Study: Dairy consumption can aid muscle growth and shed belly fat

Belly fat is more worrisome than hip or thigh fat for cardiovascular health, so when a study is published promising to get rid of the stubborn belly fat, people pay attention. We’ve long known that diets high in protein promote weight loss and increase muscle mass, but this research suggests that because of two key components in dairy, you will also lose belly fat, when consumed with protein.

For all those lactose-intolerant people who either don’t respond to the lactase enzyme tablets, or choose not to consume it, the calcium and amino acid, leucine, seem to be responsible for the results of lost belly fat. I’m not aware of any studies done yet to determine if taking just these supplements would provide the same results, probably because Dairy Farmers of Canada and the US Dairy Research Institute funded the original study.