An apple a day kept the doctor away - but now in Asia, a cup of milk might do the trick.
Milk and other dairy products have become an unexpected ally in the fight against Asia's dietary challenges including obesity and vitamin and mineral deficiencies, according to a report by the UN released on Tuesday.
"This report is an eye-opener and a wake-up call ... we still have nearly half-a-billion hungry people in this region," said Kundhavi Kadiresan, FAO's assistant director general.
"Increased consumption of milk and dairy holds out excellent promise to improve nutrition," she said.
Asia has made clear strides in taming famine and hunger with undernourishment rates halved in Asia from 24.3 per cent to 12.3 per cent in the last 25 years.
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As people move from the countryside to the big city by the millions, diets are changing from more traditional ones dominated by rice to a more varied, Westernised version incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and meats.
Calories from starches declined by 50 calories per person a day while calories from fruits, vegetables, and meat increased by over 300 calories per person a day.
But people in Asia are exercising less and chowing down more on heavily processed foods filled with sugar and fat which means many aren't getting enough nutrients and obesity levels are skyrocketing.
Milk, which is traditionally absent from many Asian kitchens, now flies off the shelves from Bangkok to Beijing.
Production has almost tripled, from about 110 million tons in 1990 to nearly 300 million tons in 2013 - accounting for more than 80 per cent of the world's increase in milk supplies during that time.
