Milk is a popular drink due to its nutritional content. There are various types of milk that you can find on the market, ranging from low-fat milk to full cream milk. Although most will choose low-fat milk which is considered better for health, in fact, whole milk, which has a higher fat content, is also good for your body.

Based on the results of a recent study published in the BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care journal, researchers found that frequent consumption of milk, especially whole milk, is known to help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a set of factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome includes high blood pressure, high fasting glucose levels, high triglyceride levels, and obesity.

In the study, researchers analysed 147,812 participants from 21 countries, including Asia, North and South America, Africa, and Europe. The age of participants ranged from 35 to 70 years. To find out more about their diet, each participant was asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their food and beverage intake during the average follow-up period of 9 years. In addition, their health history data were also collected to determine whether or not there were cases of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

Researchers found that higher intake of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, and whole milk was associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, which also decreases the risk of hypertension and diabetes. Consuming at least two glasses of milk per day was associated with a 24% lower risk of metabolic syndrome compared to those who do not consume milk at all. Those who consume twoglass of whole milk (high fat) per day are associated with a 28% lower risk of metabolic syndrome. In addition, the risk of hypertension and diabetes also decreases by 11-12%. Thanks to its high-quality protein content, as well as several types of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamins A, B12, and riboflavin, milk can have a positive effect on your body.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay

Source(s):

• Bhavadharini, B., Dehghan, M., Mente, A., et al (2020). Association of dairy consumption with metabolic syndrome, hypertension and diabetes in 147,812 individuals from 21 countries. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2019-000826.
• Medical News Today - Could dairy protect against diabetes and hypertension? (2020). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/could-dairy-protect-against-diabetes-and-hypertension, 2 June 2020.