Dairy Products

It's well known: for an athlete to achieve optimal performance, they must necessarily adopt optimal nutrition. The nutrient supplement they consume particularly helps during the body's recovery phase. These nutrients help with energy reserve replenishment, constant body hydration and muscle repair. Among the foods that perform these functions, we have dairy products. Those we present in this section have a long shelf life. Overview of these extraordinary products and the various reasons to adopt them.

What is a long-life dairy product?

Dairy products with a long shelf life are nothing other than staple foods (milk, cheese…) that have undergone freeze-drying. This food preservation process proves to be the most effective.

The freeze-drying method for food is a preservation process that involves freezing your chosen food to extract all the water it contains. Among the foods that can undergo freeze-drying, we naturally include milk and cheese.

The milk is first frozen and then dehydrated through a sublimation process. As milk is a particular food, these different stages are carried out at very low temperatures, which can drop to -40°C. This doesn't prevent the milk from retaining its texture, flavour, smell and, most importantly, all its nutritional values.

It's important to note that this process allows dairy products to be stored at room temperature for several years, even decades. In our range, besides milk, you'll mainly find staple foods such as butter powder or grated parmesan.

What are the benefits of long-life dairy products?

When we think of freeze-dried dairy products, we immediately think not only of hikers but also outdoor sports enthusiasts. This is legitimate, as these products can be taken anywhere during activities. They prove particularly practical as they're easy to transport. Once stripped of all water, they lose approximately 80% of their normal weight.  

Therefore, you can easily take it with you on your outdoor expeditions. Moreover, these products save space in your backpack. You can easily stock up on freeze-dried milk or freeze-dried cheese for long journeys.

In this section, you'll mainly discover powdered milk which will help you create delicious breakfasts. You'll also find rehydratable butter powder with which you can spread on your breads and biscuits. Grated parmesan will perfectly enhance numerous dishes. And for coffee lovers, you'll find that from the Emergency Food brand.

All these foods are packaged in tins or sealed sachets. Some have a shelf life of 10 years and others 15 years. These foods are perfect for keeping you self-sufficient during emergency situations. We can never be too careful, especially in the wilderness. A storm or other disaster can quickly arise and put everyone in a very difficult situation. Large tins contain several portions that can feed an entire group or family.

To consume them, simply add hot or cold water according to your preference. Depending on when you choose to have it, you'll know exactly how to rehydrate it.

Another advantage of this type of product lies in their nutritional distribution. In a portion of freeze-dried milk, you can find vitamins, minerals and proteins without water. Over 95% of the nutritional value of dairy products is contained in their freeze-dried versions. However, regarding their calorific content, it's worth noting that it's rather low.

What's really practical about this type of product is that you can consume a freeze-dried milk sachet whilst continuing your hike. Your movements remain unrestricted and the taste is always pleasant. Moreover, freeze-dried dairy products are perfect after a full day's activities.

Nutritional benefits of dairy products for outdoor activity practitioners

Dairy products are the best source of calcium we can incorporate into our diet. The calcium they provide is also easily absorbed by our body. They also contain proteins and phosphorus which reinforce calcium's effects.

Throughout our lives, we need calcium for the mineralisation of teeth and bones. This greatly benefits athletes, as physical exertion requires strong bones. Calcium is also involved in numerous vital functions such as hormonal functions, blood pressure, muscle contraction, cell renewal…

For athletes, we recommend consuming 3 to 4 portions of dairy products daily to meet all your calcium needs. We also recommend combining them with adequate vitamin D intake. You can, for example, consume seafood.

Proteins from dairy products are comparable to those from meat. They play a particular role in the recovery phase after exertion. They're beneficial for cell renewal and muscle strengthening. Phosphorus is involved in the renewal of body tissues.

Dairy products also contain vitamins A and B12. Vitamin A is present in milk as retinol. This vitamin promotes not only skin, bone and dental health but also vision. It also acts as an antioxidant. Vitamin B12, meanwhile, is involved in certain processes such as protein synthesis, fat burning and nervous system balance.