Health & Nutrition

The U.S. health and wellness market is valued at $480 billion and is growing 5–10% annually, making it clear that consumer preferences are shifting toward health-conscious food choices.1 At the same time, Americans have access to more information on nutrition and health than ever before. That's why your dairy checkoff works to reinforce dairy's role in a healthy lifestyle.

_{1. Callaghan, Shaun et al. "The trends defining the $1.8 trillion global wellness market in 2024." McKinsey & Company, January 16, 2024.}

Conduct research that provides science-based facts about dairy.
Work with trusted leaders to share these findings with consumers.

National Dairy Council: A Century-Long Legacy

Dairy farmers founded National Dairy Council (NDC) in 1915 and have built a century-long legacy committed to providing science-based education about the nutrition and health benefits of dairy foods. NDC has led efforts to show dairy's association with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in addition to other emerging areas of interest, such as dairy’s impact on cognitive health.

NDC’s staff of registered dietitians, nutrition scientists and communication experts work alongside trusted sources like the American Academy of Pediatrics, National Medical Association, School Nutrition Association and many others to deliver practical information about how dairy contributes to health and sustainable food systems.

Mayo Clinic Collaboration

In February 2022, on behalf of the dairy checkoff, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and its affiliated entities, including National Dairy Council, entered a 5-year collaboration with Mayo Clinic with a focus on research, education & outreach, and digital transformation. Through research, we’re working to discover how dairy foods, particularly whole milk dairy, both alone and as part of healthy eating patterns, impact cardiovascular health and metabolic conditions. Research findings and insights will be available to the scientific community, health and wellness professionals, and consumers as studies are published.

"There is so much information available these days. Checkoff plays an important role in education about dairy and how it's important in our day-to-day lives."

-Kelly MacKinnon, Carterly Farm, Inc. (Indiana)

Your Checkoff At Work

80,000+

Healthcare Professionals Reached Through Collaboration With Mayo Clinic In 2023

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New Papers On Dairy's Nutritional Benefits Published By Nutrition Science In 2023

Local Checkoff Spotlight: Oregon Dairy Council

One of the core components of Oregon Dairy Council’s (ODC) nutrition program is its focus on work with Next Gen Health Professionals. With a long-standing partnership with Oregon State University and Oregon Health and Science University, ODC provides both supervised practice rotations and on-the-farm dairy experiences with future Registered Dietitians, or Dietetic Interns. Through their work with Interns, ODC is able to showcase dairy’s role in:

Sustainable, resilient and healthy food and agricultural systems
Essential nutrition throughout the lifespan
The latest research on disease prevention and management
Youth wellness, school nutrition and food access programs

What specific efforts are being made to communicate dairy's health benefits and research findings to consumers?

The dairy checkoff works closely with trusted professional organizations within the health and wellness and nutrition sectors to equip practitioners (pediatricians, dietitians, etc.) with research-based information about dairy's health benefits. These gatekeepers then share these proof points directly with individuals and families to reinforce dairy's overall health benefits.

Could you explain the Mayo Clinic collaboration more and what we are exploring with the work?

The collaboration focuses on research, education & outreach, and digital transformation:

Research to discover how dairy foods, particularly whole milk dairy, both alone and as part of healthy eating patterns, impact cardiovascular health and metabolic conditions.
Education & Outreach to communicate dairy nutrition, health and wellness information, based on the body of evidence, with the scientific community, health and wellness professionals and consumers.
Digital Transformation to explore innovations to communicate dairy’s role in targeted nutrition, health and wellness solutions through digital technologies and platforms.

What new areas is checkoff exploring to show the health and wellness properties of real dairy?

National Dairy Council is advancing research and educational awareness on the dairy matrix, which is a concept that explores the unique nutrient, non-nutrient and molecular compositions of dairy foods. A food matrix is more expansive than traditional nutrition education, demonstrating how food consists of more than its nutrients and contains physical and chemical properties that can deliver previously unknown benefits. For example, there is scientific evidence that the fat in dairy foods behaves differently, resulting in neutral to beneficial links to reducing risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.¹

Additionally, studies show that consumers are increasingly looking for food and beverage solutions to address gut-brain interactions, women's health, mental health, and precision nutrition. NDC has begun to investigate the link between dairy foods and components and these emerging areas of interest.

_{1. Sendra, Esther. "Dairy Fat and Cardiovascular Health." National Institutes of Health, 2020.}

Health & Nutrition

A Cohesive Strategy To Promote Dairy's Nutritional Benefits

National Dairy Council: A Century-Long Legacy

Mayo Clinic Collaboration

"There is so much information available these days. Checkoff plays an important role in education about dairy and how it's important in our day-to-day lives."

Your Checkoff At Work

80,000+

19

Local Checkoff Spotlight: Oregon Dairy Council

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific efforts are being made to communicate dairy's health benefits and research findings to consumers?

Could you explain the Mayo Clinic collaboration more and what we are exploring with the work?

What new areas is checkoff exploring to show the health and wellness properties of real dairy?

Health & Nutrition

A Cohesive Strategy To Promote Dairy's Nutritional Benefits

National Dairy Council: A Century-Long Legacy

Mayo Clinic Collaboration

"There is so much information available these days. Checkoff plays an important role in education about dairy and how it's important in our day-to-day lives."

Your Checkoff At Work

80,000+

19

Local Checkoff Spotlight: Oregon Dairy Council

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific efforts are being made to communicate dairy's health benefits and research findings to consumers?

Could you explain the Mayo Clinic collaboration more and what we are exploring with the work?

What new areas is checkoff exploring to show the health and wellness properties of real dairy?

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