regimes, we are facing a future where broken bones will become just the ‘norm’.
“We know that osteoporosis is a painful and debilitating condition and young adults have just one chance to build strong bones and reduce their risk of developing severe problems in later life.”
A spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation pointed out that it wasn’t the lack of dairy that led to poor bone health, but rather a failure to replace it with alternative sources of calcium like leafy vegetables and fish with edible bones.
“While it’s not necessarily dangerous to cut out dairy from your diet it’s important to ensure you get enough calcium from other sources,” they said. “Dairy tends to make the biggest contribution to our calcium intakes and so this needs to be replaced by other sources such as bread, cereal, canned fish, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables as well as choosing dairy alternatives that are fortified with calcium.”
Rick Miller, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association and nutrition manager for The a2 Milk Company, said: “There is a frightening level of misunderstanding around dairy with celebrity-led ‘clean eating’ diets and food avoidance fads rising in popularity, and as a result our teenagers are potentially facing a future health crisis.
“Milk alternatives and plant-based drinks such as soya, almond, oat and rice milks are not naturally rich in nutrients and have to be fortified with artificial vitamins, minerals and proteins which are often less well-absorbed than those naturally found in cows’ milk.”
In A2 milk, the A2 beta-casein protein is isolated and the A1 protein, which sometimes leads to a bad reaction from consumers, is removed.
“Real cows’ milk really is the solution,” Miller continued. “It is incredibly nutritious and a vital source of calcium – just a single glass of it delivers over a third of our calcium needs, our complete vitamin B12 needs and is an easily absorbed protein source. For those who struggle with regular dairy, they may benefit from a switch to natural cows’ milk that contains only the A2 protein. It has all the nutritional advantages and has found to be a solution for those that have problems digesting regular milk.”
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