Nowadays, health buffs try their best to avoid dairy and fat, thinking that it will pose all kinds of health consequences. Dairy-free and fat-free are examples of food labels available in the market today. Meanwhile, a recent study shows that fat and dairy could actually be helpful in lowering the risk of diabetes.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Lund University Diabetes Center in Malmo, Sweden, found that individuals who consume at least eight or more portions of high fat dairy products daily have lesser chances of developing type 2 diabetes, compared to those who only consumer one portion each day.
The study involved an estimate of 27,000 individuals aged between 45 and 74 years old. Sixty percent were females, 40% were males. Participants who increased their consumption of food products like cream and high fat milk displayed up to 23% lower risk of developing diabetes.
Dr. Unik Ericson and colleagues at the Lund University Diabetes Centre discovered that participants who had an increased consumption of meat also displayed increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes; however, they also found that the risk shot up to higher levels for participants who consumed meat containing less fat.
According to Dr. Ericson, fats in dairy products seem to play a significant role in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. ""Our observations may contribute to clarifying previous findings regarding dietary fats and their food sources in relation to diabetes," she said during a presentation at the 2014 annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes held in Vienna.
Diabetes UK Research Communications Manager Dr. Richard Elliot clarified that more studies need to be done to confirm these findings. He also warns against increasing the amount of high fat dairy products in people's diets in an attempt to ward off diabetes. "It's important to be aware of the amount you consume as they can be high in calories which can contribute to becoming overweight, and therefore increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes," he advised.
