In recent years, an increasing number of women have eliminated dairy from their diets, motivated by concerns about bovine growth hormones, animal welfare, and digestive issues, along with a significantly enhanced variety of milk and dairy substitutes. Women, particularly those after menopause, are at a higher risk for osteoporosis and reduced bone density, necessitating a daily calcium intake of 1,000 mg for those under 50. Despite this need, women generally consume less dairy than men. Public health advocates in Australia and the U.K. have raised alarms that the rising trend of women avoiding dairy has reached “dangerous levels.”
According to USDA data, overall milk consumption has halved since the late 1970s, while farmgate milk prices have also dropped significantly. Interestingly, total dairy consumption has actually seen an increase, with per capita yogurt consumption skyrocketing to nearly 15 pounds a year, a sharp rise from just two pounds in 1975. However, yogurt still does not play a major role in the overall dairy servings consumed by Americans.
In response to these trends, the dairy industry is pivoting away from a focus on liquid milk, instead promoting protein-enhanced and functional products, as well as the fresh and natural qualities of milk. Recent studies highlighting the benefits of dairy consumption are likely to bolster the industry’s efforts. Nevertheless, as more women adopt dietary guidelines favoring plant-based foods, there remains a challenge for the dairy industry—and researchers in early menopause—to convince women of the importance of dairy for their health.
To address calcium needs, some women are turning to alternatives such as calcium citrate, which can be derived from various plant sources, including sprouts. As awareness grows about the health benefits of these alternatives, the dairy industry must work diligently to communicate the critical role that dairy can still play in women’s diets, particularly in supporting their calcium intake.