Seattle Forrest

The study, published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found no significant link between dairy fats and cause of death or, more specifically, heart disease and stroke – two of the country’s biggest killers often associated with a diet high in saturated fat. In fact, certain types of dairy fat may help guard against having a severe stroke, the researchers reported.

“Our findings not only support, but also significantly strengthen, the growing body of evidence which suggests that dairy fat, contrary to popular belief, does not increase risk of heart disease or overall mortality in older adults. In addition to not contributing to death, the results suggest that one fatty acid present in dairy may lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, particularly from stroke,” said Marcia Otto, Ph.D., the study’s first and corresponding author and assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health.
…

The study evaluated how multiple biomarkers of fatty acid present in dairy fat related to heart disease and all-cause mortality over a 22-year period. This measurement methodology, as opposed to the more commonly used self-reported consumption, gave greater and more objective insight into the impact of long-term exposure to these fatty acids, according to the report.

Nearly 3,000 adults age 65 years and older were included in the study, which measured plasma levels of three different fatty acids found in dairy products at the beginning in 1992 and again at six and 13 years later.

None of the fatty acid types were significantly associated with total mortality. In fact one type was linked to lower cardiovascular disease deaths. People with higher fatty acid levels, suggesting higher consumption of whole-fat dairy products, had a 42 percent lower risk of dying from stroke.

https://www.uth.edu/media/story.htm?...6-230d71b834ac

rubiksoval

Do people actually pay attention to these studies and adapt their diets?

I swear, in the last 20 years or so I've been aware of this "scientific study" crap it seems nearly everything has gone full circle, sometimes multiple times. What's good is actually bad until it's good again, etc. It's ridiculous.

Aubergine 

TimothyH

Its a pretty big jump to go from this study to the belief that it is OK for most people to consume large quantities of dairy fat.

At the end of the day there is always this fact; too much dairy fat makes you fat.


-Tim-

Carbonfiberboy 

Oh yes. We heard about this some time ago and started buying whole milk instead of 2%, eating higher-fat ice cream, not being terrified of butter, etc. It's just science. The findings change sometimes, but what we know currently is the best information we have. No point in ignoring our best information.

rumrunn6

lol, reminds me ...

rubiksoval

The more cynical side of me think it shows that you can get results to show whatever you want, and it's interesting to see which industry benefits from certain things being good or bad.

rubiksoval

I think the only legitimate takeaway is that too much of anything can be bad.

tyrion

Definitely follow the money, or look for a money trail. Mars Candy has a research center (https://www.marscocoascience.com/) that has discovered many amazing benefits of eating chocolate.

redlude97

Its mostly funded by the National Institute of Health and its subsidiaries

tyrion

I see. Good to know.

Seattle Forrest

Too many calories make you fat, it doesn't matter the source. There's nothing special about fat, although it tastes good, and removing it often means adding sugar to make up for the flavor. A glass of whole milk is a healthier treat than a glass of chocolate milk. But fats are essential nutrients. And the combination of protein and fat in dairy is very satiating.

Dave Cutter

My grandfather (Dad's, Dad) died VERY young of a massive heart attack (before I was born). I grew-up with my Dad following every faddish, published, or study-generated heart-healthy idea ever heard of. Dad had three heart attacks in his late 50's. But after he recovered.... Dad abandoned all the healthy eating ideas and enjoyed himself. Of course Dad still died.... but it wasn't heart related.

I think it's only natural to want to live a "healthy lifestyle" (whatever that is). I think most people somewhat alter their lifestyles (or what they say about their lifestyle) to fit current, popular ideas.

If I live a long life.... I will credit lots of cycling miles... and salads for lunch. If I die before it's expected (I am already too old to die young) others will blame my genetics.

Rollfast

The real problem is affording milk, period.

KraneXL

Point being?

rubiksoval

Discourse.

Colnago Mixte

Brevity truly is the soul of wit.

Seattle Forrest

There's so much "information" out there, you have to be a discerning consumer. You have to be able to tell the difference between a good article about a quality study (or ideally many of them) and a hastily written story in a "newspaper" that covers everything. Let's not even talk about advice from the diet industry about how we should interpret all the noise.

Fat is clearly not the monster it was made out to be. I've switched from 2% to whole milk, and lately I've been trying to drink more of it in place of Nuun water after hard rides, because of all the stuff we've learned to be true.

If you believe people can't know anything about nutrition because it's too confusing, I don't know why you'd want to frequent a nutrition subforum?

berner

As a boy in high school, I worked on a dairy farm during summer. When I arrived at work in the morning, the owner of the farm had already done the morning milking and was in the house having breakfast. My first job of the day was to clean the barn and milking machines. The first year, milk was kept in milk cans of about 20 gallons each. The second year a bulk tank with built in cooler was installed. This tank held about 250 gallons of very cold milk. Before cleaning the milking machines, I would scoop up a tin cup full of fresh milk, that was pure butterfat as that fat always rose to the top of the tank. I still remember how rich and delicious that milk/fat tasted.

redlude97

But what about a glass of whole chocolate milk? I love me a glass of Smith Brothers local chocolate milk even though its 2% and I drink whole milk normally

Rollfast

We could argue about adding cheese and ham to broccoli, but I'd rather skip the discussion and eat it.

wolfchild

I read them for interest sake but I don't adopt any of their diets...I follow what I call intuitive eating....I am naturally drawn to certain foods. I eat intuitively from the list of foods which have worked for me for the last 48 years of my life. Never been overweight yet. I did stray away few times form my usual eating patterns to experiment with different things but always keep coming back to the same few basic foodstuffs.

Rollfast

I haven't lost weight yet, so I figure the plan is working.

wolfchild

The problem with commercially made chocolate milk is that they remove most of the fat and add a lot of sugar in its place. It's ok after a hard workout but most people don't workout hard enough to deserve chocolate milk...Personally if I crave chocolate milk I just make my own... I buy some full fat milk and some plain unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix 1-2 tbsp of cocoa with 2 cups of full fat milk and you get yourself a healthy delicious beverage, I don't even use any sweetener.

Colnago Mixte

Kids I grew up with who lived on dairies, would swear by raw un-pasteurized milk. They would refuse to drink the pasteurized stuff sold at the supermarket.

Doesn't seem as though you were harmed by it too much. As someone who eats steamed veggies with a ton of butter on them, that butterfat sounds damned good.