I’m stuffed. Yesterday our playgroup attended an ice cream social at a local park (our city hosts several of these events throughout the summer). Ice cream treats for 25 cents each. Now that’s a real treat. Of course, my 3-year-old daughter wanted one of everything: Fudgesicles, Drumsticks, Creamsicles, Choco-Tacos, ice cream sandwiches… there had to have been more than a dozen types of ice cream treats there. I told her she could pick two of her favorites. Big mistake. Long story short—her eyes turned out to be bigger than her stomach and I ended up downing three ice cream treats. (You didn’t expect me to throw away perfectly good ice cream… even if it cost me less than a dollar did you?)
Almost 16 hours later, my stomach is still feeling the negative affects of my gluttony. There is no way I can justify downing the amount of calories and fat that I did at the ice cream social, so instead I have decided to offset my guilt by taking a hard look at the benefits of dairy products.
July may not be Dairy month (June is), but there’s no time like the present to learn about the power of milk products. You may know that dairy foods help to keep our bones and teeth strong, but did you know they might also help you to lose weight?
No, you didn’t read that wrong. According to researchers at Purdue University, dairy foods help the body burn more fat and calories after eating a meal that is rich in dairy products. Scientists found people who consumed 3 to 4 servings of dairy foods a day burned more fat that those who consumed less dairy. The reason: Calcium aids fat metabolism. The study showed that those who don’t consume adequate amounts of calcium do not metabolize or burn fat as well. In addition, researcher say dairy foods also contain conjugated linoleic acid, a special fat that helps to reduce abdominal fat, cancer and diabetes.
Let me temper this good news by adding that researchers note that there are some dairy foods that are better than others. Whereas, all dairy foods provide calcium and other important nutrients, fermented dairy products such as yogurt also provide beneficial bacteria that help the body absorb more calcium and other minerals, aid digestion, boost the immune system, reduce yeast infections and intestinal imbalances, and reduce colon and breast cancer risk.
Finally, a note about butter. Did you know butter is also considered a healthy food when consumed in moderation? Nutritionists say butter is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. Those nutrients help maintain good vision and a healthy immune system. Butter has also been shown to be rich in trace minerals, particularly selenium (a powerful antioxidant that reduces cancer) and iodine needed for normal thyroid function. Butter is especially beneficial for children. Studies show it helps improves brain and eye health in youngsters.
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