June is National Dairy Month, an initiative that began in 1937 as “National Milk Month.”  Since then, the awareness campaign has expanded to include the many different dairy products that are available to Americans.   But why do we need a whole month dedicated to dairy?

The US government suggests consuming at least three servings of dairy products a day, and yet according to the American Heart Association (AHA), most of us fall short.  Getting enough dairy, AHA reports, “contributes to bone health, helps prevent osteoporosis and may lower the risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors by helping to control body weight and fat.”  Who knew there were so many benefits to eating more milk, cheese, and some of our other favorite foods?

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) asserts that June is the ideal time to celebrate National Dairy Month because it encourages Americans to kick off the summer right.  Dairy products are made up of nine important nutrients proven to help you manage your weight, which is especially important to most during bathing suit season.

So get on board and start prepping for National Dairy Month today! And to make an even bigger difference, hand out dairy promotional items at work or school. Everybody could the reminder; we all need “3-A-Day” of these nutrient-rich foods.