MILK IS FINE ALL-ROUNDER IN THE DAILY DIET

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 15, 3 November 1948, Page 7

MILK IS FINE ALL-ROUNDER IN THE DAILY DIET

(By the Department of Health)

Among European peoples milk has come to be regarded as a prime necessity for abundant health of men, women and children of all ages. It is Nature's food for the growing mammal and will support enormous growth for differing periods of time, depending upon the physiology of the mammal. Milk is our richest convenient source of the bone and tooth building elements, calcium and phosphorus. It is a very valuable source of three of the chief vitamins, A, Bl and 82, as well as being a small source for two others: vitamins C and D. Protein is found in generous quantity in milk, for building and repairing muscular tissue. In the form of cream and lactose respectively it is an important source of easily digested fat and 'carbohydrates. One of the great advantages is that it requires little, if any, preparation, is plentiful and comparatively cheap. Milk is a fine all* rounder in our diet. Milk has one disadvantage. As well as being a good food for humans, it is excellent food for bacteria, some of them harmful. Pasteurisation can safeguard us from most of the danger from bacteria. Home pasteurisation is .lone by scalding the milk, then editing it rapidly. Estimated human requireme rts for milk are: Children from weantwo years, 1 1-3 pints daily. All other children, including adolescents, If pints daily. Pregnant and nursing women 1|« to 2 pints. Other adults 1 to li pints a day. All this milk need not be ta'ven as a beverage. It may be divided among milk puddings, milk sauce, or milk on cereals and puddings. However, for children the beverage at all meals can be milk or a milky drink such as cocoa. Adults should have at least one glass of plain or flavoured milk each day*.