Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want to lose weight. The weight loss study shows that calcium, three or four daily servings of low-fat dairy products, can help adjust your body's fat-burning machinery.
Low-fat dairy may help reduce body fat
----------------------------------------
The key is low-fat dairy sources, says lead author Hang Shi, a postdoctoral student in the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. "High-fat dietary calcium can establish obesity, but it's surprising that low-fat calcium may help reduce body fat," said Shi. "The effect is very significant, much more than we imagined it would be."
His paper on the effects of a high-calcium diet in increasing body fat loss was presented at the Experimental Biology 2000 meeting in San Diego.
"The magnitude of the findings was shocking," says Michael Zemel, PhD, director of the Nutrition Institute, who is Shi's co-author and doctoral supervisor.
The more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat it will burn
-----------------------------------------
In their past studies, Zemel and colleagues have shown that calcium stored in fat cells plays a crucial role in regulating how fat is stored and broken down by the body. It is thought that the more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat it will burn.
The researchers used mice bred to be obese in their current study. The mice were fed a special high-fat, high-sugar diet for six weeks. All had a 27% increase in body fat.
Some were then switched to a calorie-restricted diet. Of those, one group was given calcium supplements (calcium carbonate similar to Tums) and others were fed "medium" and "high" amounts of low-fat dry milk.
Body fat storage was markedly reduced by all three high-calcium diets, say the authors.
Mice getting their calcium via supplements had a 42% decrease in body fat
-----------------------------------------
Those given calcium supplements had good results, when combined with the restricted-calorie diet. Mice getting their calcium via supplements had a 42% decrease in body fat, whereas mice eating without supplements had an 8% body fat loss.
Mice on the "high-dairy" diet lost 69% body fat
-----------------------------------------
However, calcium from dairy products produced the best results. Mice on the "medium-dairy" diet had a 60% decrease in body fat, while those on the "high-dairy" diet lost 69% body fat. Researchers also found very small increases in thermogenesis, the body's core temperature, which then enhances the effects of calcium gained through diet rather than calcium in supplement form, says Zemel.
"Calcium is no magic bullet. What the study says is that ... higher-calcium diets favor burning rather than storing fat. Calcium changes the efficiency of weight loss," Zemel tells WebMD.
The human body's metabolism makes weight loss difficult, he explains. "Many people who stick to a calorie-reduced diet don't lose weight as fast as they think they should. That's because they activate metabolic protection ... Their bodies sense starvation and hang on to energy, fat, more voraciously."
Substitute high-fat dairy products with low-fat dairy
-------------------------------------------
Too many dieters tend to immediately "jettison dairy foods from their diet, because they're just sure they're going to make them fat. In fact, they are shooting themselves in the foot, because they subject themselves to more empty-calorie sources. They would be better off if they would substitute high-fat dairy products with low-fat dairy," says Zemel.
Keeping in mind that the mouse study is preliminary, it is very well done and shows promise, Pamela Meyers, PhD, a clinical nutritionist and assistant professor at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta. "But the calcium amounts the study suggests are effectively equal to what the USDA already recommends as a minimum for adults," she adds.
While nonfat dry milk was used in this study, few people buy that product, says Meyers. "Also, there are people who are lactose intolerant who can't consume dairy products. That is why we need to look at other food sources of calcium, [such as] ... dark leafy vegetables, salmon, mackerel, almonds, and oats. ... They also are very high in fiber, which helps in terms of weight management."
If using calcium supplements, it's important to choose those with added vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium, which help the body to better absorb calcium, says Meyers.
This study was supported in part by the National Dairy Council.
You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included.
Original URL (The Web version of the article)
------------
weight-loss tip: add extra calcium to a low-fat diet
About The Author
----------------
Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone and related health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for weight-loss tip: add extra calcium to a low-fat diet and several otherwebsites. If you would like to contact Michael you can e-mail him at weight-loss tip: add extra calcium to a low-fat diet
Many critics in have attacked low carb diets for only... Read More
Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More
When you hear a doctor or a personal trainer say,... Read More
When on a diet, snack attacks can hit hard and... Read More
I just came back from three days in Las Vegas.... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
When most people think of low carb diets they automatically... Read More
Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added to certain... Read More
The long marginalized San tribe of South Africa has suddenly... Read More
Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and... Read More
You have decided that you want to lose weight and... Read More
One of the most popular diets is the low carb... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding... Read More
- Are your ideas of obesity and fat control based... Read More
Food cravings are crafty -- they appear from nowhere and... Read More
You may not like what I have to say, even... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
I have tried many "diets" here in the USA and... Read More
Digestion is a chemical process. Our body combines different types... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
Any food that we take into our bodies is composed... Read More
In today's bustling world we are constantly surrounded by media... Read More
Have you ever wondered why diet books always seem to... Read More
recurring housekeeping Highland Park ..What is a calorie? The definition of a calorie is... Read More
For the past several years one subject has been coming... Read More
Fifteen years ago the doctor's suggested that we eat pasta... Read More
Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
What is the relationship between intake of nutrition and metabolism... Read More
The humble soybean boasts some extraordinary benefits. This nutritional powerhouse... Read More
So you're overweight, "fat"--to be honest--and you want to start... Read More
Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More
It all begins with water .... Water makes up 75%... Read More
You've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot... Read More
You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More
Ah the ever present battle to lose those unwanted pounds.... Read More
Let's face facts; obesity is ripe today in America and... Read More
Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More
To lose weight and keep it off you need an... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More
The South Beach Diet was not created by your typical... Read More
The Government of the Australian state of Victoria has started... Read More
Abdominal fat is now seen as a growing health hazard,... Read More
Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck" is a major surgical procedure that... Read More
A distorted body image is one of the symptoms that... Read More
Lipoxinol Weight Loss Review: Does Lipoxinol Live Up To All... Read More
Of all the possible exercises there are to help you... Read More
If you are into herbs and natural cures, you've undoubtedly... Read More
Weight Loss |