Mixed
High intake of milk and dairy products (200-300 ml/day) is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, contrary to the belief that saturated fat in dairy increases CVD risk.
You can include 200-300 ml of milk or equivalent dairy (like cheese) in your daily diet without increasing your risk of heart disease. In fact, it may lower your risk of stroke. Focus on low-fat options if you are managing blood pressure, but do not avoid dairy due to fear of saturated fat causing heart attacks.
The overall evidence indicates that a high intake of milk and dairy products, that is, 200-300 ml/day, does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, there is an inverse association with risk of hypertension and stroke.
Why this rating
Based on multiple meta-analyses of prospective cohort studies and RCTs, though some heterogeneity and residual confounding are acknowledged.
Source
Milk and dairy products: good or bad for human health? An assessment of the totality of scientific evidence
Tanja Kongerslev Thorning et al. · Food & Nutrition Research · 2016
DOI 10.3402/fnr.v60.32527
More from this paper
- Dairy consumption is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal, bladder, gastric, and breast cancers, while showing no association with pancreatic, ovarian, or lung cancer, and inconsistent evidence for prostate cancer.Good
- Dairy intake facilitates weight loss and improves body composition (reducing fat mass, preserving lean mass) during energy restriction in adults, and is associated with a reduced risk of childhood obesity.Good
- Plant-based drinks are not nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk and should not be recommended as full substitutes without further evidence, as they often lack protein and may contain harmful additives or inorganic calcium.Moderate
Related findings · Mixed
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- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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