Have a Heart, Drink Some Milk!

(While you’re at it, eat some cheese and yogurt too.)

You’re probably aware that milk is good for your bones and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. You may even be aware that the protein present in milk is good for your muscles. But did you know that milk—along with other dairy products—may be good for your heart too?

That’s right!

And since February is Heart Month, now is a great time to talk about it.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number-one cause of death globally, yet there are steps we can all take to reduce the risk of CVD. One of those steps may be the consumption of certain dairy products.

Why dairy?

According to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, just one glass of low-fat or fat-free milk could help protect your heart. They found that adults who had at least one serving of low-fat milk or milk products each day had lowered their odds of poor kidney function linked to heart disease by 37% compared to those who drank little or no low-fat milk.

Another study, this time from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, showed that people who consumed more low-fat dairy products such as fat-free and low-fat milk exhibited lower blood pressure, a major factor in CVD, heart attack and even stroke.

The blood pressure/milk connection has been found in other studies, too. In fact, Dairy Research Insights recently reported results from an 11-year study that found that a moderately higher intake of dairy calcium was associated with a 30% lower risk of heart attack. Findings such as these are why milk and other dairy products are important components of the DASH eating plan (DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).

So what do we conclude from all this?

Well, we’ve known for a long time that ‘milk does a body good.’ But we now think that it does so in some very important ways, including and specifically the promotion of heart health.

The bottom line is, when you combine the consumption of certain dairy products with a fruit-and-vegetable-rich diet and regular exercise (come on, you knew that was coming!), there’s a good chance you could be on your way to better heart health.

As we mentioned earlier, February is Heart Month and a great time to get on a heart-health nutritional plan. So the next time you’re at the grocery store, have a heart and pick up some Hiland Dairy Milk, Yogurt or Cheese. Your body will thank you.

And don’t forget, Hiland Dairy Milk contains NO artificial growth hormones and is rigorously tested for antibiotics. It’s delicious, nutritious and pure—fresh from our farms to your fridge!