Women who frequently consume fat-free or low-fat milk may delay the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, research indicates. The findings showed that women who ate cheese saw an increase in knee OA progression. Yogurt, however, did not impact OA progression in men or women. (Read: Beat arthritis with these 6 diet tips (Gallery))
‘Milk consumption plays an important role in bone health,’ explained lead author Bing Lu from Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. OA is a common, degenerative joint disease that causes pain and swelling of joints in the hand, hips or knee. For the study, 2,148 participants with knee OA were recruited. At the start of the study, dietary data was collected and joint space width was measured by x-ray to evaluate OA progression. (Read: 9 super foods to fight arthritis)
As the intake of milk increased from none to less than 3, 4-6, and more than 7 glasses per week, the joint space width in women also decreased by 0.38mm, 0.29mm,0.29mm and 0.26mm, respectively. Results persisted even after adjusting for disease severity, body mass index (BMI) and dietary factors. No association between milk consumption and joint space width decrease was reported in men. ‘Our findings indicate that women who frequently drink milk may reduce the progression of OA,’ Lu said in the study published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. (Read: 6 yoga asanas to beat arthritis)
Why do we need milk and dairy products?
Milk is the only source of calcium readily absorbed and also one of the rare sources of vitamin D hence is essential for strong bones. A glass of milk provides about 30 % DV (daily value) of calcium and 25% DV of vitamin D. Here are some more reasons to consume it:
Healthy bones and teeth: Calcium, phosphorous and protein are essential in building healthy bones and teeth. Milk and its products help in protecting against osteoporosis.
Blood pressure: People with high BP need to cut down their salt intake. Drinking 3 portions of milk and five portions of fruits and veggies on a daily basis will help in lowering high blood pressure. (Read: Tasty recipes to keep BP under control)
Heart disease: Studies have shown that consuming milk can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and calcium lowers the levels of bad cholesterol in the blood which is known to increase the risk of heart disease.(Read: Milk in the benefits of doodh)
With inputs from IANS
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