By Olutayo Irantiola
If milk was not important, nature would not have started the feeding process with it
Nature has tremendously blessed man with the solution to his existence long before he was formed. In the Christian faith, I believe that everything that man needed was provided before he became a being, and ahead of the birth of any child, milk is ready for the commencement of the feeding process.
Whenever a new baby is born, it is always advised that the child should begin life with breastmilk as it is so important to the growth of the child. Breastmilk has the capacity of offering to the infant the necessary antibodies to fight infections such as diarrhea, meningitis, and ear or respiratory infections and to prevent allergies as well as a high number of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, and improves longevity. Other known deficiencies in babies include iodine deficiency, and Vitamin A deficiency, amongst others. At the same time, breastfeeding is recommended for infants who were born prematurely, also reducing the risk for any serious medical conditions such as asthma, obesity, allergies, or diabetes.
As recommended by WHO and UNICEF, the child should start breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth. More than this, pediatricians claim that in the first 6 months of a baby’s life, feeding has to only include breast milk, this remaining the principal food until the 12th month at least. Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience for both mothers and babies. Breastmilk has the nutrients that are best for your baby’s brain growth and nervous system development. So, besides the fact that the infant will receive all the nutritional value that he needs, the connection created in these moments cannot be compared to anything else. In the wisdom of nature, breastmilk also changes during breastfeeding: at first, it’s somehow watery and satisfies thirst, and then comes the more creamy, full of fat milk which calms the baby’s hunger.
In adulthood, there is a need to reinforce healthy nutrition that will help one to be strong for the requirements of today’s world, most especially by the consumption of breakfast, which has dwindled over time. According to Better Health Channel, breakfast is a very important meal in the day because it replenishes the stores of energy and nutrients in the body. Also, people who do not eat breakfast may not meet their recommended daily intakes of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Breakfast helps with better weight management, reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the long term and it boosts brainpower. In Nigeria, studies show that only 56% of Nigerians eat breakfast, while 41% of them consume dairy and 58% eat out of the home. (Source: FCW Sunrise Study 2019)
Some good ideas for healthy breakfast meals include porridge made from rolled oats; wholegrain cereal, smoothies made from fresh fruits, natural yoghurt, and milk, amongst others. All of these can be combined with milk that can help support a healthy lifestyle.
In order to encourage people to have breakfast, drive good dairy nutrition knowledge and debunk breakfast myths, and also in commemoration of this year’s World Milk Day, Peak Milk organized a digital and activation campaign called #PeakBreakfastPolice. The lineup of events began during the National Breakfast Week on May 23 and continued till the World Milk Day on June 1 will provide an opportunity for Peak Milk to drive the awareness of dairy consumption for the enhancement of mental and physical performance. On June 1, people were treated to sumptuous breakfast across various locations, such as Ojodu Berger Bus Park, Maryland Bus Park, Yaba Bus Park, Iyana Ipaja Bus Park, Festac Bus Park, Igando Bus Park and across the country.
At the activation was the popular Nollywood actor, Kunle Remi, Temitope Bandele, and the leadership and management team members of Friesland WAMCO PLC were at several other locations across the country distributing Peak Milk Breakfast to thousands of Nigerians, so they can continue to uphold the order of Breakfast.
The World Milk Day was instituted in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to recognize milk as a global food and the day has been used to bring attention to various activities connected with the dairy industry.
With the novel way in which Peak Milk celebrated the 2022 World Milk Day, they have shown that milk is an important part of our daily lives that should not be taken with levity from cradle to grave. Hearty cheers with a glass of milk as we celebrate another opportunity to call our attention to raising healthy generations!
