For most people, a larger waistline means they’re getting out of shape.
To doctors, however, they know that this often indicates a higher risk of metabolic syndrome–a group of risk factors that can put people at a higher risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes.
Until now, researchers weren’t sure how to reduce certain risk factors of this syndrome.
According to new research published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, people who consumed between 2 to 4 portions of dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, had reduced levels of risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, such as lower blood pressure.
It also meant they had a slimmer waistline as well.
“Observational studies support that dairy product intake is associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes; however, several clinical studies report conflicting results on the association between dairy product consumption and metabolic parameters,” say researchers. “The aim of this study was to determine associations between dairy product consumption and metabolic profile.”
Tracking a total of 254 French Canadians, researchers specifically looked at how much dairy they consumed on a daily basis, which included milk, cheese, and yogurt. They were initially quizzed on their intake with a food frequency questionnaire, with blood samples taken to verify how much dairy they consumed. By the end of the study, researchers had determined only 55 percent of the people quizzed consumed enough dairy recommended by Canada’s Food Guide.
As it turned out, it was a costly mistake. For those didn’t consume between 2 to 4 servings per day, the amount recommended by Canada’s Food Guide, they were more likely to have high blood pressure, increasing their risk of metabolic syndrome. Worse yet, men who didn’t consume between 2 to 4 servings daily were also more likely to be fatter.
It also increased their total blood glucose, another metabolic risk factor associated with type 2 diabetes.
“In conclusion, dairy intake is inversely associated with glycaemia [sic] and blood pressure; yet, it may modify CRP [plasma C-reactive protein] levels,” say researchers. ” Dietary data, using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and fasting blood samples were collected from 233 French Canadians. Additional well-designed intervention studies are needed to ascertain the effects of increased dairy consumption on metabolic health in healthy and in metabolically deteriorated populations.”
What You Should Do
If you’re not eating enough dairy, then now’s the chance to add more to your diet–not doing so could have serious consequences now, according to recent research. To keep your intake high, try adding a serving of dairy to every meal you eat–milk, yogurt, or cheese make easy (and tasty) additions to any meal.
Readers: Is dairy a part of your diet? Why or why not?
Sources:
More cheese, Please! News Study Shows Dairy is Good for Your Metabolic Health – ScienceDaily.com
Associations Between Dairy Intake and Metabolic Risk Parameters in a Healthy French-Canadian Population – NRCResearchPress.com
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