THE VALUE OF MILK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3020, 8 April 1926, Page 1

THE VALUE OF MILK.

IMPORTANCE IN DIET.

It is a significant fact that the physically big races of mankind are milk drinkers, while races of lesser stature consume little milk or none at all. For instance, the people of the British Isles, Holland, Scandinavia, Germany and Northern Europe generally, and the United States, are large consumers of milk, and are larger and taller than the people of any other great division of the world.

There is ample evidence to prove clearly that there is a direct connection between milk and large stature. All the other .essential elements of food —meat, fish, grain, vegetable —may be obtainable, but if milk is lacking the frame does not reach it highest development. Large stature is mainly due to bone growth, and calcium is the principal solid element of bone. Dr. Mary Swartz Rose, a distinguished authority on diet, says milk is the food richest in calcium (lime). This authority points out that it is essential for everyone to have a supply of lime, and particularly important that all growing infants, children, and young people have plenty for reconstruction of bones and teeth. There is very little in meat and bread, none in common fats and sugars, and comparatively few common foods can be taken alone and digested in large enough quantities to ensure an adequate supply; whereas a pint of milk (whole, skim, or buttermilk), will guarantee to a grown person a sufficient amount, and a quart a day will provide for the greater needs of growing children. Whatever other foods we have we cannot afford to leave milk out of the diet, because of its lime. Under the most favourable dietary conditions, when the diet is liberal and varied, an adult should have at least half a pint of milk a day, and no child should be expected to thrive with less than a pint.