Dairy and milk consumption are frequently included as important elements in a healthy and
balanced diet. It is the first food for mammals and provides all the necessary energy and nutrients to
ensure proper growth and development, being crucial in respect to bone mass formation. However,
several controversies arise from consumption of dairy and milk products during adulthood, especially
because it refers to milk from other species. Despite these controversies, epidemiologic studies
confirm the nutritional importance of milk in the human diet and reinforce the possible role of its
consumption in preventing several chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), some
forms of cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Lactose malabsorption symptoms and cow milk protein allergy
are generally considered to be the adverse reactions to milk consumption. The present article
reviews the main aspects of milk nutritional composition and establishes several associations between
its nutritious role, health promotion, and disease prevention.