The nutritional value of milk

Milk: a major source of dietary nutrients

Every calorie of milk, by nature, contains many essential nutrients. Which makes milk extremely nutritious. Scientists have discovered more than 400 components in milk that are important for the energy provision, growth, development, protection and maintenance of the human body. Two to three portions of dairy per day provide important nutrients such as protein, fats, lactose, vitamins and minerals.

Nutrients
Every nutrient plays its own specific role in metabolism/nutrition.
Proteins deliver energy and are vital for building and maintaining tissues such as muscles, transporting substances and oxygen in the blood, and the formation of antibodies and bones.
Fat delivers energy, ensures isolation in the skin and plays a role in hormone production. Milk fat also contains soluble vitamins A and D.
Other important water-soluble vitamins in milk are B1 (for carbohydrate and energy combustion, B2 (for energy metabolism and a healthy skin) B6 (necessary for the nervous system, the formation of red blood cells and the immune system), B11 (folic acid) is necessary for the immune system and the production of blood and B12 (needed for the formation of red blood cells, the immune system, cell division and energy metabolism).
When it comes to the minerals: calcium plays a major role in building bones and teeth, muscle function, digestion, energy metabolism and blood clotting; Phosphorous is necessary for bones and teeth, cell membranes and energy metabolism; Zink plays an important role in the immune system, a maintains bones, sight and the brain and is involved in the memory function.
Lactose provides ‘slow-release’ energy.
This is how milk provides a good balance between nutrition and energy for all ages.
What’s more, drinking milk is a good way to take in sufficient fluid, since milk consists largely of water. 

Milk for all ages
Milk’s role for the human body can differ in each phase of life. This also depends on people’s living conditions and the composition of their overall diet. For children, milk is a suitable drink because they are still growing. Milk contains many of the building blocks and energy to stimulate their growth.

Many people can eat and drink milk without any problem. Some, however, are milk-intolerant. They suffer from lactose intolerance (their bodies cannot break down milk sugar or ‘lactose’) or are oversensitive to the protein in milk.