Did you know that your zip code can be a predictor of your health? So can your place of birth, where you work and play, your income and education, and a host of other factors — in addition to the choices you make each day about what to eat. These factors, what public health professionals recognize as “social determinants of health,” are linked to the inequities in health and health care (health disparities), among racial and ethnic minorities in America.
READ: Diabetes & The Surprising Power of Yogurt
Nutrition plays a major role in advancing health equity. Dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt can be key in decreasing the nutrient intake disparity faced by the African American community. Dairy foods can deliver many nutrients important for good health, including three of the nutrients of public health concern — calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. Health authorities such as the National Medical Association (NMA) – the nation’s oldest and largest organization of African-American physicians — and the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), as well as the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans all recommend, for most, three servings of low fat or nonfat dairy as a means of closing the nutrient intake gap.
It’s not surprising that NMA and NHMA have addressed this public health concern. In fact, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee report states “consumption of dairy foods provide numerous health benefits, including lower risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and obesity” — disease states affecting African Americans at disproportionate rates. This evidence makes a strong case for the inclusion of dairy in your diet.
While very few populations adhere to the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) recommendation of three servings per day of low fat or nonfat dairy, African Americans unfortunately, tend to show the greatest gaps between daily recommended intakes and actual intakes of key food groups and the nutrients of public health concern. That’s because the DGAs can be challenging for people of color who are lactose intolerant or suffer from lactose maldigestion.
Lactose intolerance — whether real or perceived — is a major health concern. Research shows that 75 percent of African Americans have lactose maldigestion, compared to 60 percent of Hispanic Americans and 20 percent of non-Hispanic white. Even in cases where there is no definitive diagnosis, many African Americans believe they are lactose intolerant and modify their diets accordingly — often eliminating a great deal of their dairy intake and thus, the nutritional benefits that come from eating dairy foods.
For those who perceive themselves to be lactose intolerant, milk avoidance is a major obstacle in obtaining adequate calcium and vitamin D from the diet, and it has been shown that avoiding dairy may lead to shortfalls in essential nutrients [3]. Because of this nutritional shortfall, the National Institutes of Health identified self-restriction of dairy foods associated with self-diagnosis of lactose intolerance as a public health problem.
READ: Can You Become Lactose Intolerant As You Get Older?
Most people don’t know that yogurt can be a more easily digestible alternative to milk because it can contain live and active cultures that help with lactose digestion. Additionally, yogurt, on average, contains less lactose per serving than milk and may allow more people to enjoy dairy products with fewer associated symptoms.
Yogurt is a great example of a nutrient dense food option. Most yogurts provide calcium, potassium, and vitamin D and eating yogurt regularly is associated with less weight gain over time [6,7]. Yogurt can also be an excellent source of high quality protein, and together with calcium and vitamin D helps promote bone and muscle strength [8]. According to the American Diabetes Association, plain nonfat yogurt with no added sugar can be a good choice if you have diabetes. It is convenient, portable and versatile and can be enjoyed by all ages. Yogurt can also help you eat other nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables through pairing and yogurt-based dips and dressings.
I encourage you to take action for health equity. Use the following strategies and enjoy all the health benefits of dairy:
Meals and Snacks
Click here for my in-depth discussion on Nutrition and Health Disparities.
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes.. She is Dannon One Yogurt Every Day Nutrition Advisor
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