Dairy is neither a hero nor a villain
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men’s Health Watch says, “When I was a growing teenager, I drank as much milk as possible (often straight from the carton while standing in front of the open fridge, much to my mother’s chagrin). I’d seen the TV ads — milk and other dairy foods were the express ticket to stronger bones and bigger muscles.
But today dairy’s nutritional reputation is as clear as, well, a glass of milk. Dairy is either good or bad for you depending on the latest diet trend or recent study. So what is the truth — is dairy healthy, or a health risk? “Dairy isn’t necessary in the diet for optimal health, but for many people, it is the easiest way to get the calcium, vitamin D, and protein they need to keep their heart, muscles, and bones healthy and functioning properly,” says Vasanti Malik, nutrition research scientist with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.