Mims Davies MP celebrates World School Milk Day today!
World School Milk Day (WSMD) 2024 is today!
Child health in the UK is deteriorating and child poverty is on the rise.
Currently, ¼ of all five-year-olds are affected by tooth decay, which is the most common reason children aged between 6 and 10 are admitted to hospital. Milk is very healthy for growing children and its high calcium content means it is crucial for good oral health and preventing tooth decay.
Milk has also been proven to be best served mid-morning, it provides a nutritional boost and keeps children satiated and hydrated between breakfast and lunch, helping them concentrate and learn.
This is crucial in light of the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on exacerbating food insecurity, poverty, and inequality across the UK. It has also been proven to help tackle obesity by making children less likely to drink unhealthy alternatives like fizzy drinks.
5 Benefits of Drinking Milk:
1. Milk is rich in calcium:
- It keeps bones and teeth healthy and strong and prevents bone loss.
- It helps prevent childhood obesity.
- The recommended amount of daily calcium helps blood clotting
- Calcium is also important for the functioning of the brain and nervous system.
- It helps release hormones from your kid’s body.
- It helps to keep your child’s muscles strong kid’s muscles (1).
2. Vitamin D in fortified milk:
Vitamin D helps your kid’s body absorb calcium from various sources.
- Fortified milk contains ample amounts of Vitamin D.
- It helps promote bone growth in your child
- Vitamin D can help to reduce inflammation. It helps boost your kid’s immune system.
- Vitamin D deficiencies can escalate to various conditions like osteoporosis in later years or rickets during childhood (2).
3. Healthy teeth:
Milk is rich in calcium and phosphorus, which are crucial to children’s s dental health and tooth development.
- Calcium and phosphorus together help to maintain the health of your kid’s teeth.
- One of the most important proteins found in milk is casein. It helps to form a thin film on your kid’s teeth’s enamel surface and helps to prevent the loss of calcium and phosphate.
- Many dentists will recommend your kid should drink only milk in between meals, in addition to water. It is because drinking milk does not cause tooth decay.
4. Good for blood pressure levels:
Drinking milk can help your kid’s blood pressure levels stay in check.
- According to studies, your kids should consume at least three servings of dairy each day along with a healthy and balanced diet (3).
- Consuming milk along with a low salt diet keeps your kid’s blood pressure levels in check (4).
5. Helps stay hydrated:
Your kid should drink lots of fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated.
- Drinking milk is a great way for your kid to stay hydrated.
- It is especially important for your kid to rehydrate after a strenuous workout or any stressful physical activity.
Mims Davies MP said:
“Today is World School Milk Day 2024!
I'd like to share my support for the @SchoolMilkAll mission, it is vital as many children as possible have access to nutritious milk at School to support their growth and development, especially as tooth decay effects one in four children #WorldSchoolMilkDay2024
There are so many benefits for children when drinking milk - including the essential nutrients present in milk, which helps in improving children's health conditions naturally including calcium, protein, phosphorous, potassium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin B2 and niacin."
