An analysis of pertinent research was carried out by Dr. Michael Tunick, a research chemist at the Agricultural Research Service at the United States Department of Agriculture. Specifically, Tunick examined research focusing on the relationship between dairy products and health and published his findings in the November issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Tunick found that many studies show that eating dairy products can stave off not only type 2 diabetes, but also high blood pressure, heart disease, tooth decay, obesity, and some types of cancer.
One of the most recent studies of dairy products and diabetes was carried out by Harvard researchers, who examined the dietary habits of just under 300,000 medical professionals, many of them doctors and nurses. The Harvard researchers found that consuming one serving of yogurt each day significantly lowered the risk of diabetes.
Another study carried out in Sweden found that men and women who consumed eight or more servings of high-fat dairy products each day reduced their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by about 23 per cent.
Interestingly, there was no link between low-fat dairy products and diabetes. It’s a finding that researchers suggest begs for a more thorough analysis.
Of course, it’s important to note that there’s more to being healthy than just eating dairy products. “If you have your yogurt, it’s probably a really good thing to have,” notes the American Diabetes Association’s Marjorie Cypress. “But along with exercise and weight loss if you need it.”
