Dairy is a foodstuff produced from the milk of mammals, most commonly cows. It is a rich source of nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, and has been part of the human diet for millennia. Cheese and yogurt are two of the best-known dairy products, but there are many others like butter, cream, ice cream, and whey. Dairy products can be made from goat’s milk or sheep’s milk as well as cow’s milk.
Dairy farming is an important economic sector in many countries around the world. In 2014, it was estimated that over 830 million tons of milk were produced globally by around 800 million dairy cows. The United States was the largest producer of cow’s milk in that year, followed by India and China. Europe as a whole produced more than any other continent.
The nutritional value of dairy has been debated in recent years. Some studies have suggested that consuming large amounts of dairy could lead to increased risk of certain health problems like heart disease and prostate cancer. However, other research has found no such link. The verdict is still out on whether dairy is good or bad for our health.
Whatever the case may be, there’s no denying that dairy plays an important role in our diets and in the economy. It will be interesting to see how this debate develops in the years to come