Do adults need dairy in their diet?

There is some speculation that milk is not needed in the diet after weaning, as nutrients become available from other foods. This speculation is partly supported by the fact that after weaning, some people have a reduced ability to digest lactose, the carbohydrate component of milk.

However, milk is recognised as a nutritious food and many populations have actually genetically evolved so that they continue to digest lactose and benefit from milk’s nutrients throughout life. In addition, dairy products are a component of the Department of Health’s Healthy Eating Guidelines, with 3 servings from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food group recommended each day. Dairy products are well recognised as a source of calcium.

Extra Information:

The genetic trait that enables people to digest lactose, known as lactase persistence, is recognised as an ‘evolutionary advantage’, that arose in populations that farmed dairy animals. The consumption of milk provided an advantage in nutritional acquisition as dairy foods provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Lactase persistence is quite high in Ireland, at about 95-96 % of the population (this means that lactose intolerance is only 4-5 % in Ireland).