New Year's resolution - Don't forget the dairy

If you're planning to lose weight in the New Year, don't forget to include dairy foods. According to a recent study published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, adding dairy to your diet could help with the battle of the bulge.

Three Serves of Dairy The study compared the effects of consuming the recommended three servings of dairy a day with a low dairy diet. The researchers assessed the relative weight loss of 338 overweight and obese adults who consumed the two diets following a weight loss program.

After the weight loss phase, participants who had successfully lost weight were followed for a further six months. During this time they consumed either the recommended levels of dairy (three or more servings of milk, yoghurt and cheese a day), or a low level of dairy, (less than one serving a day).

The study didn't show any difference between the recommended dairy or low dairy groups in keeping weight off, but it did show that people who consumed the recommended 3 servings of dairy were able to consume almost 10% more calories without gaining weight compared with people who consumed less than one dairy serving daily.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael B. Zemel of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and his team concluded that being able to eat more calories may make it easier for people to stick to a weight-maintenance diet.

Dairy Australia Dietitian Glenys Kerrins said losing weight was a common New Year's resolution, but people often resorted to diets that restricted nutrients and eliminated food groups.

"Dairy products are often wrongly viewed as fattening by many who diet, especially women. This study suggests that three serves of dairy every day will not only help your bones but may also assist you in maintaining your weight."

Ms Kerrins suggests that you avoid thinking about food restrictions this year and aim to think about eating sensibly to nourish your body and give yourself the essential nutrition you need.

"You are more likely to keep resolutions that are positive such as eating more fruit and vegetables, and the recommended three servings of dairy products every day, as well as including regular physical activity" she said.

Reference

M.B. Zemel, J.E. Donnelly, B.K. Smith, D.K. Sullivan, J. Richards, D. Morgan-Hanusa, M.S. Mayo, X. Sun, G. Cook-Wiens, B.W. Bailey, E.L. Van Walleghen, R.A. Washburn "Effects of dairy intake on weight maintenance" Nutrition & Metabolism, 2008, 5:28.

(Source: Dairy Australia: December 2008.)