Fresh Dairy in collaboration with Uganda National Association of Paediatric and Child Health Nurses (UNAPCHN) have today launched a campaign dubbed ‘1-Yoghurt-a-Day’ with an aim of encouraging more children and adults in Uganda to consume Yoghurt as an important step towards meeting their daily milk content requirement. The campaign will also seek to encourage children and adults to consume yoghurt as a healthy and nutritious snack.

Jolly Rubambarama, a senior nurse and Chairperson UNAPCHN noted that the health and nutrition benefits of consuming 1-Yoghurt-a-Day include:
• CALCIUM: Yoghurt contains calcium which is the main mineral in our bodies. Calcium is beneficial for increasing bone mass in children as well as preventing fractures in adults. This is particularly important for postmenopausal women, who have decreased bone turnover as a consequence of hormonal changes accompanying menopause.
• Calcium also increases the body’s breakdown of fat and helps preserve one’s metabolism, which in turn helps with weight management. A well-managed weight in turn reduces the risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
• PROTEIN: Yogurt contains protein which contributes to both the maintenance and growth of muscle mass and normal bones. Proteins cannot be stored in the body which means they need to be part of our daily diets;
• VITAMIN D: Yoghurt also contains Vitamin D which helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis, which is a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of bone tissue;
• VITAMIN B2 and B12: Yoghurt contains Vitamin B2 and B12 which both contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism, while B2 vitamin also helps maintain normal vision;
• POTASSIUM: Yoghurt contains Potassium which helps reduce the blood-pressure;
• Yoghurt can also protect against gastrointestinal infections by suppressing the growth of pathogens that cause intestinal disturbances such as diarrhoea which often comes as a result of infection or over-use of antibiotics.

While launching the 1-Yoghurt-a-Day campaign, Caroline Muchobia, the Health and Nutrition Manager – Fresh Dairy said, ‘One of our key priority areas is Health and Nutrition. We realize that Yoghurt being one of the products we produce is a signature of a healthy diet and lifestyle not only for children but adults. Together with UNAPCHN whose expertise is Pediatrics and Child health, we are driving awareness and disseminating information on the benefits of yoghurt and its contribution towards a healthy lifestyle. It is important to expose children to healthy foods ( such as yoghurt , fruit and vegetables ) so that they learn to like them when they are still young and hence build a healthy generation by encouraging better dietary habits later in life.

Muchobia noted that Fresh Dairy is passionate about open and collaborative partnerships such as UNAPCHN through whom the following will be achieved:
• Promoting healthy nutrition through educational programs and services for both parents and healthcare professionals.
• Establishing common goals to measure improvement in dietary habits and improvement of short and long term health.
• Investing in scientific research in the field of nutrition, and working with healthcare professionals to develop innovative solutions to help improve the health of current and future generations.
Muchobia explained that studies have shown that Yoghurt is a nutrient dense food that promotes good metabolic and overall health for both children and adults.
• The Harvard School of Public Health examined data from more than 100,000 subjects in three separate long-term studies and found participants who ate one serving of yoghurt per day had an 18 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
• A study conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine reveals that women who have 5 or more servings of yoghurt a week (5 cups) reduce their risk of high blood pressure by as much as 20%.
• www.yoghurtinnutrition.com
Fresh Dairy currently produces six flavors of Yoghurt namely: Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Mango, Plain and Butter Scotch which can be found countrywide.