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Focus On Nutrition
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Previously Asked Questions
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Does calcium reduce body fat levels and slow weight gain in women? I've just recently heard about a study about this. What's the scoop?
Answer
In a two-year study of 54 women ages 18 to 31, researchers found that women who consumed more calcium had lower body fat levels and slower weight gains than women who took in less calcium, but about the same amount of calories. Dorothy Teegarden, Assistant Professor of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University, and associates studied women whose energy intake was less than 1,900 calories a day. While those who consumed less than 780 milligrams of calcium daily gained body fat, those taking in at least that amount experienced either no increase in body fat or lost up to seven pounds of body fat over the course of the two-year study. The women who consumed calcium from dairy products reaped the most benefits.
Keep in mind that this study was conducted on young women and may not apply to women in other age groups. We're waiting for additional research to confirm these exciting findings. However, this research potentially provides even more reasons to consume milk and dairy foods daily.
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