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Full-Fat Dairy: Healthier Than You Think?
10 Aug
Summary
- Full-fat dairy consumption did not negatively impact weight or cholesterol.
- Study suggests dairy fat's health effects depend on food matrix interactions.
- Canadian and US food guides may not reflect current full-fat dairy research.
New research challenges the long-held belief that full-fat dairy products are detrimental to health. For decades, dietary guidelines in countries like Canada and the United States have recommended low- or no-fat dairy options to combat weight gain and cardiovascular issues. However, a recent study involving 74 overweight or obese adults, conducted between September 2020 and February 2023, indicates that consuming three servings of full-fat dairy daily had no negative impact on body weight, composition, or blood lipid levels.
Instead, participants who consumed more dairy experienced improvements in blood pressure and enhanced intake of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Researchers suggest that the health effects of dairy may be related to its 'food matrix' – the complex interaction of its components – rather than solely the saturated fat content. This contrasts with older nutritional thinking that focused on individual nutrients, and suggests that full-fat dairy could be part of a healthy diet.
