Osteoporosis Day is an international event held annually in October. It highlights the importance of calcium in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and prevention of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Day champions the important role calcium-rich foods, such as dairy, play in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and prevention of osteoporosis throughout life.
The Consumer Education of Milk SA promotes dairy as an important source of calcium rich foods to help prevent osteoporosis. This nationwide campaign reminds all South-Africans that they need to take care of their bone health for long term well-being.
Consuming enough calcium for building and maintaining bones is critical throughout all stages of life. Dairy is a great source of calcium and when combined with vitamin D and exercise, is all you need every day for keeping bones healthy. A high percentage of children aged 9 – 16 years are not meeting daily calcium requirements.
Research shows that while 52 % of adults believe that three or more portions of dairy is a healthy daily target, only 10 % are actually consuming enough. It is straightforward, just 3-A-DAY™ of dairy provides most people with the recommended daily intake for calcium.
A portion of dairy is equal to:
- 250 ml milk,
- 200 g tub of yoghurt or
- 40 g of cheese.
To help all South Africans learn about having a bone friendly diet during Osteoporosis Week several initiatives are launched. The Consumer Education Project of Milk SA is proud to be an integral part of this initiative on an annual basis.
You can read our 2011 press release “Rediscover Dairy for Bone Health” .
To read more about dairy and bone health go to this section.