What Do I Need To Know About Dairy Products And Their Effects On My Weight And Health?

March 9, 2009 -- Question: What do I need to know about dairy products and their effects on my weight and health?

Answer: Dairy products provide calcium, protein, minerals and other healthy nutrients in the diet. What many people don't realize is it's probably not the superfood that we've been led to believe -- there are other sources of calcium and protein.

However, consuming a moderate amount of low-fat dairy products can be helpful, especially for children. Try and avoid high-saturated-fat dairy products such as full-fat milk, cheese, butter and ice cream, or consume those in moderate amounts.

There's been some controversy in the literature of it: by consuming dairy products it can help us to better manage our weight. The fact of the matter is that probably isn't a big effect. They provide calories like everything else and moderation is the key.