New Publications Show Milk Matters

Format: Fact Sheet
Institute: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Ages 11 to 15 are a time when fast-growing bones need calcium. Unfortunately, most boys and girls are not getting the calcium they need. Most kids can get enough calcium from three cups of low-fat or fat-free milk and additional calcium-rich foods every day.

Three new publications on the importance of getting enough calcium offer health care providers information to pass along to their patients. The first, Building Strong Bones, also provides some strategies to encourage patients, especially young people ages 11 to 18, to get more calcium in their diets. The second, Lactose Intolerance, suggests ways for providers to talk about calcium with their lactose intolerant patients, and the third, Para Huesos Fuertes, provides the core information of NICHD's Milk Matters Calcium Education Campaign in Spanish. These new publications are free and easy to understand and have been added to the growing list of resources for the campaign.

NICHD started the Milk Matters campaign in 1997 to help increase calcium consumption among children and teens. The campaign’s Web site includes helpful information for health care providers, parents, and caretakers, and there’s even a section “Just for Kids!” with fun, milk-related games.

Next Steps
Visit the Milk Matters Web site at www.nichd.nih.gov/milk to learn more about the campaign and its resources.

You can order free copies of Building Strong Bones, Lactose Intolerance, and Para Huesos Fuertes by contacting the NICHD Clearinghouse at (800) 370-2943 or by visiting www.nichd.nih.gov. The entire list of Milk Matters publications can be found at www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm?from=milk.