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Increase Dairy Intake to Decrease Body Fat |
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If you are looking to maintain your beach-friendly figure this summer, be sure to pack plenty of dairy foods in your beach bag. A new study shows consuming more dairy foods may ward off fat accumulation, adding to the body of science linking dairy foods and weight management.
Getting plenty of dairy foods each day—without cutting calories—may reduce body fat, according to a new study out of Purdue University. As part of a one-year intervention, 51 young (average age 20 years), normal-weight women consumed diets containing different amounts of dairy foods, either high dairy (1,300-1,400 mg calcium), medium dairy (1,000-1,100 mg), or control (<800 mg), while keeping calories constant. Six months after completing the intervention, the women in the high-dairy group maintained a significantly higher calcium intake, which was associated with reduced fat mass accumulation when compared to the control group. Researchers said that although the effect was small, if higher dairy calcium intake is maintained over time, it may prevent age-related fat mass gain. “Although the perception exists that dairy products will lead to increased weight,” researchers said, “In fact, dairy product intake may prevent fat mass gain.”
Eagan M, et al. Effect of 1-year dairy product intervention on fat mass in young women: 6-month follow-up. Obesity. 2006;14(12): 2242-2248.
Scientific synopsis provided by Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD, United Dairy Industry of Michigan
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