Is Dairy Bad For Fat Loss??

I love cake. I love ice cream. I love anything that is sweet and creamy and yummy. (GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE DAMN GUTTER) This is why I was so excited when the Greek Yogurt craze happened. I realized that I can mix bananas, pecans, honey, and yogurt, and achieve desert! Best of all, this desert contains about 20 grams of protein and is good for me! Or is it?

Dairy has been a controversial topic for some time now when it comes to fat loss. Some professionals love it due to it’s high protein and low fat. Others advise their clients to remove dairy from their diet when trying to lose fat. What is the deal??

Here is the thinking behind why you SHOULDN’T be consuming dairy when on a fat loss program: When trying to lose fat it is important to eat foods that do not spike the blood sugar level. The glycemic index is a way to measure which foods will spike blood sugar the most. Although dairy is low on the glycemic index (which is what most people go by), it is high on the insulin index (which most people ignore).  There are at least two key studies showing that the low glycemic index of dairy does not correlate with a low insulin response. In fact, the insulin response is quite high! One study found that it was similar to white bread! Also, in case you are not aware, human beings are the only animals that consume another animal’s milk. Can you imagine your friend’s baby cow sucking your boob?? Therefore, we do not digest cow product efficiently and they slow down our metabolism.

Here is the thinking behind why diary is GOOD for you when on a fat loss program: Dairy contains high amount of protein (especially our favorite greek yogurt!), and protein helps burn fat most efficiently since it takes 1/4 of the consumed protein calories to digest the protein calories. Also, calcium is a vital nutrient that helps overall health, and a healthier body is a leaner body.

Who is right? My theory is that all of these things are true. However, the absolutely crucial element behind fat loss is to burn more calories than you consume. I have eaten white bread and lost weight in the past, and I have also eaten white bread and gained weight. The point is that I was BURNING more than I was EATING. The decision on whether you will consume dairy lies in how hardcore you are about your fat loss. If you are planning to compete in a figure contest and need to get below 15% body fat, you need to be meticulous and take the dairy out. However, if you are looking to simply get in shape and look good in a bikini, chances are you will be happy around 20% body fat. I know there are nights where you are consuming curly fries and vodka-sodas anyway, so a little dairy will not hurt you.

In conclusion, bring on the Fage. And bring on the Trader Joe’s greek yogurt. And even bring on the organic raw milk if it makes you happy. Just work out and don’t eat too much. Magic will occur.

For more fat loss foods check out this guide.