Let’s bust a common nutrition myth.

The myth: Adults don’t need dairy.

The facts: For many Australians, adulthood is exactly when dairy matters most.

As we age, our bodies rely on key nutrients like calcium and high-quality protein to maintain bone strength, muscle mass and overall health. These nutrients are essential for reducing the risk of osteoporosis, fractures and falls, and dairy remains one of the most efficient and accessible ways to get them.

Yet right now:

• Only 10 per cent of Australian adults meet recommended dairy intakes
• More than half of adults don’t meet daily calcium needs

Low dairy intake is associated with higher risks of poor bone health, fractures and poor nutrition.

What the evidence shows

Research consistently shows that adding dairy back into adult diets delivers real health benefits.

In aged care settings, increasing dairy intake by just 1.5 serves per day has been shown to:

• Reduce falls by 11 per cent
• Reduce fractures by 33 per cent
• Reduce hip fractures by 46 per cent

These are meaningful outcomes, improving quality of life for older Australians while reducing preventable healthcare costs.

Adding dairy doesn’t need to be complicated

Supporting healthy ageing isn’t about extreme diets or cutting entire food groups. It’s about getting the basics right.

Adding dairy can be as simple as:

• real milk in your coffee
• ricotta or cottage cheese on toast at breakfast
• yoghurt as an afternoon pick-me-up

Because adults don’t “grow out” of needing good nutrition. And sometimes, better health really does start with adding a glass of milk.

More: Add dairy

More: ADPF Strategic Focus Area – Champion supportive and progressive policy reforms