Health

Skim milk does not do a body good

In the early 80s through the late 90s people really started to abandon whole milk in droves and instead switched over to a very watered-down skim milk that was a lot closer to water than anything else – and many of them did so to take advantage of the suppose it health benefits that skim milk brought to the table.getty_rf_photo_of_man_seeing_specialist

Unfortunately, new research shows that those people that switched to skim milk were making a major mistake and were actually missing out on some pretty significant and beneficial health benefits that they would have been able to enjoy if they were drinking whole milk.

Let’s dig right in.

Those that drink whole milk and eat full fat yogurt are 46% less likely to develop diabetes

We now understand that dietary fat is a world apart from trans fat and simple carbohydrates that actually devastate the human body, but back when skim milk became all the rage the understanding of how these fats and carbohydrates reacted with the human body was significantly different.

Today though, thanks to medical research published in the Circulation medical journal, a three decade-long research project has finally given answers to the long-term impact of whole milk versus skim milk – and the answers are pretty shocking.

According to this research (conducted over three decades and involving 3000+ adult subjects) people that consume whole milk and full fat yogurt – and cheese, real cheese – are 46% less likely to develop diabetes in their lifetime and those that consume skim milk.

Why is whole milk so beneficial?

There are a lot of different theories behind why whole milk is so much more beneficial than skim milk, but the majority of researchers believe that it’s a combination of multiple factors that come together to create a perfect storm of conditions.

For starters, whole milk has a considerable amount of protein into it but it also provides a big boost of dietary fat that can be effortlessly converted into instantly useful energy. This dietary fat isn’t easily converted into body fat (unlike simple carbohydrates), allowing you to utilize the energy source right away without having to worry about creating fat later down the line.

On top of that, the extra dietary fat in whole milk which helps people fill up faster, which stops you from consuming other refined carbohydrates and sugary beverages which are known to have a very close link to the creation of diabetes in the human body.

Surprising Health Issues Tied to Obesity

Obesity is a problem that the world has been battling with over the years. With children having easier access to unhealthy foods to adults not having the time to prepare healthy meals, obesity is everywhere. Unfortunately, there are an array of negative side effects to your health ranging from diabetes to cancer. In the United States alone, over 36% of residents are classified as obese, with similar numbers shown around the UK, Canada, and other destinations.ssxcsxcdfv

  1. Cancer

As per a study conducted by Lancet, they found that people who were above their required BMI by only 1 point would result in an additional 3,790 cancer cases per year. This is quite a concerning number as most people are at least 2.5 points higher than what they should be. In fact, the National Cancer Institute states that obesity is the cause of over 34,000 new cases of cancer for men and 50,000 for women on an annual basis. If people were to focus more on their diet and reduce their BMI by at least 1%, over 100,000 cases of cancer could be avoided.

  1. Migraines

Carrying extra weight on your body can be detrimental to all parts of your body, including your brain. There is a much higher likelihood of suffering from migraines if you are obese. According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins, obese individuals are 81% more likely to have at least 14 migraines in a month in comparison to people who had a healthy weight. Learn more about obesity here.

  1. Premature Births

Another concerning side effect of being overweight is the likelihood of women having premature births. There are many overweight women in the world that are unable to conceive because the fatty membranes in their body weaken the membranes in both the cervix and the uterus. This can lead to premature births and disabilities in children at a later age.

  1. Sleep Disorders

Sleep is by far one of the most important activities that you do on a regular basis as it provides you with mental acuity and physical strength. When you are obese, there is a higher likelihood of suffering from sleep disorders such as insomnia. The less sleep that you get on a regular basis increases your chances of developing diabetes and heart disease. It’s also likely that you will gain more weight the less that you sleep as many people who get less than 5 hours of rest per night are 15% more likely to gain weight.

Tips for Boosting the General Health of Your Teenage Son or Daughter

Some teens naturally gravitate towards healthy lifestyles. However, others vastly prefer to play video games for endless hours, use their smart phones and nosh on junk food. For this reason, many media articles are now focusing on teenage health issues. If your teen is a bit lazy and doesn’t eat too well, you may be concerned about his or her health. Bear in mind that teens are stubborn and asking your son or daughter to make lifestyle changes which support better health may be not appreciated by him or her.kmkjkk

For this reason, we advise changing things that you do, with a mind to making sure that your teen gets proper nutrition, enough fluids, and (at least) occasional physical activity.

Schedule Regular Medical Checkups

To start, make sure that your teenage son or daughter sees a physician at least twice per week. Regular checkups are really important. It’s important that your teen be able to talk to a doctor privately. After all, teens often have things going on that we don’t know about and they may want to talk to physicians in order to get help.

These private checkups will give your teen a chance to ask questions about STDs, birth control, acne or any other issues which are on his or her mind. So, be sure to book checkups which put your teen in touch with a doctor. Your teen’s doctor will check that growth is normal, monitor vital signs and prescribe medication if it’s needed. This is your first line of defense against health problems.

Do Some Meal Planning

Also, since you’re likely in charge of cooking, be sure to plan healthy meals which allow your son or daughter to get plenty of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Without good meals, your teen may be tempted to binge on junk and make a habit of eating badly. Offering great meals which are nutritious is one of the most loving and beneficial things that a parent can do.

If you’re not pulling your weight here, check yourself and do better in the future. Make sure healthy snacks are around, encourage portion control, especially with treats, and generally become your teen’s personal nutritionist. Also, keeping bottled water on hand, rather than pop and other sugary drinks, will be great for your teen’s health.

Exercise is something that you may be able to do together. If your teen likes to walk on the beach, plan a stroll with the family dog. Any kind of activity will be a great way to bond and give your kid access to healthy physical activity.