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Parents naturally want the best for their kids, including healthy growth and development.
Good nutrition is a big part of this.
But with so many choices at the grocery store, it can be difficult to know what to buy. The good news is, feeding your child well doesn’t have to be complicated. A balanced diet with foods from all five food groups, including dairy, can give your child all the nutrients they need.
Still, nearly 6 in 10 parents of kids ages 3 and under are worried that their children aren’t hitting developmental milestones.
The foods we eat can play an important role in healthy development. Dairy products, like milk, cheese and yogurt, are packed with nutrients that can support your child’s growth and brain development.
To learn more...
about how the nutrients in dairy products are a key to unlocking brain development in children, visit usdairy.com today for resources and more information.
STORY FROM
Dairy may have the keys
to unlocking children’s brain development
By: Melissa Karns, for Undeniably Dairy
That’s why good nutrition is so important in early childhood.
VISIT USDAIRY.COM
In fact, a brain-boosting food might already be in your fridge.
The importance of dairy
FIRST 1,000 DAYS
90% of a child’s brain development occurs during early childhood. Scientists emphasize that the first 1,000 days of life (from conception until a child turns 2) is a period when the brain develops faster than at any other time.
Proper nutrition during this
window is vital.
Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, an endocrinologist and epidemiologist specializing in thyroid disorders at Boston Medical Center, also directs the Endocrine Fellowship Program. She has researched the importance of nutrition during the first 1,000 days.
This is a time when the brain is developing faster than it will at any other period during life. “The brain is building the initial scaffolding, developing all the cells, developing all the connections that allow the central nervous system to work and that has to happen in a very programmed way,” Pearce explained. “We rely on scaffolding from one stage to move onto the next stage of brain development. And you need nutrition in order to create all these cells and to create all these connections.”
Adequate amounts of nutrients
must be consumed during
this critical window.
Key nutrients in dairy and how they support brain development
Pearce highlights the crucial nutrients in dairy products. Along with iodine, dairy contains:
[ select each nutrient to learn more ]
Iodine’s unique role
One of the best ways to get it?
By eating iodized salt and foods that
naturally contain iodine, like milk, cheese, yogurt, as well as fish & eggs.
Iodine is essential for making thyroid hormones and supporting healthy brain development. It is critical during pregnancy and early life.
As a professor of medicine at Boston University, Pearce has significantly influenced national guidelines on iodine supplementation in pregnancy and served as president of the American Thyroid Association from 2018 to 2019.
Guidelines for dairy consumption
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend including milk, yogurt and cheese as part of a healthy diet, no matter your age.
Dairy means something different to everyone depending upon their stage in life.
Dairy: A DEVELOPEMENTAL powerhouse
Dairy foods offer a unique and powerful combination of nutrients essential for early brain development.
Misconceptions about dairy
Relying solely on plant-based alternatives can leave nutritional gaps in a child’s diet.
What to know about alternative ‘milks’
Relying solely on plant-based alternatives can leave nutritional gaps in a child’s diet. With the rise of alternative milks in grocery stores, many parents feel overwhelmed when deciding what’s best for their kids.
And nutrition can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Despite the popularity of alternative milks, traditional dairy remains an affordable, natural, nutritionally superior choice for supporting healthy brain development in children.
This unique nutritional powerhouse of dairy isn’t easily replaced by
plant-based alternatives.
A balanced diet, including nutrient-rich dairy, can provide the essential support your child needs for healthy growth and brain development.
With many parents worried about their kids’ development, ensuring proper nutrition is more important than ever. Thankfully, natural brain boosters like milk, cheese and yogurt are convenient — just a small addition to your child’s meals can make a big difference.
6 in 10 parents worry kids not hitting milestones
%
90
Of Brain growth is before age 5
7
/
14
nutrients for early brain development
are founD
in dairy.
1-2 yrs
2+ yrs
There aren’t options available for children with lactose intolerance.
Lactose-free dairy foods offer the same nutritional benefits without discomfort.
Packed with nutrients
Increase brain development
Support growth
The brain is developing all the cells and connections that allow the central nervous system to work. If you don’t have adequate amounts of these nutrients during this critical window, it can result in permanent brain damage.
- Dr. Elizabeth Pearce
Vitamin A
Selenium
Protein
Vitamin B12
Iodine
Zinc
Choline
Dairy products are nutrient-dense foods, providing a high-quality source of protein and key nutrients that are essential for supporting healthy brain development.
- Dr. Elizabeth Pearce
It’s essential to have an optimal amount of iodine to produce the thyroid hormone that’s so key in early life — in the fetus, a breastfed infant and a young child — because it’s so important for thyroid hormone, and thyroid hormone is so critical for brain development.
- Dr. Elizabeth Pearce
Whole-fat dairy RECOMMENDED
PROVIDES fat and key nutrients
VITAL FOR brain development
LoW-fat dairy RECOMMENDED
PROVIDES key nutrients
Children who grow up eating healthy foods, including dairy, are likely to continue these habits into adulthood.
- Dr. Elizabeth Pearce
The right nutrients at the right time can make a significant difference in a child’s cognitive development.”
- Dr. Elizabeth Pearce
FACT
MYTH
FACT
MYTH
Lactose-free milk contains the same essential nutrients as regular milk, including high-quality protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, riboflavin and vitamin D. The primary advantage of lactose-free milk is that it allows people with lactose intolerance to enjoy dairy without experiencing uncomfortable symptoms.
– Kristin Ricklefs-Johnson, PhD, RDN, the director of nutrition research at National Dairy Council
Soy Milk
Almond Milk
Oat Milk
Numerous studies continue to show that dairy food consumption aligned with daily recommendations is linked to better health outcomes across the lifespan. A similar body of science does not exist for most of the plant-based alternatives.
- Dr. Ricklefs-Johnson
There has been a noticeable rise in the popularity of alternative dairy products, such as almond, soy and oat milk. These alternatives can offer nutritional benefits, but it’s important to check for added sugars and lower levels of certain nutrients compared to traditional dairy.
- Dr. Elizabeth Pearce
Vitamin A supports cell growth and differentiation, which is essential for brain development.
Selenium is an antioxidant that protects cells from damage.
Protein is involved in every process of neurodevelopment. Adequate protein is crucial for full brain development.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to developmental delays and neurological issues.
Essential for brain health, required for thyroid hormones that support brain cell growth.
Required supports healthy growth and brain development.
Choline is crucial for brain development, particularly in the development of the hippocampus.
CHILDREN + ADOLESCENTS
Dairy is critical for growth
and development, particularly for building strong bones.
ADULTS
Dairy maintins bone density and overall health.
OLDER ADULTS
Diary can play a role in preventing osteoporosis and maintaining muscle mass.
Affordable
Nutritionally Superior
Natural
Maintains vision
immune function
skin health
Helps Metabolism
Improves DNA SYNTHESIS
Critical for proper brain function
NEURON CREATION
NEURON MOVEMENT
Produces red blood cells
MAINTAINS NERVOUS SYSTEM
Increases brain communication
prevents intellectual disabilities
Increases cell growth
Improves metabolism
IMPROVES MEMORY
BOOSTS LEARNING
Compared to almond, oat, rice and other plant-based milks, traditional dairy stands out, providing the key nutrients crucial for healthy growth and development. While fortified soy beverage is the only recommended dairy alternative, it’s important to note it is not a source of iodine.
Still, nearly 6 in 10 parents of kids ages 3 and under are worried that their children aren’t hitting developmental milestones.
6 in 10 parents worry kids not hitting milestones
Despite the popularity of alternative milks, traditional dairy remains an affordable, natural, nutritionally superior choice for supporting healthy brain development in children.