Editor’s Note: Inside Perspective is a new Dairy Foods feature offering guest editorials from leaders of various dairy industry associations, It will appear in this space each month.

Long touted for its role in aiding calcium absorption and bone health, research is now linking vitamin D-for which fortified milk is the primary food source in the United States-to a host of other benefits including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and periodontal disease.

Imagine a nutrition education program so compelling that a middle school teacher requests the installation of a milk machine on campus so students have healthier beverage choices at snack time.