Myth Busting Down at the Dairy

Did you know sometimes dairy is unfairly blamed for causing all sorts of problems, when in fact the opposite is true? Despite a wealth of health benefits, including our focus at Vitality on the power of high, quality dairy protein to keep you stronger for longer, dairy foods sometimes get a bad rap.

So it’s time to bust the biggest myths:

Heart Disease:

There are a number of factors which can increase your risk of heart disease including inactivity, smoking, being overweight and a poor diet, high in fat and excess energy / kilojoules. Consuming low fat dairy products such as trim milk and reduced fat yoghurts as part of a varied healthy diet means that there is a way for everyone to enjoy the goodness of dairy and reap the benefits of dairy protein.

Asthma:

While infants with allergies may be more likely to develop asthma later in life, it is now accepted in the medical community that dairy products do not cause a person to become asthmatic. The most common cause of asthma is allergens in the air such as dust, pollen and mites. Food is not a common trigger; in fact data indicates that only 2.5 per cent of the population suffering from asthma is triggered by food and drinks.

Weight Problems:

Maintaining a healthy weight can be hard and there are many reasons why we gain weight. But essentially weight gain occurs when you eat more food than your body needs and unused energy (kilojoules from food) is stored as body fat. Along with regular exercise, choosing reduced fat or low fat dairy varieties, which are lower in kilojoules, can help adults to enjoy a healthy balanced diet. You can read more about dairy and body weight here.

Lactose Intolerance:

Lactose is the carbohydrate present in milk. Normally lactose is digested by the lactase enzyme in the gut. Some people have lower levels of the lactase enzyme and are unable to break down all the lactose from their diet (caucasians typically have low levels of lactose intolerance with significantly increased prevalence seen in non-caucasians such as the Polynesian and Māori communities). Lactose intolerance is not an allergic reaction to dairy, but can result in uncomfortable tummy pains, bloating or diarrhoea. Most people can still enjoy the goodness of a serve of dairy by choosing foods with lower levels of lactose such as hard cheeses or yoghurt.

So we hope we’ve convinced you to ditch those dairy myths? It’s time to embrace the powerful role dairy protein plays in “anti-aging”, helping muscles constantly repair and recover and slow down deterioration, so that you can live stronger for longer.

Excited to learn more?

Just click on the links within this article for more in-depth advice and tips or browse our archives.  And start your journey to staying stronger for longer today.

Making change takes time and effort, so you need to know that it’s going to be worth it. Fortunately, you don’t have to take our word for it – you can share your own experiences and learn how others have discovered benefits like increased strength, better mobility and sustained energy.

Source: Fonterra website.