Rethinking Dairy for Heart Health and Nutrition Equity

Originally published in the California Academy of Physicians Associates (CAPA) Quarterly Winter 2025 Magazine

Rethinking Dairy for Heart Health and Nutrition Equity

By Bessie O’Connor, RDN

Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese provide high-quality
protein and essential nutrients in a unique nutrient package that
supports healthy eating patterns.

Did you know?

Whole-fat dairy foods, such as whole milk, yogurt and cheese have been shown to have protective or neutral effects on cardiometabolic health.

Current dietary guidelines recommend three servings of low-fat
dairy a day to meet nutrient needs and limit saturated fat intake.
However, emerging research shows that, whether whole-fat or lowfat,
dairy foods have a neutral or beneficial effect on cardiovascular
disease and related cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension
and obesity, depending on the dairy source.^1,2  When included
in nutrient-rich dietary patterns alongside fruits, vegetables,
legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains, dairy helps support nutritional
adequacy across the life span, from early childhood to older
adulthood, while also reducing health disparities.

Spotlight on Health Equity

Dairy foods, including lactose-free, fermented
and varied fat-level products are a nutritious and
affordable part of local food cultures, supporting
nutrition security and health equity.

Research on dairy and cardiovascular health has largely focused
on populations in Europe and North America, which have moderate
to high dairy intake. However, the PURE study showed cardiovascular
benefits of higher dairy consumption across both
high- and low-intake regions, with particularly strong associations
between milk and reduced stroke risk in lower-intake areas such as
East Asia. ³  Similarly, the National Medical Association emphasizes
dairy consumption to reduce health disparities among Black Americans,
noting that adequate dairy intake supports nutrient sufficiency
and lowers the risk of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease.⁴ Together, these findings highlight the importance of culturally relevant dietary guidance that incorporates
flexible dairy options like lactose-free, fermented and
varied fat-level products to support diverse dietary patterns,
help populations meet nutrient needs and contribute to reducing
health disparities.

Educating on dairy’s role within balanced dietary patterns is
a strategy to support community health. Both whole-fat and
low-fat dairy can be included in healthy dietary patterns, shifting
the focus from fat content alone to the broader context of
nutritious eating patterns. Promoting flexible, culturally relevant
dairy options can help diverse populations achieve nutrient
adequacy, support healthy weight management and reduce
the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Practical Application

To support clinical counseling,
a bilingual (English and Spanish)
patient handout, available to
download or order at no charge,
offers simple ways to incorporate
dairy into culturally relevant
eating patterns that account for
personal preferences while furthering nutrition
security and health equity.

References
1. Lamarche B, Astrup A, Eckel RH, et al. Regular-fat and low-fat dairy
foods and cardiovascular diseases: perspectives for future dietary recommendations.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2025;121(5):956-964. DOI:10.1016/j.ajcnut.
2025.03.009

2. Akyil S, Winkler S, Meyer D, et al. Association between dairy intake
and multiple health outcomes: a scoping review of systematic reviews
and meta-analyses. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2025. DOI:10.1038/s41430-025-
01639-5

3. Dehghan M, Mente A, Rangarajan S, et al. Association of dairy intake
with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 21 countries from five
continents (PURE): a prospective cohort study. Lancet.
2018;392(10161):2288-2297. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31812-9

4. Comerford K, Lawson Y, Young M, et al. Executive summary: the role
of dairy food intake for improving health among Black Americans
across the life continuum. J Natl Med Assoc. 2024;116(2 Pt 2):211-218.
DOI:10.1016/j.jnma.2024.01.026