Introducing My New Column: Ask Dr. Dairy

Have questions about dairy foods?

My name is Greg Miller, Ph.D., aka “Dr. Dairy,” and I’m here to help answer them in my new column called, “Ask Dr. Dairy.” You may know me from my previous blog posts on National Dairy Council (NDC) or my posts on Twitter.

Every month I will answer your questions about dairy foods and the role they play in nutrition, health and sustainable food systems. If you have questions please write a comment below or send me a message on Twitter @DrDairy50.

I hope to provide some balance to what you read on the Internet or hear from friends, whether it’s the latest news about milkfat or how milk impacts children’s health. Dairy has so many roles to play from contributing nutrients to bone health to being associated with reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes -- these roles are not too hard to understand with sound science.

But first, let me tell you a little bit about myself and share why dairy foods can help play an important role in health and wellness.

I have worked at NDC for 25 years and currently serve as Chief Science Officer at NDC, Executive Vice President of Research, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs and Global Dairy Sector Lead for Nutritional Security for Global Dairy Platform. I was recently appointed to a project team of experts to carry out a study on nutrition and food systems that will feed into debates occurring at the 44th session of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security in 2017. Also, I am currently an adjunct associate professor in the department of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois.

People sometimes ask me why I have focused a large part of my career on dairy science, dairy farmers and dairy companies that are part of the dairy community. I love what I do because it’s about spearheading sound science and helping people understand how dairy foods and ingredients can contribute to healthy lives. Keeping up with the science behind dairy foods and its link to bone health, heart health, diabetes and more is a challenge, but it’s rewarding. I also respect and admire the dedication dairy farmers have for the land – they are the original environmentalists who have traditionally considered stewardship of the land their duty and calling. They work hard to protect their land and preserve it for their children so they can nourish people for generations to come.

Helping people change the way they think about nutrition is what gets me up in the morning and I look forward with enthusiasm to answering your questions.  

Again, if you have questions you would like me to help answer in this column, please write a comment below or send me a message on Twitter @DrDairy50.