SHR

Cognitive decline is one of the hallmarks of age-related degeneration, and emerging research over the last two decades has made considerable advancements in studying how diet influences cognition. It is important to note that cognition spans many areas of brain function, but one tool commonly used to assess the impairment seen in Alzheimer’s disease is short-term memory recall. One very popular dietary product at the moment is dairy food, and significant associations have previously been reported between high dairy product intake and high cognitive ability, including short-term memory, in U.S. citizens. Similarly, dairy intake has been associated with a reduced risk of dementia in Japanese populations.

Dietary protein and dairy are two very popular topics in the weight loss and metabolic health department. It is well-known that high-protein diets may augment the beneficial effects of calorie restriction so as to preserve more lean body mass (LBM), increase fat-mass losses, and increase satiety during a time a deprivation. Most dairy products are not only full of high-quality protein, but may work through several mechanisms to protect against metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, even when the protein content of the diets is held constant, substitution of yogurt for other foods has been shown to lead to significantly greater reductions in fat mass.

Current mainstream recommendations to prevent obesity are very calorie and nutrition focused (nutritionism). Although these are indeed important aspects of health and weight loss, there is growing evidence supporting the role of food quality and dietary patterns as important. Yes, calories do matter and someone has even shown that weight loss is completely possible on a pure Twinkie diet, but this isn’t healthy or sustainable. Specific type of foods and drinks can easily influence long-term health and weight through their interactions with our physiology. For instance, protein is known for its satiating properties, and countless research has shown high-protein diets to have beneficial outcomes for both health and body composition. So rather than eating less calories, perhaps the focus should be on eating more lean meats and dairy products, which may indirectly lower calories while not bestowing feelings of restriction on our already overly-stressed population.