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Health & Nutrition News Alert

January - February 2001 (Vol. 5 No. 1)

A Calcium-Rich Diet May Help Women Fight the Battle of the Bulge
Research suggests maintaining a high calcium intake while dieting may help you lose or control weight. Reviewing the data from five previously conducted clinical studies of women in their 20's, 40's and 70's, researchers found a low calcium intake meant a significant increase in body weight for all age groups. Specifically, one of the studies showed that women who included 1,000 mg of calcium per day in their diet lost nearly 18 pounds more than women who did not. The researchers note the tendency of dieters to cut milk from their diet, often reducing their calcium intake, may be a contributing factor for their frequent failures at losing weight.

Davies, K.M., et al: "Calcium intake and body weight."

{Editor's note: The National Academy of Sciences recommends at least 1,000 mg of calcium a day, which can be met by at least 3 servings of dairy foods each day. Lowfat and fat free milk contain the same amount of calcium as whole milk, but without the fat.}

Taking the "Pressure" Out of Being A Teen
High blood pressure can be a risky business for both adults and teenagers. In particular, teens from minority populations who are overweight and have a family history of heart disease are among those most at risk for developing high blood pressure. In a recent study of 180 Hispanic and African American teens aged 14-16, those with diets lacking in calcium, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients (including beta carotene, vitamin E and B vitamins) had higher blood pressure than those whose diets are adequate in these nutrients. As the researchers note, these results are compatible with the results of the DASH trial (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), where adults with and without hypertension benefited from the blood pressure lowering effect of a diet including 3 servings of lowfat dairy foods and 8-10 servings of fruits and vegetables.

Falkner, B., et al: "Dietary nutrients and blood pressure in urban minority adolescents at risk for hypertension." Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, September 2000; 154: 918-922.

{Editor's note: milk, cheese and yogurt provide calcium, magnesium and potassium.}

Culture For Your Kids
Besides tasting good and being good for you, yogurt also contains beneficial bacteria that may ease gastrointestinal disorders. A recent research perspective looked at how certain healthy bacteria - often referred to as probiotics - may offer a range of benefits. Two different types of bacteria present in yogurt have been found to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea in children. While more research is needed, several other related studies have been conducted to test the usefulness of probiotics in treating other ailments, such as respiratory infections and food allergies.

Friedrich, M.J.: "A bit of culture for children: probiotics may improve health and fight disease." Journal of the American Medical Association , 2000; 284(11): 920-921.

Kids and Teens Should Pass on Pop and Make it Milk
Kids and teens need to skip nutrient-void soft drinks and start guzzling more single-serve containers of milk, suggests a new study. Researchers assert that children and teens who ditch milk for carbonated soft drinks may be affecting the nutrient quality of their diets. In the study, milk drinkers were more likely to achieve the recommended intakes of several vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, folate, vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium, while children who drank soft drinks were less likely to achieve the recommended intakes of nutrients such as vitamin A, calcium and magnesium. The researchers note that a decrease of 1 glass of carbonated soda coupled with an increase of 1 glass of milk or juice could have a substantial effect on a child's daily nutrient intake.

Ballew, C. et al: "Beverage choices affect adequacy of children's nutrient intakes." Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 2000; 154:1148-1152.

{Editor's note: The National Academy of Sciences recommends children ages 9-18 consume 1,300 mg of calcium a day or the equivalent of four servings of milk, cheese or yogurt.}

Milk's Merits for Moms-to-Be
Along with aiding in your baby's bone growth and development, adequate calcium intake during pregnancy also can protect your infant from lead toxicity. Lead and calcium are often released from mom's bones during the latter half of pregnancy when the baby's bones are growing the fastest and calcium is most needed. New research indicates that eating a diet high in calcium may help prevent lead overexposure by limiting the amount of lead entering the bloodstream. The authors suggest calcium intake may provide some protection at not only near the recommended 1,000 mg level, but also well above it.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism , December 2000; 85 (12): 4635-4638.

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You can rely on the National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of (ADA/DC) Nebraska for credible, up-to-date news on dairy nutrition research, public policies on nutritional issues and special dairy nutrition campaigns. Please browse the Nutrition/Health Research tab for more information. If you need addition information or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Director of Nutrition Education Jennifer Meyer at (402) 592-3355 or toll free at (888) NEB-MILK.