Dairy

heywithers

I'm new to eating healthy and I was wondering if someone who has studied nutrition can answer this for me

I hear conflicting things about dairy.. some say it's bad some say its good for you
I am wanting to lose weight and I usually drink half a cup of milk a day and a stick of string cheese a day and there might be dairy hidden in other products i eat also not sure.

Is consuming a small amount of cheese and milk every day hindering my weight loss at all?

And a separate question: if I should consume dairy does it need to be full fat? All my dairy I have in my fridge is low fat or 0%

Thanks in advance!

khall86790

I don't have any studies to back this up, but I do have my own personal experience.
I haven't cut milk or cheese out of my diet (I did switch to a low fat milk though and I try to stay away from high calorie cheeses, I use a lot more mozzarella now than I ever did before) and I have been very successful so far.

Rarity2013

I've read several times that low-fat dairy can actually help you to lose weight. I have no idea if its true, but there are plenty of successful dieters who consume plenty of dairy.

delonda1

the problem with low-fat dairy and is that it usually contains other unnatural products so be cautious and label read. also the fat being cut out is GOOD FAT! Youre better off eating a smaller portion of reg fat that dairy.

and dairy can cause bloating in a lot of people and the bigger issue the recommended dairy intake is wayyyy too high. I wouldnt necessarily completely cut dairy out but i would limit dairy intake.

NavyMommy

I love dairy and consume probably more than I should everyday. Plus, the protein in it helps me meet my protein goals for the day. From a "whole foods" perspective full fat is the way to go, but for me I am opting for low fat while I'm losing weight, and will transition to full fat once I'm in maintenance.

Dauntlessness

My husband, which is someone who researches the heck out of things before he makes claims, told me that full fat items are better for you than low fat or no fat ones. Not only for the fact they add sugar and chemicals to them but to eat full fat for the health benefits. Also animal fat and butter is better for you than fats such as crisco and hydrogenated oils.

I guess there was a study that tracked heart problems and cancer in America for the last 100 or so years. When crisco and hydrogenated oils were introduced there was a major rise in cancer and heart issues. Just like with everything, if you overly process something and or add chemicals you run the risks of it having adverse effects. Just like with gluten products, it was unheard of 100 years ago but now they are saying between 30-50% of the population has some sort of gluten intolerance. I believe its because there are different strains and it has been so modified so much its not even close to the same product our ancestors ate.
See my other post:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Dauntlessness/view/gluten-sensitivity-do-you-have-it-517834

Apparently saturated fat is not as bad for you as we once thought. You need it for healthy brain function. I don't have a whole lot of time to write any more. I have some stuff to do today but do some research for yourself. You'll be surprised. My thoughts: Some lard (be careful with it as its still high in sat fat), real butter, olive oil and full fat milk if you can. My husband has a high BP(even though we used to drink skim milk and 1% for years) so we do 2% but we both really want whole.

Cr01502

This will undoubtedly turn into a 12 page debate featuring some MFP's finest study and link finders as your going to see many studies with conflicting evidence. All I'm going to say is that I've lost 60lbs drinking dairy, getting regular exercise, and staying in a calorie deficit. As long your not lactose intolerant or have are allergic to dairy I say go for it.

As for whether it's full fat, low fat, or non fat that's entirely up to you. If you need more fat in your diet then drink full fat.

Athena53

I'm no scientist but I've been on 5:2 fasting for 2 years and am maintaining a weight I'm very happy with (129 lbs., 5'7"). On my fast days I have 8 oz. of Greek yogurt, nonfat, a brand with nothing in it but milk and yogurt cultures. I add honey to it. String cheese is a favorite snack on road trips when all the other stuff in the Mini-Mart at the gas stops is pure crap. It doesn't seem to have hurt.

I think that total calorie intake, and generally keeping it healthy, is more important than specific components.

KarenJanine

Unless you have a lactose intolerance, there is nothing wrong with dairy, but these threads usually result in heated debates.

Either way, eating dairy will not make you fat. Eating more calories than they burn is what makes people fat.

sijomial

At least no-one has made the "cow's milk is for baby cows" comment yet but I bet it won't be long now...

I would add that string cheese is for baby humans though - eat real cheese!!!

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

I eat a half cup of reduced fat cheese (full fat seems to upset my stomach for some reason) and a tsp of peanut butter with my vitamins to help absorb the fat soluble vitamins.

oliviabog

I had my gall bladder removed recently and ever since I'm massively put off cheese when i used to love it. Instead of hard cheese i sometimes have light cottage cheese. I wouldn't want cut dairy out as it has huge health benefits. With milk i drink skimmed, skimmed milk has higher quantities of omegas and other nutrients than higher fat milk. Fats are essential as long as they're the right ones.

maegmez

I have never studied nutrition but I had to cut out dairy due to breastfeeding my dairy and soya allergic baby. I lost 30 pounds in about 4 months just cutting out diary. When we finished breastfeeding, I started eating dairy again and gained 40 pounds! I wasn't a member here back then nor was I working on getting healthy.

Now I just eat dairy in moderation and I always stay within my calorie goals and I don't eat alot of fat so my diary doesn't hurt me. I enjoy my cheese and my pizza. I have lost 94 pounds in about 9 months.

_SABOTEUR_

This will undoubtedly turn into a 12 page debate featuring some MFP's finest study and link finders as your going to see many studies with conflicting evidence. All I'm going to say is that I've lost 60lbs drinking dairy, getting regular exercise, and staying in a calorie deficit. As long your not lactose intolerant or have are allergic to dairy I say go for it.

As for whether it's full fat, low fat, or non fat that's entirely up to you. If you need more fat in your diet then drink full fat.

^This. I have lost a fair amount of weight also and I eat dairy every day.

redraidergirl2009

First of all you do not need dairy, that is a fact.

If you want to have it go for it if it doesn't make you sick. But it probably won't hinder weightloss unless you eat a lot because its high in fat.

BeachIron

I will quit dairy when someone takes it out of my cold dead hands.

I lost all of my weight drinking milk, and eating yogurt and cheese (the latter often on pizza). Focus on basic nutrition and portion control, and ignore the never-ending tsunami of claims about this food or that being bad for you.

semarsh12

Unless you have a lactose intolerance, there is nothing wrong with dairy, but these threads usually result in heated debates.

Either way, eating dairy will not make you fat. Eating more calories than they burn is what makes people fat.

This is all you need to know.

_noob_

...in before someone says dairy and chemicals in our food are bad but said person had artificially flavored whey protein in their diary.

wigglingalltheway

As has been previously said forget the fat is bad myth. Only unnatural fats are bad.

I eat a high fat diet and have lost weight with ease. 3 years of low fat did nothing. The fat we eat has absolutely nothing to do with the fat we store (unless you eat tons of refined carbs / sugars too in which case this fat is stored as its not used up - in layman terms).

Eat dairy and enjoy it. Full fat is always best.

alpine1994

From personal experience, I eat a greek yogurt every day (mostly low fat but I'll throw in a full fat yogurt once a week or so), I have a light string cheese most days, and I always put cream or skim milk in my coffee. I reached my goal weight eating these things. It's not so much as one particular type of food that would hinder weight loss; it's eating too much food in general.

neanderthin

Unless you have a lactose intolerance, there is nothing wrong with dairy, but these threads usually result in heated debates.

Either way, eating dairy will not make you fat. Eating more calories than they burn is what makes people fat.

This is all you need to know.

Agreed.

Linybean

I am lactose intolerant, so I eat fat-free dairy products. I have found nothing puts weight on me faster (or upsets my stomach more) than full-fat dairy. You can find people to argue both sides, but I believe dairy is an important part of your diet because it's high in protein and calcium and usually contains Vitamin D. All of those things are important, but especially so for women! Use your own good judgement...your body will tell you what works. Good luck to you!

laserturkey

Calories from dairy won't cause weight gain any more or less than calories from anything else. I'm vegetarian and I also have to avoid wheat, so I get a LOT of my protein from a variety of dairy products.

rml_16

I am lactose intolerant, so I eat fat-free dairy products.

Lactose is sugar. Fat free dairy contains lactise. That makes no sense.

To the breast-feeder: Breast feeding burns a lot of calories. I doubt dairy was your issue.

Charlottesometimes23

It's absolutely fine to eat dairy if it doesn't cause you tummy problems. Low fat is fine because the type of fat in dairy is often saturated fat, considered a 'bad' fat. The 'good' fats are found more in vegetable and fish oils.

Mainstream dietetics and nutritional science considers dairy an important part of a healthy diet. Those with lactose intolerance or IBS can choose lactose free products or other alternatives.

wigglingalltheway

Calories from dairy won't cause weight gain any more or less than calories from anything else. I'm vegetarian and I also have to avoid wheat, so I get a LOT of my protein from a variety of dairy products.

Not to start a flame war but strictly speaking cals from dairy will cause less gain than cals from many other sources because they are low in sugars. Why they might be fattening is because they are calorie dense and such people eat more cals from them than they believe they are. I.e. a nice nibble can be 100 cals. doesn't take many nibbles to make a full meals worth of cals! but 100 cals of cheese is say less fattening than 100 cals of bread for instance.

MorgueBabe

I'm in the dairy is bad for you band wagon.
Cows milk is formulated for a growing baby calf. Basically we're drinking breast milk from another species after we've been weened off our own.

To me makes no sense.

Not trying to start an argument. I don't eat dairy and I've seen a little weight some off, my skin improved and so did my joint pain as well my chronic headaches.

bumblebums

If dairy doesn't give you digestive problems, eat it. It's a great source of all sorts of nutrients. It will certainly NOT hinder your weight loss; numerous studies have shown that dairy consumption is associated with lower body weight. There is a lot of hysteria perpetrated by various proponents of elimination diets that is both irresponsible and uninformed.

As to whether you should eat full fat or skim/reduced fat dairy, it depends on your macronutrient needs. I eat fat-free dairy when I want to eat something else that's fatty, but otherwise I prefer full fat because it just tastes better to me.

wigglingalltheway

If dairy doesn't give you digestive problems, eat it. It's a great source of all sorts of nutrients. It will certainly NOT hinder your weight loss; numerous studies have shown that dairy consumption is associated with lower body weight. There is a lot of hysteria perpetrated by various proponents of elimination diets that is both irresponsible and uninformed.

As to whether you should eat full fat or skim/reduced fat dairy, it depends on your macronutrient needs. I eat fat-free dairy when I want to eat something else that's fatty, but otherwise I prefer full fat because it just tastes better to me.

I think thats a key thing we all need to experiment and see what works for you.

for me losing the notion that fat and sat fat was somehow bad has transformed by life and health. For others this may not be the case and the opposite may be true. Some research fields claim it can be dictated by blood type i.e. O = high fat A = more grain based. I remain unconvinced that its that simple...

crista_b

I'm in the dairy is bad for you band wagon.
Cows milk is formulated for a growing baby calf. Basically we're drinking breast milk from another species after we've been weened off our own.

To me makes no sense.

Not trying to start an argument. I don't eat dairy and I've seen a little weight some off, my skin improved and so did my joint pain as well my chronic headaches.

I agree with this to a point, but I also still consume some dairy. I haven't been able to give it up completely, and I say to each his own. If you don't have an allergy or are lactose intolerant, go ahead and stick with it; it's not going to hinder your weight loss.

carissar7

I completely cut out dairy from my diet a few months ago because I was trying to figure out if it was causing me stomach pain. I also cut out grains too. I no longer drink milk (I drink almond milk and just don't miss cow's milk at all) but I'm slowly eating cheese again. Only in small amounts though, I will sprinkle some on my eggs here and there. Or if I'm really hungry for something but don't have a lot of time I will grab a few slices of cheese and just eat them quick, it usually fills me up fine because of the fat. Speaking of fat- If I WERE to eat full-on dairy, I would not buy low-fat or no-fat. Fat is good for you, and you're missing out on a ton of nutrients by buying low-fat. It's all a personal preference in the long run, but if I did go back to drinking milk, I would not cheat myself by getting 2%. I also think that fat-free or low-fat yogurt is one of the most disgusting things I've ever tried. Fat all the way! I've also been curious to try raw milk, but it's illegal in the state of NY unless you buy it directly from a farmer.