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CAMPAIGN FINANCED WITH AID FROMTHE EUROPEAN UNION, THE NATIONALDAIRY COUNCIL AND THE DEPARTMENTOF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE.

BRYAN CULLENDUBLIN FOOTBALLER

Did you know that milk, yogurt and cheese provide us with many important nutrients, such as calcium and protein? As part of a balanced diet, the Department of Health’s Food Pyramid recommends 3 servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group a day. Between the ages of 9-18 years, this recommendation increases to 5 servings per day due to increased calcium requirements. Low-fat varieties from this food group are also encouraged. And these guidelines aren’t there just for the good of their health - they’re for the good of your health too! Read on to find out the importance of achieving these recommendations as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, and how you can ‘Milk It For All It’s Worth’!

No Bull - Just the Facts

• Examples of one serving from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group include 200ml of milk, 125ml of yogurt or 25g of hard cheese

• Legendary Egyptian beauty Cleopatra is said to have bathed in milk as part of her beauty routine!

Bone health is something which many young people overlook and perhaps even consider it an issue for older people. But make no bones about it – many lifestyle choices made during the younger years can impact your bone health in later life.

Here’s the technical bit about your bones… your bone mass increases until ‘peak bone mass’ is reached which is the highest level of bone mass achieved as a result of normal growth. The age we reach our peak varies (for example, between diff erent parts of the skeleton), but as a general rule the majority of peak mass is reached by our late teens, with the balance achieved in young adulthood.

A healthy, balanced diet is needed for the development and maintenance of a healthy skeleton. Calcium, protein and vitamin D contribute to the normal growth and development of bone in children and the maintenance of our bones. Milk, yogurt and cheese each provide a source of protein and calcium. Although vitamin D is commonly referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, dietary sources of vitamin D are still important and include oily fi sh, eggs and fortifi ed milk.

Regular participation in weight-bearing activities (any activity which puts the full weight of your body on your feet and legs) is also important for bone health. Examples of such activities include running, dancing, tennis, basketball and most team sports.

Don’t Be a Lazy BonesRevise your Bone Biology!

- Just the Facts

• Babies are born with about 25g of calcium in their body, which increases to about 1200g in adulthood

Below is a list of the many nutrients that milk provides, along with how your body can benefit from you ‘milking it’! All those benefits from one source – now that’s moo-sic to my ears!

Milk It For All It’s Worth!

• Normal growth and development

of bone

in children

Calcium • Maintenance of bones and teeth

• Muscle and nerve function

• Normal growth and development

of bone

Protein in children

• Maintenance of bones

• Growth/maintenance of muscle

mass

Iodine • Contributes to the normal growth of children

• Skin health

• Production of thyroid hormone

s and

thyroid function

Vitamin B2 • Energy metabolism

• Skin health

• Maintenance of red blood cell

s

Vitamin B12 • Red blood cell formation

• Energy metabolism

• Function of the immune system

• Reduced-fat options from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group remain an important source of many nutrients

The relationship between dairy foods and body weight is often misunderstood, with many people mistakenly thinking they should avoid or limit their intake from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group when ‘watching their weight’. Here’s the low-down in black and ‘milky’ white: Irish whole milk typically contains just 3.5% fat, semi-skimmed milk contains no more than 1.8% fat and skimmed

milk has no more than 0.5% fat. There are also a wide range of lower-fat yogurt and cheese varieties on our supermarket shelves to choose from.

If you are ‘watching your weight’ or trying to lose weight, it is essential that your diet remains balanced and that your nutrient requirements are still met. By cutting out an entire food group, such as the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ group, the nutritional quality of the diet is very likely to be affected. Remember, dairy can be easily included and enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced diet – even if ‘watching your weight’.

Dairy Myth Buster(not gut buster!)

The National Guidelines on Physical Activity recommend that children and young people (aged 2-18 years) be active at a moderate to vigorous level for at least 60 minutes every day and should include muscle-strengthening, flexibility and bone-strengthening exercises three times per week. Remember to choose activities you enjoy; check out www.getirelandactive.ie for ideas to suit your interests and lifestyle.

Get Kitted Out with a Healthy DietWhether in training to become a competitive athlete or taking part in sports for recreation purposes, a healthy, balanced diet along with sufficient hydration can influence both your performance and enjoyment.

Get Moo-ving!

‘Good nutrition is important for athletes and can really have a

positive effect on performance. An appropriate nutritional strategy

should provide enough energy to sustain training and game demands,

and aid the recovery process between sessions. Small changes in what

we eat around training and competition can make a big difference,

allowing athletes to train and play at their best’.

Dublin Footballer, Bryan Cullen, says

Food Fuel to Fight Fatigue Carbohydrates are essential energy providers for sport and are stored in the muscle as ‘glycogen’. However, as glycogen is used up, fatigue can set in, aff ecting performance and stamina. Examples of carbohydrate-based foods include bread, pasta, rice and potatoes. Sports people should ensure these foods are a key feature of their diet. Specifi c carbohydrate requirements will depend on a number of factors such as the amount, intensity and duration of training/competition, as well as body size and daily non-sport activities.

Other nutrient requirements such as protein, vitamins and minerals should also be met as part of a ‘sport-friendly’ diet. Consuming a varied, balanced diet will help to ensure this. Some people may need to pay particular attention to their intake of certain nutrients; for example, iron intake among female athletes and calcium intake among teenage athletes. Red meat, pulses, green leafy vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals can contribute to iron intakes, whilst the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group provides a source of calcium.

Include a meal plan in your game plan

Meals or snacks consumed before participating in sport should be carbohydrate-based, and ensure sufficient time for digestion to avoid feelings of discomfort during the session. Consuming a carbohydrate-based meal which contains some protein and only a little fat is often advised 2-3 hours before the start of a sports or training session – examples include rice and pasta dishes with a tomato-based sauce and a small serving of lean meat. For a pre-performance snack, leave 30-60 minutes before playing sport; rice cakes, fresh/dried fruit, milkshake/smoothie or a yogurt are ideal.

Hydration is also essential. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to ensure you are adequately hydrated when you start your sports session.

Carbohydrate intake may also be useful during intense exercise lasting longer than one hour, or events with intermittent performances such as tournaments. During sports, consuming carbohydrates via fluids is usually more practical.

In general, if exercising or playing sport for more than about 30 minutes it is important to drink some fluids. Water is sufficient for sessions up to about 50-60 minutes, but for longer sessions appropriate sports drinks may be needed. Discuss the appropriate use of sports drinks with your coach and a sports nutritionist to avoid unnecessary over-consumption of drinks containing added sugar.

Before Sport:

During Sport:

The body replenishes carbohydrate stores (glycogen) at a faster rate immediately after exercise. Therefore, eating carbohydrate-based foods, which also contains some protein, as soon as possible after exercise or training is advised. It is not always practically possible to eat a meal directly after your sports session, so some convenient options include: a low-fat milkshake, a sandwich with chicken/tuna/cheese filling, or a fresh fruit and yogurt smoothie.

All fluid lost during exercise must also be replaced, remembering to take into account continuing sweat and fluid losses during the recovery period. Sweat rates vary between individuals and, therefore, training sessions should be used to develop a personalised fluid strategy, ideally with the assistance of a sports nutritionist.

If training or sports sessions are scheduled close together, it is important to choose foods and fluids to help your body recover, so that you are refuelled and ready for your next performance.

After Sport:

Dairy foods are very versatile and can be easily used in cooking or baking – or simply enjoyed as part of breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a nutritious snack. Therefore, achieving your recommended servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group every day is at least one challenge that’s already ‘in the bag’! Check out some ‘Dairy Delights’ on the next page to help you on your way. No excuses, go on –

Dairy -In a League of its Own!

• Milk, yogurt and cheese provide a source of calcium, which is needed for the maintenance of our teeth. So, you can have a winning smile when you’re part of the winning team – Result!

‘Milk It For All It’s Worth’

Dairy -In a League of its Own!

Dairy Delights

• A refreshing glass of milk • Cheese sandwich

• Cheese and crackers • Yogurt/Yogurt drink

• Smoothie • Breakfast cereal with milk

• Latte/Cappuccino • Cheesy pasta bake

• Homemade lasagne/Pizza • Milky hot chocolate treat

MW: Teen 10/12

The National Dairy Council Innovation House, 3 Arkle Road

Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18Tel: +353 (0) 1 290 2451Fax: +353 (0) 1 290 2452

Email: info@ndc.ie

www.ndc.ie

For more information on how you can ‘Milk It For All It’s Worth’,

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