Nearly 900 attendees from around the world traveled to Chicago in late March for the American College of Sports Medicine’s International Health & Fitness Summit, where they worked to bridge the gap between science and practice to help consumers reach their health and fitness goals.

American sports nutrition expert Dr. Nancy Rodriguez—from the University of Connecticut—presented on protein quality and sustainable nutrition information, increasing awareness of the positive attributes of dairy, while mitigating the myths and misperceptions.

Throughout the session, attendees learned more about the benefits of dairy proteins including how they can help support healthy aging and exercise recovery. Published research studies have demonstrated the ability of dairy proteins to help improve body composition during weight loss, aid in muscle recovery after exercise, and increase muscle mass when combined with resistance training. People often think these benefits are only available to young, competitive athletes, however, research has shown dairy proteins have great benefits for women as well as older individuals.

Beyond the total intake quantity of protein, the timing of protein intake also matters to help build and maintain muscle. Research supports the benefit of spreading protein intake throughout the day and suggests a balanced intake of 25-30g of protein per meal as optimal.

Whey protein is a versatile ingredient that can be added to foods, such as smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal or nut butters, as a convenient way to increase protein consumption throughout the day. To provide consumers with more options, food manufacturers are developing innovative products that incorporate whey protein into various snacks, nutrition bars, baking mixes, beverages and more.

Dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt are also nutrient-rich and sources of high-quality protein that can be beneficial to consumers of all ages, especially in terms of muscle health. Not only is dairy’s nutrition tough to match, but so are the sustainability efforts of the U.S. dairy industry. Dr. Rodriguez shared how worldwide, dairy foods are part of nourishing people and communities, while also being mindful of the planet.

Visit ThinkUSAdairy.org for more information on what the U.S. dairy industry has to offer.