Is Dairy Ok To Eat When Trying To Lose Weight?

This is a debate that has been going on for quite some time. One the one side a few years ago it was announced that dieters who eat dairy products burned fat more efficienty, on the other side was the argument that dairy is high in calories and fat.. so who's the winner?

I am a believer in eating a balanced diet... you don't necessarily eliminate any food group out you simply make your diet match your needs.

But on to the facts about dairy and losing fat. A recent study done at McMaster's University showed that those that include dairy into their weight loss plans were more healthy throughout the dieting process.

That's because when you cut calories your body breaks down your bones, it's simply a natural process to try and keep up with the decrease in calories. But clearly, that's not a good thing. We need strong bones!

So in the study, groups were put on different levels of dairy diets. Those that included the most diary while also cutting calories shows no change in bone density and were still successful in losing weight. On top of the no change, they also increased Vitamin D levels and actually showed improvements in bone formation. All of which are important for keeping your body healthy.

What's more is that dairy is also a great protein source. And protein is crucial during your dieting phase. Protein not only helps your muscles from breaking down but also works to increase your metabolism and make you feel fuller longer. In fact, I have several colleagues who instead of making a protein shake post workouts, just poor a cup of chocolate milk because it actually has a great protein:fat:carb ratio.

Additional Benefits of Dairy

1. High in more than just calcium and protein... also a great source of magnesium, folate, B1, B2, B6, B12, and vitamins A, D, and E
2. Low blood pressure: a study done in Spain showed that participants who ate the most amount of low fat dairy products had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure.
3. Weight and Metabolic syndrome: people who take in the most amount of dairy are less likely to develop metabolic syndrome (decreased metabolism)... and a University of Alabama (Birmingham) revealed that people who took in the most amount of low fat dairy lost more weight than those that avoided dairy.

For example...

• Are you cutting foods out like milk, but drinking diet cokes every day?
• Are you giving up on all natural foods and eating low calorie pre-cooked microwaved meals?
• Are you avoiding cheese but putting ranch dressing on your salads (with the thought: because it is just a salad?)
• Have you cut out bread and carbs completely but sluggish and tired all the time?