Understanding Calcium, Bone Density, and the Unique Benefits of the Dairy Matrix on Human Health with Connie Weaver, PhD

You know how delicious dairy foods are, so join us for a conversation with renowned nutrition scientist Connie M. Weaver, PhD, to better understand their essential role in human diets and overall health. Connie, a Distinguished Research Professor at San Diego State University and Distinguished Professor Emerita of Purdue University, a Fellow of the American Heart Association, American Society for Nutrition, and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, joined us for the 2024 ADSA Annual Meeting. From her early days as a young scientist with a passion for food to her groundbreaking research on calcium and bone health, Connie shares her insights on the power of whole foods and the dairy matrix. Discover why the dairy matrix is more than just a collection of individual nutrients—the unique and sophisticated balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese contributes to optimal health. Matt and Connie particularly focus on calcium and its importance for bone health, including the data on dairy as the critical source of calcium. Calcium is what we are most likely to be deficient in when not consuming the recommended three servings of dairy per day. Connie also shares her expertise in building successful research teams and the value of humility and open-mindedness in scientific inquiry. Tune in for invaluable insights into human nutrition, health, and the science behind the foods we eat!

Episode Twenty-Two Show Notes

Learn more about Connie Weaver and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Are you interested in participating in ADSA’s next Annual Meeting? Submit your abstract to the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting before February 12, 2025, and join us in Louisville, Kentucky, next June!

Catch up on the papers discussed in the episode:

Next-generation health benefits of maternal calcium supplementation, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2024)

Dairy matrix: Is the whole greater than the sum of the parts?, Nutrition Reviews (2021)