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   Sep 17

Eating full-fat milk, cream and cheese CUTS risk of type 2 diabetes, study finds

Eight or more full-fat dairy portions a day cuts risk of type 2 diabetes by 23%

High-fat fermented milk – found in yoghurts or full-fat milk – cuts risk by 20%

People who consume 30ml of cream cut their risk by 15%

Those who ate lots of meat increased their risk, regardless of fat content

In fact, the risk of developing diabetes increased with lower fat meats

Expected by 2030 there will be 4.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes

High fat dairy products such as cream, full-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese can actually reduce the risk of developing diabetes, according to a new study.

Swedish researchers found that people with the highest consumption of high-fat dairy products – eight or more portions a day – have a 23 per cent lower risk of developing the condition than those who eat one portion or less per day.

However they also found eating a lot of meat – especially low-fat forms – increased the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Swedish researchers found that people who consumed eight or more full-fat dairy portions a day cut their risk of type 2 diabetes by 23 per cent, compared to people who ate one or less portion a day

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to function properly, or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance.

This type of diabetes tends to be diagnosed in older people, and is commonly a result of being overweight or obese and inactive.

By 2030, it is expected that there will be 4.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes, with 90% of those affected having type 2, according to NHS Choices.

Previous research suggests that fats could affect how the body breaks down sugar and also insulin sensitivity – and may therefore have a crucial role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

In fact, some have shown that eating fat gives good control over blood glucose and insulin levels.

In the new study, the researchers wanted to examine the association between intake of fat from dairy or meat and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

They followed 26,930 Swedish people aged 45 to 74, nearly two thirds of whom were women.

After following the participants for 14 years, 2,860 people developed type 2 diabetes.

Scientists found that the people who consumed the most cream – 30ml or more a day – were 15 per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who consumed the least cream, about 0.3ml a day.

High-fat fermented milk, found in yoghurts or milk with a fat content of around three per cent – such as the full-fat milk sold in the UK – also reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 20 per cent, when comparing the highest consumers with the non-consumers.

The study’s lead author Dr Ulrika Ericson, of Lund University Diabetes Centre in Malmo, Sweden, said: ‘Our observations may contribute to clarifying previous findings regarding dietary fats and their food sources in relation to type 2 diabetes.

‘The decreased risk at high intakes of high fat dairy products, but not of low-fat dairy products, indicate that dairy fat, at least partly, explains observed protective associations between dairy intake and type 2 diabetes.

By 2030, it is expected that there will be 4.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes, with 90 per cent of those affected having type 2

‘Meat intake was associated with increased risk of developing diabetes regardless of fat content.’

She added: ‘Our findings suggest, that in contrast to animal fats in general, fats specific to dairy products may have a role in prevention of type 2 diabetes.’

However Dr Richard Elliot, Diabetes UK Research Communications Manager, said more research is needed and warned people against adding high fat dairy products to their diets in a bid to protect against type 2 diabetes.

‘Consumption of dairy products can form part of a healthy diet, but 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.

‘More research will be needed before we change our advice that the best way to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes is by maintaining a healthy weight through increased physical activity and a balanced diet that is low in salt, saturated fat and sugar and rich in fruit and vegetables.’

The study’s findings were presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Austria.

Source: Daily Mail

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