The importance of milk and dairy products consumption as a part of rational nutrition

Kristí­na Predanocyová,Ľubica Kubicová,Zdenka Kádeková

doi:10.5219/1050

Kristína Predanocyová, Ľubica Kubicová + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5219/1050

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Abstract

The paper is focused on the issue of consumption of milk and dairy products as an important part of the rational nutrition of the population of the Slovak Republic. The aim of the paper is to highlight the development of consumption of drinking milk and selected dairy products, including cheese and acid-based products, in the last 20 years in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. Furthermore, the paper focuses on comparing current consumption of milk and dairy products with recommended intakes resulting from the rationalization of diet. Based on the results, it can be stated that the consumption of milk and dairy products is insufficient at the level of 70% of the recommended consumption intakes of the selected food group. In connection with this, it is important to note that the consumption of drinking milk is low. The results obtained by processing the secondary data were supplemented with the primary data obtained from the questionnaire survey. Based on the results, we have conclude that most consumers are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and rational diet, which is just the consumption of milk and dairy products. Consumers especially prefer drinking milk, cheese and yoghurt, whose consumption is still low, which the respondents attribute to the high prices of the monitored products as compared to their income. On the other hand, the results showed the main factors determining the consumption of milk and dairy products, among which we can include quality, composition, price, durability and nutrition data. Based on the results obtained by processing secondary data and primary research, we suggest informing and educating consumers about the positive health effects and highlighting the recommended benefits to a greater extent.

Highlights

The aim of rational nutrition is to ensure the necessary intake of nutrients that are relevant to the health of the human organism (Golian et al, 2018; Holienčinová et al, 2013)
In the Slovak Republic, the development of consumption of milk and dairy products per capita was accompanied by a fluctuating trend in the period 1997 – 2017 (Figure 1) (Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (SO SR), 2018)
This trend persisted until 2017, so it is necessary to point out the possible reasons for the relatively low consumption of milk and milk products that could be caused by the living conditions of the population of the Slovak Republic, by unconfirmed information about the negative effects of milk consumption on human health or by the diagnosis of lactose intolerance (Zingone et al, 2017)

Summary

Introduction

The aim of rational nutrition is to ensure the necessary intake of nutrients that are relevant to the health of the human organism (Golian et al, 2018; Holienčinová et al, 2013). Important food, which consumption is inadequate in the conditions of the Slovak Republic and which are essential for health, includes milk and dairy products. For this reason, the aim of the paper is to highlight the basic issues and issues related to milk and dairy products, with an emphasis on the importance of consumption and its sufficiency in relation to the recommended intakes resulting from the rationalization of eating. Milk and dairy products represent one of the most elemental foods for all age categories of the population because of its biological component, which is the basis for the promotion and maintenance of rational nutrition of the population, regarding to which it has got a significant position (Michaelidou, 2008; Pereira, 2014). Milk is a multicomponent blend, with its primary components, which are proteins, fat, lactose, vitamins and minerals, involved in the formation of a complex food (Keresteš, 2016; Čuboň, Haščík and Kačániová, 2012; Nicklas, O’Neil and Fulgoni, 2009)

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