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Have questions about Crowley dairy products or dairy and weight loss? Ask away! Simply email Molly Morgan, our registered dietician, and Molly will be happy to answer your question in a timely fashion. (seven days or less) Or you may call our consumer affairs department at 1-800-247-6269. Our staff is available to take your call Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM EST. Perhaps we have the answer to your question already. If you see your question in the list below, simply click on the link to read the answer. FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Q. Are all dairy foods qualified to include in a weight loss diet?A. No. While all dairy foods are a good source of calcium and protein, not all products contribute as well to weight loss as others. Dairy foods with higher fat content may be counter productive when you are watching your weight. Stick with low-fat and fat-free dairy to keep fat intact low while consuming at least three 8-ounce servings per day. As well, some dairy foods are higher in calcium than others. Calcium is the key nutrient, along with protein, in creating the fat burning process in your body that research indicates is the trigger to losing weight. Strive to get at least of 600 mg of calcium from 24 ounces of dairy everyday, plus watch the fat content and look for protein levels of 5 grams or higher. Q. How much calcium do I need in a day?A. Dairy products are natural sources of some really good stuff, like calcium (which most people don't get enough of in their diets) and vitamin D. Both are great for building strong bones and teeth and fighting the onset of diseases, such as osteoporosis. The FDA guidelines for calcium vary by age. The chart below is the FDA's recommendation.
Q. Why is eating dairy foods better than taking a calcium supplement?A. According to Dr. Michael Zemel, one of the leading researchers on the dairy and weight loss connection, the calcium obtained via dairy products is 50 to 65 percent more effective than taking a calcium supplement in boosting the body's fat burning process. While not fully understood why this is true, Zemel suspects it is the other nutrients naturally found in dairy foods combined with the calcium that enables the body to burn fat more readily than taking a calcium supplement. For more information on Dr. Zemel's research, go to www.healthyweightwithdairy.com, or check out his book, The Calcium Key: The Revolutionary Diet Discovery That Will Help You Lose Weight Faster. |
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Q. Does dairy support a weight loss diet plan if I cook with it?A. Yes. Cooking with low-fat and fat-free dairy products that are high in calcium counts as part of your daily intake. Of course, what you're cooking should fall within the parameters of your reduced-calorie diet. For example, make low-calorie pudding with low-fat milk, rather than whole milk. Use plain yogurt as a condiment instead of sour cream. Two (2) tablespoons of yogurt is equivalent to one (1) ounce. Whip up tomato soup for lunch using 8-ounces of fat-free milk rather than water. Or make a delicious smoothie drink with 8-ounces of fat-free milk, 8-ounces of fruit flavored non-fat or low-fat yogurt, and a banana. Cooking is a great way to put calcium-rich dairy into your diet plan. For recipes using low-fat and non-fat Crowley products, check out our Recipes section. Q. How long will it take to lose weight if I add dairy foods to my diet?A. There isn't any science that says how long it will take to lose weight when you add dairy foods to your diet. What we can say is that science shows that adding dairy may speed up your weight loss as compared to the slower rate at which you may lose weight when you consume less than 24 ounces of calcium-rich dairy per day. Everyone's body is different, so it is best to consult with your doctor or a licensed dietician about the right diet and exercise plan for you and how fast you should try to lose weight. The goal should be to lose weight gradually and then maintain that weight in the long run. Q. Does whole milk have the same amount of calcium as low-fat and fat-free?A. Yes, whole milk has the same amount of calcium and protein as low-fat and fat-free milks, but it also is higher in fat. The reason we don't recommend whole milk as a part of a weight loss plan is that your fat intact will be higher. An 8-ounce serving of Crowley whole milk has eight (8) grams of fat. A serving of our Skim Deluxe and our fat-free milks have zero (0) grams of fat, while Crowley low-fat milk has 2.5 grams of fat and our low-fat chocolate milk has three (3) grams of fat per 8-ounce serving. Multiply the fat grams per 8-ounce serving by three servings (for a total of 24 ounces per day) to get the daily fat intake number. Three 8-ounce servings of whole milk with eight (8) grams of fat equals 24 ounces of fat, as compared to zero (0) grams of fat for three 8-ounce servings of fat-free milk. |
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Q. What kind of exercise do I need to do in order to lose weight when while I'm dieting?A. The exercise plan that is right for you depends upon your weight, age, and overall health. Please consult your physician if you are unsure how much exercise you should do in a day. We aren't suggesting that you go from being a couch potato to a marathon runner overnight. That isn't a good idea. In general though, increasing your daily activity in anyway will help you lose weight because you will burn more calories than you are right now. Take a walk at lunchtime. Walk the stairs a few flights instead of taking the elevator. Rather than watching TV or sitting in front of your computer in the evening, take some time out for a leisurely stroll with your spouse, your children, a friend, or your dog. Take a 20-minute break during the day to stretch, do a few leg lifts, put a paperweight or a tape dispenser in each hand and do a few reps of arm lifts. Look for ways to add some exercise to your daily routine and all of a sudden it will be an everyday, healthy habit. For tips about calories burned by exercise type, check out our July 2005 To Your Healthy Life.Style. article. Q. Where can I find more information about dairy and weight loss?A. Take a look at our More Resources page to find links to other sites, such as the National Dairy Council and the American Dietetic Association. These sites will provided you with further information on nutrition and healthful eating, both for you and those whom you care about. The information provided on our Web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, or cure an illness. Before starting a diet or exercise program, Crowley recommends you talk with your health care provider for consultation on what is right for you and your health. |
