Children who avoid milk and do not get enough calcium-rich substitutes may face an increased risk of breaking a bone. Calcium, along with vitamin D and other nutrients, is essential for building and maintaining strong bones, Forbes reported.
Dairy products are the primary source of calcium, other sources include orange juice, green leafy vegetables and mineral supplements.
In a study of 50 children considered "milk avoiders," researchers from New Zealand, found that 16 suffered at least one bone fracture by the age of nine. And regardless of whether they broke a bone, these children tended to have inadequate calcium intakes and low bone density.