National Milk Day
Which holidays do you celebrate in January? Did you know that January 11th is National Milk Day? While it’s not as noteworthy as New Year’s Day or Martin Luther King, Jr Day, it’s worth observing. Why? Read on to learn more about the origins of milk day and the wonders of milk.
National Milk Day started in 1878 as a commemoration of the first time glass was delivered to houses in glass bottles. While not many people today remember the days of milkmen, milk is still a staple of most people’s diets, whether directly or indirectly. Consider the wide variety of ways we use milk. It’s in cheese, cream, butter, ice cream, and yogurt, and drinking it makes a fresh baked good all the more enjoyable. Aside from being delightful to eat and drink, milk packs a serious nutritional punch, too.
- Milk is a great source of vitamin D. Of course, you’ve probably heard this many times, but it still bears repeating. Vitamin D is under consumed by most people in the United States, but it’s a vital nutrient. It helps with inflammation, healing, and bone health. In fact, the presence of vitamin D is necessary for your body to absorb calcium.
- Speaking of calcium, there’s plenty in milk. Getting enough calcium is important for building bones when we’re young and slowing bone loss as we age.
- Protein is an important part of a healthy diet. A cup of milk contains about eight grams of protein, which helps build and maintain tissue throughout the body.
- Milk contains a host of other nutrients. Raw milk contains every known vitamin, but even once it’s pasteurized, milk has plenty of nutrients, including vitamins A, vitamin B12, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. It also provides enzymes that can help the body break down other foods to more easily use them.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends three servings of dairy each day for people 9 years old or older because of the importance of calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. But what if you can’t consume dairy products? Here’s some information about popular milk substitutes.
- Soymilk is high in protein, with seven to 12 grams in each cup. It’s also often fortified with calcium and vitamin B12.
- Almond milk has 50 percent more calcium than cow’s milk. While it has very little protein, it is rich in vitamin E.
- Cashew milk contains heart-healthy fats. It also has anacardic acid, which may help fight cancer, and lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for your eyes.
- Oat milk is high in soluble fiber. It also contains five grams of protein, putting up there with cow’s milk and soymilk as a protein source.
Whichever type of milk you want, look for it at NetCost Market. For over 20 years, we’ve helped our customers save time and money while offering them the world of food. We’re a local supermarket with a global reach, providing a selection of everyday food products as well as culinary delights from around the world. It’s our goal to provide authentic, high-quality food products from local farmers as well as global suppliers. When you shop with NetCost Market, you’ll find a gratifying shopping experience that even allows you to order groceries online and have contactless grocery delivery right to your door.