Many of you may remember the study by Michael Zemel, director of the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee, which showed that consuming at least three servings of low-fat dairy such as milk or yogurt helped participants burn more fat and lose more weight than those who had a low intake of calcium. Following this, the dairy industry introduced the 24 ounces in 24 hours campaign.
Some yogurt manufacturers even touted the benefits of a calcium-rich diet on their cartons. Many Americans jumped on the dairy bandwagon – but was it too soon to know for sure?
A new study of weight loss in men over a 12-year period showed that consuming increased servings of dairy a day did not have any more effect on weight loss than the low-calcium group. Half of the men were overweight or obese.
Another study of overweight men and women at the University of Vermont showed that a low-calorie diet, along with low-fat servings of dairy, did not increase weight loss for dieters.
Some even believe that high-fat or full-fat dairy can help prevent weight gain from a substance called conjugated linoleic acid naturally occurring in dairy and some meats.
It seems that either way, it is too soon to tell whether dairy is beneficial for weight loss. But it is important to get your recommended daily amount of calcium to prevent fractures and promote bone health.
