Factsheet: Dairy & heart health

CVD remains a major public health challenge in Europe, and its prevention requires – in addition to lifestyle interventions, such as quitting smoking and increased physical activity – dietary guidance that reflects the complexity of
foods and their effects on health. Current evidence shows that dairy products have neutral and beneficial associations with CVD and with key cardiovascular risk factors, including blood lipids, blood pressure, and metabolic health.

The findings in our new Factsheet demonstrate that dairy products can play a key role in supporting or promoting heart health, even when their nutrient composition might suggest otherwise, and most importantly, they highlight the importance of moving beyond a focus
on individual nutrients such as saturated fat and instead considering the whole food structure, i.e. the actual health impact of foods consumed.