Drinking full-fat milk instead of consuming low-fat dairy products can reduce a person's risk of diabetes, based on a new study. In fact, researchers found that drinking whole milk can cut the chances of acquiring the blood sugar disease by almost half compared to low-fat diets that include skim milk.
The new study was published in the journal Circulation. It was conducted by researchers at Tufts Friedman School of Nutritional Science & Policy, and based on data form the Nurses' Health Study of Health Professionals.
Researchers analyzed blood samples of 3,333 adults between the ages of 30 and 75. They learned that people whose diets had higher levels of dairy fat had up to 46 percent lower risk of diabetes than those who ate low-fat foods.
The scientists also learned that full-fat dairy consumption was also linked to lower diabetes risk when weight gain was not a factor.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian was a researcher in the study. He explains that there is no solid evidence that eating low-fat dairy reduces risk of diabetes. However, he notes that more research is needed before people should certainly choose whole milk over skim milk to boost their general health, according to The Telegraph.
Mozaffarian argues that health experts should recommend people to drink different types of dairy products, and not recommend them based on fat content.
Dr. Susan Spratt is a diabetes specialist at Duke University School of Medicine. She also told CBS that fat can boost how full someone feels and lower total calorie intake.
Researchers believe that whole milk products help to control sugar levels in the body. In addition, high-fat foods are better than high carbohydrate or sugary foods at helping people feel full longer. That results in fewer calories.
In related news, rates of diabetes have quadrupled during the past three decades, according to CBS Miami. A study in the Lancet medical journal shows that 422 million adults around the world have the blood sugar disease.
Researchers reviewed over 700 studies that included over 4 million results. The biggest jumps in diabetes rates were in low and middle income nations.
Here's a whole milk vs. skim milk video: