Dairy-based beverages: nutritional value, diversity and global relevance

Dairy-based beverages are among the most widely consumed functional foods worldwide and play an important role in human nutrition, culture, and food systems. This popular article reviews the nutritional value, diversity, and global relevance of dairy beverages, highlighting their classification into flavored milk, whey-based drinks, buttermilk, fermented and probiotic beverages, traditional cereal–milk preparations, sports drinks, and plant-based alternatives. Special emphasis is placed on the utilization of whey as a value-added ingredient, the importance of fermentation in improving digestibility and shelf life, and the cultural significance of traditional dairy beverages in India and other regions of the world. The article also discusses the health benefits associated with dairy beverage consumption, including their contributions to protein intake, cardiovascular health, immune support, and digestive well-being. Traditional and modern processing approaches are examined in the context of sustainability and economic development, particularly in dairy-dependent rural communities. Overall, dairy-based beverages are presented as nutritionally rich, culturally important, and technologically adaptable products that are expected to remain integral to balanced diets and evolving food systems in the future.