Have you seen all the headlines insisting that consuming dairy on a daily basis can help you lose weight? We talked about the Dairy Diet a few weeks ago here. It’s time to revisit that topic with the latest news report. From the Milk, does a body good ad campaign to the eat more dairy to lose weight statements – high-dairy diets are spreading like wildfire. So does it work?
The answer to that is a very firm maybe.
Current research suggests those who indulge in high-dairy diets gain slightly more weight than those who trim the dairy from their diet or just suck with the regular amount of dairy that they were consuming. The interesting thing about the study that determined this is that they didn’t count the calories that were consumed. Chances are good that people eating a high-dairy diet are actually consuming more calories especially if they are not drinking fat-free or low fat milk.
So is the media running away with a good headline? Possibly. Scientific studies haven’t shown any definitive results. The 3 studies that started the media hype included 30 people each and they discovered that when dieters were on a low calorie diet and had three servings a day of a low-fat dairy product (like yogurt) – the participants lost body fat and weight than those who consumed only one serving or less. Bear in mind that General Mills commissioned these studies. Yoplait yogurt is made by General Mills.
Calcium, found in a large number of dairy products is very nutritious. So are potassium and high-quality protein, also found in most dairy products. Recommendations suggest that you eat three servings of healthy dairy to your daily diet. So, if you happen to be someone who doesn’t eat dairy regularly, adding dairy to your diet in those quantities without reducing calories across the board – you are not going to lose weight – you are going to gain weight.
While the studies are still inconclusive and research is ongoing, the best diet approach continues to be reducing the number of calories eaten versus a higher number of calories burned. What does that mean? Eat a healthier diet, watch the calorie consumption and engage in a regular exercise routine. Moderation will provide a longer-term solution than drinking a gallon of a milk a day.
And for those of us who are lactose intolerant – well, let’s just say I’m grateful for that information.