Taste Life Blog

May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month.  We need milk for bone health. Milk is the primary source of vitamin D in the American diet – well known for its role in keeping bones strong – and milk supplies nearly half of all of the much-needed vitamin D. Research shows boosting calcium intake by drinking milk could reduce chance the risk of bone fractures by 72 percent, according to one study.

Mango Madness Smoothie*

•  ½ cup – quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup – lowfat or fat free milk
• 1 cup – fresh or jarred mango cubes (peeled, if fresh)  ( I used frozen)
• 1 (11-oz) can – mandarin orange segments, drained
• 2 tablespoons – almond butter
• 1 tablespoon – honey
• 1 tablespoon – lime juice
• ½ teaspoon – ground ginger

In a blender grind the oats until fine. Add the milk and buzz to blend, then add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes two servings, 4 ounces of milk per serving.

Nutrition per serving: 380 calories; 10g fat; 1 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 11 g protein; 64 g carbohydrates; 6 g fiber; 95 mg sodium; 233 mg calcium (25% of daily value).

Nutrition figures based on using fat free milk.

*Source of recipe from Milk Pep. www.milklife.com/articles/recipe/mango-madness-smoothie

Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Rees JR, Grau MV, Barry E, Gui J, Baron JA. Effect of calcium supplementation on fracture risk: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;87:1945-1951.