Dairy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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'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.