‘Milk has important role in healthy diet and can help with weight loss’

MILK plays an active role in a healthy diet and a balanced metabolism, effectively helping people lose weight by boosting their energy levels, according to dietitian and TV presenter Paula Mee.

People who are “watching their weight” could benefit hugely by drinking milk, the TV personality told people attending a recent free “Health and Wellbeing” evening in Kilkenny, sponsored by Glanbia and the National Dairy Council.

Scientific evidence suggests that dairy intake would boost the energy levels of people on weight loss diets. Other research shows that consumption of calcium, particularly calcium from dairy products, may play a role in weight management.

Paula Mee said: “People who are trying to lose weight or control their weight, often avoid dairy products because they incorrectly assume that dairy products are fattening.

“Published research, shows that milk — more specifically skimmed milk — can help after sports with both re-hydration and with muscle recovery.

Paula Mee explains that when we exercise, we generally lose more sweat than the fluids we intake. Rehydration after sports is crucial — indeed, inadequate hydration can comprise subsequent exercise or sports performance. Muscle recovery is also important for people who exercise.

“Exercise and sports performance can lead to exercise-induced muscle damage which is associated with symptoms such as the delayed onset of muscle soreness and — functionally — there is a decreased ability to produce force, which affects the ability to train and which can affect performance levels,” says Paula Mee.

Published research from Great Britain is showing drinking milk following muscle damaging exercise can help muscle recovery.

Another recent study by researchers at McMasters University in Canada has also demonstrated that skimmed milk is an effective drink to support favourable body composition changes in women who are participating in resistance training.

“Logically milk can contain carbohydrate in relatively similar amounts to many commercially available sports drinks, it contains casein and whey protein — and milk naturally contains electrolytes, potentially making it a good sports drink,” said Paula Mee.

“Unfortunately we see a trend where women and teenage girls in particular, often cut back on dairy in a perceived effort to maintain their weight,” said Paula Mee.

“Many of these factors are modifiable — we have the capacity to control them,” explained Paula Mee. “Every meal and snack is an opportunity to boost the nutrient quality of our food choices. Balance, variety and moderation are key.

Proceeds from a raffle at the event went to the Irish Society for Autism (Kilkenny branch).