Mother's Milk

The rise in real and imagined dairy intolerance is storing up problems for expectant mums, according to a report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Kristine Koski, the research leader, says that: 'Increasing numbers of women are restricting milk consumption during pregnancy, believing it will minimise weight gain or prevent their children from developing allergies, but they are missing out essential nutrients that affect foetal development.'

The study found that each daily glass of milk added, on average, 41g to the total birth weight of a baby (so if you drank two glasses a day, it would be 82g heavier and so on).

It's thought to be because of the vitamin D in milk, which helps build bone mass and is found in few foods except dairy products.

The Department of Health advises the consumption of at least a glass of milk (skimmed, semi-skimmed or whole milk), a matchbox-sized portion of cheese or a standard-size yogurt every day.