Dairy Products Minerals and Fats

Minerals include calcium found in milk and dairy products. Calcium builds and keeps bones and teeth strong, vital to muscle functions, blood clotting and nerve transmissions. Phosphorus present in milk and cheese helps to maintain healthy bones and teeth, also needed for the release of energy in cells. Chromium (which regulates blood sugar levels) and Iron (which is an essential component of haemoglobin and other enzymes involved in energy metabolism) is present in egg yolk. An antioxidant mineral (Selenium) is present in butter and protects cells against free radical damage.

Fats are made up of fatty acids--saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fatty acids which include butter and hard cheese tend to be solid at room temperature, unsaturated fatty acids tend to be liquid. The unsaturated fatty acids can be subdivided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated and nowadays most of the margarines and low fat spreads are made from these. Monounsaturated fatty acids include olive oil, rapeseed oil, avacados, nuts and seeds and polyunsaturated fatty acids include most vegetable oils and fish oils. When fats are removed from dairy products the food lose much of their vitamin A content. Skimmed milk, low fat yoghurts and cottage cheese are poor sources of vitamin A. The vitamin is added to margarines to make them more nutritious.