Do you have milk? New research suggests that you should if you want to lose weight. The study shows that calcium - three or four daily portions of dairy products with low fat - can help adjust the fat burning machinery of your body.
The key is low fat dairy sources, says lead author Hang Shi, a postdoctoral student at the Nutritional Institute at Tennessee University in Knoxville. "High fat dietary calcium can establish obesity, but it is surprising that low-fat calcium can help reduce body fat," the WebMD said. "The effect is very significant, much more than we imagine it would be."
Your role on the effects of a high calcium diet in increasing body fat loss was presented at the Experimental Meeting of Biology 2000 in San Diego.
"The magnitude of the findings was shocking," says Michael Zemel, PhD, director of the Nutrition Institute, which is the co-author of the Shi and the doctoral supervisor.In their previous studies, Zemel and colleagues have shown that calcium stored in fat cells plays a crucial role in setting the way fat is stored and broken by the body. It is believed that the more calcium exists in a fat cell, the further fat will burn.
Researchers used mice created to be obese in their current study. The rats were fed with a special high-fat diet and high sugar for six weeks. All had an increase of 27% in body fat.
Some were then changed to a restricted calorie diet. Data, a group received calcium supplements (calcium carbonate similar to tums) and others were fed with "average" and "high" quantities of low-fat dry milk.
The body fat storage was markedly reduced by all three high calcium diets, the authors say.These calcium supplements had good results when combined with the restricted-calorie diet. The rats receive their calcium through supplements had a 42% reduction in body fat, while eating no supplement rats had a body fat loss of 8%.
However, the calcium of dairy products produced the best results. Mice in the diet "of average dairy" had a 60% decrease in body fat, while those in the diet "high dairy" lost 69% body fat. The researchers also found very small increases in thermogenesis - the central temperature of the body - which increases the effects of calcium acquired through diet instead of calcium in supplement form, says Zemel.Vegan Diet Weight Loss - Calcium and Fat-Burning
"Calcium is not magical. What the study says is that ... Superior calcium diets favor burning instead of storing fat. Calcium changes the efficiency of weight loss," says Zemel.
The metabolism of the human body makes it difficult to lose weight, it explains. "Many people get to a reduced calorie diet do not lose weight as fast as they think they should. That's because they activate metabolic protection ... their bodies feel hungry and fit into energy - fat - more voraciously. "
Many dieters tend to immediately "Jettison Laticy Foods from your diet because they are sure they will make them fat. In fact, they are throwing themselves on the foot, because they are subjected to more sources of empty calories. They They would be better to replace dairy products with high fat content, "says Zemel.
Keeping in mind that the study of the mouse is preliminary, is very well done and shows promise, Pamela Meyers, PhD, a clinical nutritionist and assistant teacher of Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, tells WebMD. "But calcium values study suggestals are effectively equal to which the USDA already recommends as a minimum for adults," she adds.
While nonfat dry milk was used in this study, few people buy this product, says Meyers. "In addition, there are people who are lactose intolerant who can not consume dairy products. That's why we need to look at other calcium food sources, [like] ... dark leafy vegetables, salmon, mackerel, almonds and oats.. .. They are also very high in fibers, which helps in terms of weight management. "
If you are using calcium supplements, it is important to choose those with adding vitamin D, zinc and magnesium, which help the body to better absorb calcium, says Meyers.
This study was supported in part by the National Council of Leitians..
- According to a recent study in mice, a diet that includes low-fat dairy products can help weight loss. The researchers say this is because calcium stored in fat cells plays an important role in storage and fat detailing.
- Current recommendations encourage men to consume 1,000 mg to 1,200 mg calcium per day and women to consume 1,000 mg to 1,300 mg per day.
