Is dairy really fattening and non-dairy diet helpful in losing weight? ,Here’s the answer

Is dairy really fattening and non-dairy diet helpful in losing weight? ,Here’s the answer

The trend of non-dairy diet started when it was claimed that dairy food is fattening. These dairy products, while rich in calcium and proteins, could contribute more to carbs than healthy nutrients. And people started eliminating dairy products from their diets. To this, several nutritionists have responded negatively.

According to them, dairy products are extremely nourishing for the body as they are rich in protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Dairy products like milk are wholesome as they are rich sources of calcium and vitamin D, which are essential for stronger bones and teeth. The deficiency of these could lead to osteoporosis. The nutritionists claim that the lack of dairy products in one’s diet would result in increased accumulation of fatty acids, fat deposits and thus, weight gain.

It is not just milk which is beneficial but all dairy products have some or the other health benefit. One common ingredient in almost all Indian cuisines is ghee, which is also made from milk. Ghee is a a very good source of butyric acid, a type of fatty acid which has antiviral and anti-cancerous properties.

Ghee is a great natural food for digestion problems and for nutrient assimilation. Similar to ghee is white butter, which also is a better and healthier version than the salted, packed and processed butter. White butter is rich in lauric acid and lecithin which are the fighting agents against bacteria and virus.

This trend of going dairy-free or clean eating has mostly gripped the attention of the youngsters and teenagers. But nutritionists suggest not to completely remove dairy products from one’s diet.

Dairy products are an important source to build immunity. Milk, cheese and butter are loaded with vitamins, minerals, protein and zinc that help in generation of antibodies and fight against bacteria and viruses. Protein is one such nutrient which is important for various functions in our body.

However, non-dairy diets are beneficial for those who cannot eat dairy products for some reason. Hence, there are options like drinking almond milk or soy milk, which are equally healthy and beneficial as well as important for one’s diet. Instead of traditional dairy, this focuses on including gluten-free, vegan, organic and even lactose-tolerant plant-based lifestyle and is now being included as a mainstream product.

Despite several theories, nutritionists maintain their stance in favour of including dairy products in the diet. While the elimination of dairy products from diet might show some fast results in losing weight, but in the long run, it can cause a deficiency of all essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Dairy products are a must for vegetarians as it is one source from where they might be able to absorb most of the necessary nutrients for a healthy living. From strengthening bones, building immunity to healthy excretion of enzymes and hormones, dairy products benefit us in many ways which overpower the advantage of weight loss from a dairy-free diet.

As all the nutritionists say, it is the quality of diet that should be controlled. We should not focus on eliminating parts of our diet for benefits for short periods rather than focusing on healthy living in the long run.