Remember how your Mom always told you to drink skim milk? Remember all that non-fat yogurt she told you needed to eat to stay healthy?

I guess your Mom was wrong.

Scientists have once again done research to prove that past studies were wrong. Much like the frequent shifts in medical opinion about coffee consumption, the relative healthfulness of milk fat is also under scientific scrutiny. In spite of the fact that the Federal School Lunch program only provides low fat or skim milk, and the US Government Dietary Guidelines specify the same, there is mounting evidence that high fat dairy foods are actually better for us.

According to an article in Time Magazine, research led by Dr.Dariush Mozaffarian looked at health outcomes in 3,333 adults and compared those who consumed full fat products to those who stuck to only lower fat products. The study, which lasted over 15 years, showed that the full fat consumers had a 46 percent lower likelihood of developing diabetes. A full 46 percent less risk. Wow.

Based on his results, Mozaffarian said:

“I think these findings together with results from other studies do call for a change in the policy of recommending only low-fat dairy products.”

It has long been assumed that consuming higher fat products would lead to greater weight gain. But recent studies have shown that when people reduce the calories that they take in, they tend to make them up with sugar or carbohydrates, which have a direct impact on both weight and diabetes.

Another study looked at obesity in people who kept to low fat dairy versus those who went for the full fat versions. The study was done by The American Journal of Nutrition and found, surprisingly, that women who ate more high fat dairy lowered their changes of becoming obese by a full eight percent.

This is very good news for those who crave cream in their coffee and the rich flavor of full fat milk. But it might not be time to celebrate just yet. Scientists say that more studies are necessary to verify these results.

Dr. Mozaffarian is not about to start telling people to eat as much fat as possible in order to avoid diabetes, but he is suggesting that recommendations for healthy dairy consumption include a variety of products and types.

Alas, none of the studies looked specifically at ice cream consumption, but I am hopeful that something will come out soon.

 

Featured image by Liz West via Flickr. Available through a Creative Commons license 2.0

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