Staying Healthy

Study Reveals Milk May Help Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Archives of Internal Medicine
(05/2005)

With today's escalating rates of obesity, it's lead to an epidemic of type 2 diabetes, which currently affects 16 million Americans. But a new study suggests it may be possible to reduce the risk of developing the disease by simply drinking more lowfat milk.

Researchers at Harvard followed more than 40,000 men for 12 years. They found that the men who drank more milk, particularly fat free milk, were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. In fact, for each serving of milk per day that men drank, the researchers saw a 9 percent lower risk.

The researchers are not sure why milk had such a protective effect against type 2 diabetes, but they believe it may have something to do with the mix of nutrients in milk; which previous studies have shown may reduce the risk of being overweight or obese. Other studies have found that drinking milk may help prevent insulin resistance syndrome or pre-diabetes. This is the first study to show a connection between increased milk consumption and the prevention of diabetes.