If you have been sticking to low-fat or fat-free milk in order to maintain a healthy diet, it may be time to revisit your beliefs. New research shows that milk fats can help prevent obesity and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

 Prevention of obesity
A study published by a Swedish team of researchers shows that middle aged men who consumed high-fat milk and other fatty milk products like butter and cream, were less likely to become obese than men who rarely or never ate high-fat dairy. The study was conducted over a period of twelve years, and adjusted for factors like consumption of fruit and vegetables, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, age, education, and profession.

 

 

Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
The European Journal of Nutrition compiled 16 studies that were related to milk fatsand their effect on health. It was initially believed that consuming milk fatsincreased the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The team that reviewed these studies concluded that milk fats did not increase the risk of heart disease in any way. In fact, since they lowered the risk of obesity, they indirectly lowered the risk of heart disease as well.

 

Nutritional content in milk
Studies have shown that it does not matter which type of milk you drink (skim milk, 2 percent or whole fat milk) as long as you drink two glasses of it every day, since it reduces the chances of you having a heart attack or stroke, according to a British study. While milk does contain plenty of unsaturated fats, regardless of which type of milk you drink, each glass still contains more than a third of your daily requirement of calcium, eight grams of protein and plenty of other nutrients like potassium, phosphorous and Vitamins D and B.

Article Courtesy: Healthmeup