Glass of milk for every kid Poland 2007

To co whasnie postulowalem mleko dla mlodziezy szkolnej.

Glass of milk for every kid Poland 2007
02.09.2007
Beginning with the new school year, every child from kindergarten to junior high school will be entitled to a free glass of milk every day.

The initiative is paid for from the Polish budget and European Union funds. The 'glass of milk' program was first introduced in the European Union in 1980s to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Milk is a rich source of calcium and contains other valuable elements, vitamins and protein. According to available research, children who drink milk have stronger bones and less problems with weight, stress the campaign organizers.

The 'glass of milk' program has been in operation in Poland for 3 years now. About 132 glasses of milk have been drunk and the interest in the initiative is growing.

School kids can choose if they prefer plain of flavored milk, yoghurt or cheese. So far, parents had to participate in the costs depending on the product chosen. Beginning with this year, plain milk will be free for everyone and other products will be much cheaper than in the previous years.
Milk and Other Calcium-Rich Foods
Calcium builds strong bones to last a lifetime, so you need these foods in your diet.

* 4- to 8-year-olds need 1-2 cups of milk (or another calcium-rich food) each day.
* 9- to 13-year-old girls need 3 cups of milk (or another calcium-rich food) each day.
* 9- to 13-year-old boys need 3 cups of milk (or another calcium-rich food) each day.

If you want something other than milk, you can substitute yogurt, cheese, or calcium-fortified orange juice - just to name a few.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, children and adults should drink 24 oz. of milk each day. Teens should drink even more — at least 32 oz. of milk a day.
Further, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), give Americans a blueprint for good nutrition, including guidelines on including milk and milk products in a healthy diet. Additionally, USDA replaced the traditional Food Guide Pyramid with the new "MyPyramid" symbol and interactive food guidance system, which allows consumers to individualize their dietary recommendations. For more information, visit http://www.mypyramid.gov/.


Why milk?
We all know that the calcium in milk helps build strong bones, but milk is loaded with eight other essential vitamins and minerals.
Calcium: Helps build and maintain strong bones. It's also vital for nerve function, muscle contraction, and blood clotting.
Protein: Important for a number of bodily functions — vital to brain development and the growth of body tissues.
Vitamin A: Maintains normal vision and skin. Helps regulate cell growth and integrity of the immune system.
Vitamin B-12: Essential for the growth and health of the nervous system. Linked to normal activity of folic acid and is involved in blood formation.
Vitamin D: Promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and influences bone mineralization, the strengthening of bones.
Potassium: Regulates the body's fluid balance and blood pressure. It also is needed for muscle activity and contractions.
Phosphorus: Helps generate energy in the body's cells and influences bone mineralization, the strengthening of bones.
Niacin: Keeps enzymes functioning normally and helps the body process sugars and fatty acids. It is also important for the development of the nervous system.
Riboflavin: Helps produce energy in the body's cells and plays a vital role in the development of the nervous system.

Milk and its Role in Weight Loss
Can Milk Help Me Lose Weight?
Studies suggest that including 24 oz. of fat free or lowfat milk every 24 hours as part of a reduced-calorie diet may help people lose more weight and burn more fat than cutting calories alone.

For a list of scientific studies that support the connection between milk and weight loss, click here.

To download a colorful one-page sheet that summarizes the key medical research showing the milk and weight-loss connection, click here.

For more information on the 24/24 Milk Your Diet. Lose Weight! program, visit www.2424milk.com.

How does milk stack up?
See how various beverages compare to milk for calories, total fat, carbs, sugars and nutrients, and you’ll learn why milk is a superior beverage choice.



You can download our "Think Your Drink" comparative chart. Click here.


Just for Kids
School Milk Benefits Kids' Overall Nutrition
School vending is a very important way to deliver milk and calcium to kids and teens.
Studies demonstrate that when children drink milk at lunch, they have a higher intake of several critical nutrients, including calcium, zinc and vitamin A. In one study, only those children drinking milk at lunch were able to meet their daily calcium requirement.
Johnson, R.K. et al. Journal of Child Nutrition and Management. 1998; 2:95.


Flavored Milk Drinkers More Likely to Meet Calcium Requirements
A study out of the University of Vermont found that children who drank flavored milk were more likely to meet their daily calcium requirements compared to their peers. The flavored milk drinkers consumed more calcium, without increasing their total added sugar or fat intake. Children and teens who drank flavored milk consumed more milk overall.
Johnson, R.K. et al. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2002; 102:853-56.

Flavored Milk Packs Same Nutrients as White Milk
Like all milk, flavored milk is a rich source of calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, phosphorus, riboflavin, potassium and niacin. Milk's nutrients, especially calcium, are necessary for developing strong bones and teeth. Each 8-oz. serving of milk — white or flavored — provides 300 mg of calcium, about one-third to one-fourth of the daily calcium requirement for children.

Milk Helps Athletes Refuel
Researchers at Indiana University found that drinking chocolate milk is one of the best things an athlete can do to recover from an intense workout. In fact chocolate milk was twice as effective as a commercial sports drink. The researchers say it's the unique combination of carbohydrates and protein in chocolate milk (as opposed to white milk) that makes it ideal for exhausted muscles.
Karp, JR et al. The efficacy of chocolate milk as a recovery aid. American College of Sports Medicine (abstract), 2004.
Drinking Raw Milk Cuts Asthma Risk
Reuters Health May 30, 2007


Drinking non-pasteurized milk has health benefits. (Photos.com)

NEW YORK—Consumption of raw milk appears to reduce the risk of asthma and allergy, according to findings from a European study.

"All the children drinking unpasteurized farm milk and eating other farm-related dairy products showed the same level of protection against asthma and allergies, regardless of whether they were living on a farm or not," lead author Dr. Marco Waser, from the University of Basel in Switzerland, said in a statement. The benefits were greatest when consumption of raw milk began during the first year of life, he added.

The findings, which appear in the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy, are based on a study of 14,893 children, between 5 and 13 years of age, who were drawn from farm, rural, and suburban communities across Europe. Food consumption was determined through parental questionnaires.

Farm milk consumption was tied to reduced risks of asthma and allergy. As noted, these benefits were apparent regardless of the child's area of residence.

Further studies are needed to identify the properties of farm milk that confer protection against asthma and allergy, Waser said.

Source: Clinical and Experimental Allergy, May 2007