Study finds full-fat dairy may be healthier than previously thought

Researchers at the University of Toronto studied 74 adults who were overweight or obese. The participants were randomly placed in three dietary groups and followed for 12 weeks.

One group followed a low-dairy diet with calorie restriction. A second consumed three servings of dairy each day while maintaining an energy-neutral diet. The third was allowed to eat without restriction while also consuming three daily servings of dairy.

The study found no meaningful differences in weight gain, body composition, cholesterol or insulin resistance among the participants. The findings concerned diets that included dairy products, including full-fat options, rather than isolated nutrients.

Participants with higher dairy consumption showed improvements in blood pressure. Their diets also provided greater amounts of calcium, protein and vitamin D, according to the study.

Harvey Anderson, the University of Toronto professor who led the research, said dairy contains casein and whey proteins together with fat and other nutrients. “With dairy products, it’s got two proteins — casein and whey — that are bound together with fat and with nutrients mixed in,” he said.

Anderson said the results demonstrated the importance of considering whole foods when developing nutritional research and dietary guidance, rather than focusing on individual nutrients. He added: “Keep it simple, eat a variety of foods and not too much of anything.”