Today, January 11th, is National Milk Day (although some people have claimed November 26th to celebrate all things Milk, and not to be confused World Milk Day, which is in June).
National Milk Day is a holiday that was first requested by the International Association of Milk Inspectors in 1915, but that request largely fell on deaf ears among members of the United States 64th Congress, as well as then U.S President Woodrow Wilson. It would be almost another 100-years before the holiday was officially launched—although it should be mentioned that it still hasn’t been officially proclaimed as a holiday in the U.S.
Fun Facts about Milk:
- The U.S & Australia are the largest milk exporters in the world.
- More than 6-billion people around the world consume milk regularly.
- Cow milk is the main type of milk enjoyed by people—although all female mammals can produce milk.
- Milk is used to produce whey protein, casein, condensed milk, powdered milk, lactose, and a variety of other milk-based products.
- French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur invented pasteurization—a process that kills bacteria and makes milk safer to drink – in 1863.
Although some people have a milk allergy, i.e. lactose intolerance, there are a lot of health benefits to be found. Did you know that Milk is a power packed drink with nine nutrients (protein, Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Riboflavin and Niacin) that are essential for health? The presence of calcium makes our bones and teeth stronger. Riboflavin helps in converting food into energy. Protein present in the milk builds muscle tissues. Potassium regulates blood pressure. Phosphorous stimulates energy. Vitamin B12 is responsible for regulating the red blood corpuscles. Vitamin A improvise vision, makes our skin healthy and play a pivotal role in maintaining the immune system in force.
Below are some of the nutrients that can be found in a standard 8.4-ounce glass of cow’s milk to show everyone just how much nutrition is packed into each glass:
- 48% Of A 5-Year Old Child’s Protein Requirements
- 9% Of A 5-Year Old Child’s Calorie Requirements
- 8-Grams of fat
- 28% RDA Of Calcium
- 24% RDA Of Vitamin D
- 26% RDA Of Riboflavin (B2)
- 18% RDA Of B12
- 10% RDA Of Potassium
- 22% RDA Of Phosphorus
- 12% RDA Of Selenium
If you’re one of those who enjoy milk and all of the products made from it, you can celebrate National Milk Day in any number of different ways. If you’re a purist, just drink up a nice glass of milk, or enjoy some ice cream, or even eat some cereal with milk on it. Since we’re in the midst of winter, perhaps make yourself a steaming cup of hot chocolate! And you can share your love of its creamy goodness by using the hashtag #NationalMilkDay and let everyone know that you #GotMilk!
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