Drink Your Milk and LOSE Weight!Written by Cheryl Winter, M.S., R.D., R.N.
Drink Your Milk and LOSE Weight! by Cheryl Winter, M.S., R.D., R.N.We all know how important getting adequate calcium is for building strong bones and teeth, and for preventing osteoporosis, a condition of gradually weakening brittle bones. But did you know that recent research has discovered that adding calcium to your diet can also promote increased weight loss? Isn’t that great news for millions of Americans who are struggling with their weight? Of course, calcium needs a little help in this weight loss battle, through reduction of calories in your diet and/or increased physical activity, but when an adequate intake of calcium is combined with a sensible weight loss plan, results are even greater! It appears that when diet is low in calcium, a key enzyme responsible for storing fat and preventing breakdown of fat is elevated, thereby contributing to increased body fat and weight. Conversely, a high calcium intake appears to have opposite effect, resulting in both weight and body fat loss. Is It Calcium or Is It Dairy? To answer this question, researchers conducted a 24-week study with thirty-two obese adults who consumed a reduced-calorie diet designed for weight loss. The participants were divided into three groups with varied calcium/dairy intake. One group was supplied with a calcium supplement of 400-500 mg per day, with no significant source of calcium from diet. The second group received 1200-1300 mg per day from a calcium supplement, and third group received 1200-1300 mg per day from calcium-rich dairy products. The results were more than significant. All groups lost weight, but both groups receiving adequate calcium resulted in a significantly greater weight and fat loss than group with inadequate calcium intake. But wait, that’s not all! The group consuming 1200-1300 mg calcium from dairy products had an even greater weight and fat loss. This evidence suggests that a weight management plan should include adequate levels of calcium, and that dairy sources of calcium are an even better way to go. Are you Lactose Intolerant? Lactose is natural sugar contained in dairy products. According to New England Journal
| | Low Salt Diet Tips for Kids and AdultsWritten by Laura Bankston
Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for proper nutrition. But fact is that we all, including our children, consume way more salt -or rather, sodium - than we should. Why should we care how much salt (sodium) our children consume? 1.Too much salt (sodium) creates risk for high blood pressure and higher risk for heart attack. And, we women know salt's affect on bloating! 2.The eating habits of our children will continue in their adulthood - and all too frequently less healthy than they were reared when they face busy schedules they haven't expereinced before. What is recommended daily intake of salt (sodium)? The adult recommended daily intake of sodium in U.S. is less than 2,400 mg. But, you may be interested to note the daily recommendation in UK is less than 1,600 mg! That's quite a difference. So, who do you trust? It doesn't take much shopping and looking at nutrition information on foods to find that they hold a LOT of sodium. I personally think that government's recommendation of sodium intake is influenced by prepared food production. I think that they've taken into account how American's can reduce sodium intake without too much impact on economy. But, then again, depending on which association you check, you'll find different recommendations from them all. There are no intake recommendations for children, but I think that they are important due to formation of eating habits that I mentioned above.
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