In today’s health-conscious world, consumers are increasingly seeking foods that offer tangible benefits across various wellness areas. From energy and physical performance to digestive health and cognitive function, people want to make informed food choices that enhance their well-being.

The good news is: Dairy foods are well positioned to be a modern health solution, thanks to decades of checkoff-funded research that has been led by National Dairy Council (NDC).

Our science-based legacy gives NDC a significant opportunity to address these demands through a new keynote presentation strategy with prominent women’s professional associations and networking groups. The presentations are designed to educate and empower women about the benefits of dairy foods they may not be aware of.

We chose to tailor our presentations toward women because we are seeing a resurgence of interest on women’s health and wellness. We also understand there are a lot of misperceptions about food and health, and some of that confusion is about dairy. It really is an ideal time to bring forth the science and the application of making milk, cheese, yogurt and even kefir an everyday part of the diet. It is about empowering and inspiring women and arming them with actionable, science-backed expert tips that can improve their wellness journey.

NDC’s commitment to these wellness territories is not only beneficial for women but presents a significant opportunity for the dairy sector. Research indicates the wellness territories highlighted in the presentations represent nearly $150 billion in marketplace potential. And anytime dairy can contribute to improving the health of Americans and benefit farmers and the dairy community, that is a win-win we can be proud of.

Advertisement

The presentations include:

  • Women’s Wellness: A Modern Era of Science and Sensibility
  • Empowering Moms: A Guide to Starting Every Child on a Pathway to Lifelong Wellness

Some areas of focus that we will address include:

  • Nurturing cognitive development in early childhood. Expecting mothers want to do all they can to help their child’s brain health and cognition. There is no more critical time than the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life – encompassing pregnancy through the child’s second birthday. During this time, a baby’s brain grows from about 10,000 brain cells in the first month of pregnancy to a staggering 10 billion by the sixth month. Nutrition is a key driver of this incredible development, and dairy foods can significantly impact a child’s cognitive development and overall success in life thanks to nutrients including iodine and choline.
  • Dairy’s role in promoting heart health. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, but women more so. Dairy can contribute to a heart-healthy diet by providing essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, vitamin B-12 and high-quality protein that support cardiovascular function. By showcasing dairy’s role in reducing cardiovascular risk, we can help women make informed dietary choices.
  • Managing type 2 diabetes with dairy. Dairy foods as part of a balanced diet also can help reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, another prevalent diet-related disease. There are 38 million American adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and another 100 million with pre-diabetes. It also is one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases among children.
  • Supporting digestive health and overall wellness. We will address “systems supercharge” wellness spaces, focusing on digestive health and how the gut microbiome functions differently for women than it does for men. Dairy foods can provide benefits to improving gut function and balancing the microbiome. Dairy’s contributions to energy, bone health, and physical and athletic performance are other wellness benefits that will be showcased.
  • Dairy and weight management. Finally, weight management continues to grow in interest, and we are seeing medications for weight management growing. Yet, checkoff-funded science and the broader body of research indicate there are food-first options that show dairy’s high-quality protein can help women with their weight goals.

We have been busy scheduling high-visibility opportunities for these presentations throughout the upcoming year. Dietitian conferences and medical associations are important venues, but there also is value in reaching beyond traditional health settings. Engaging with women’s business and executive networks, retail companies and other leading organizations – including those across agriculture – can amplify the message with new audiences.

These presentations would not be complete without talking about the foresight, commitment and investment dairy farmers and importers have made to research and discovering the many health benefits of dairy foods and educating the public about them for more than a century.

NDC’s current focus on wellness builds on this legacy and continues to grow our credibility. Combining historical insights with contemporary science will demonstrate dairy foods have been – and continue to be – a solution to better health.

This article was written by Dr. Katie Brown, president of NDC. If you would like to explore bringing a presentation to your meeting, Brown can be reached by email. To learn more about your national dairy checkoff, visit our website or to reach us directly, send an email.