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Can cottage cheese really help you lose weight??


Question: I remember seeing this one MTV program (TRUE LIFE) and there was this one girl who used cottage cheese to lose weight. Let me know if it works and how?
Answers: Low-fat cottage cheese can play a role in a healthy fat-loss diet, although it doesn't have any magical fat-loss properties on it's own.

There is research to suggest that diets rich in low-fat dairy products can increase fat loss.

The most famous of these studies was conducted by Michael Zemel, PhD, professor of nutrition and medicine at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and was published in the April 2004 issue of Obesity Research.

The study showed that obese adults who ate a high-dairy diet lost significantly more weight and fat than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. It also appears that it may not simply be the increased calcium producing the effects. The University of Tennessee study showed also showed that eating three to four servings of dairy products a day is more effective at enhancing weight loss efforts than calcium supplementation alone with pills or calcium-fortified foods.

The study showed that all of the groups lost weight, but those who ate the dairy-rich diet lost the most with an average of 24 pounds compared with 19 pounds in the calcium supplement group and 15 pounds in the low-calcium/low-dairy group.

A separate 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that dairy foods may also protect against insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), also known as metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. The Cardia study followed 3,157 adults ages 30 and under for 10 years; it found that each additional daily serving of dairy was associated with a 21 percent lower risk of IRS.

However, to be fair, there is debate over the weight/fat-loss benefits of dairy. The University of Tennessee study was funded by the Dairy Council and a Purdue University study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, compared the dairy consumption and body weight and fat of 155 healthy, normal-weight women ages 18 to 30 over a year’s time. The researchers found no significant association between dairy consumption and weight or body fat changes.

Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, some low-fat dairy in your diet can be beneficial. Cottage cheese, specifically, is high in slow-digesting casein protein which makes it very filling and keeps a steady supply of amino acids available for muscle synthesis (this is important for people who are strength training and trying to put on additional lean muscle mass.) This can be especially important overnight when you are essentially going without food for eight hours.

Cottage cheese is also low in fat and calories, which makes it a good diet food. However, try to find low-sodium cottage cheese, since regular cottage cheese can be high in sodium.

Yogurt (the unsweetened kind) also contains friendly bacteria that can aid in digestive health.

Finally, realize that there are no miracle diet foods -- the grapefruit diet, the green tea diet, the cabbage diet, the cottage cheese diet only work because they cause calorie restriction. Eventually you'll get sick of them and fall off the wagon and the pounds will come back on. Opt instead for a balanced diet that focuses on complex carbohydrates, plenty of lean protein, fruits, vegetables and some good fats and get daily exercise.

Best of luck!
It does not work since the cow have been given growth hormones. They go into the milk which makes the cheese. Then you eat the hormones and they make you fat. Although just like with the cow it will cause you to make more milk if you get pregnant. See site below for ways to lose weight that do NOT make you fatter like your idea.
Low Carb Dieting Tip
Your rate of metabolism dictates how many calories you burn. Heredity, gender, age, body size. diet and nutrition, activity level, and your overall health factor in on determining how high or low your metabolism is. It is normal for metabolism levels to lower as a person ages. Because of this it is important to begin stepping up your exercise routines in your thirties and forties.

Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Eat Regularly - Eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day will give you energy throughout the day--helping you to burn calories. Whereas, calories eaten during larger meals tend to get stored as fat.
Maintain a Balanced Diet - Not only how often you eat is important, but your food choices are equally as important. Nurture you body with the appropriate balance of protein and carbs.

Eating whole foods rather than processed food gives your digestive system a workout that burns calories. For example: choose an apple over apple juice.
Workout with Weights - Building muscle mass will replace stored fat. As you build muscle tissue your metabolism increases.
Don't Forget Cardio - You need to get that heart rate up and breathe a little heavier. Twenty to thirty minutes of cardiovascular activity 5 days a week is recommended. Brisk walking or swimming are good. Or utilize exercise equipment (exercise bike, treadmill, or elliptical trainer)
Fruits and vegetables are clearly an important part of a good diet. Almost everyone can benefit from eating more of them, but variety is as important as quantity. No single fruit or vegetable provides all of the nutrients you need to be healthy. The key lies in the variety of different fruits and vegetables that you eat.
Some basic fruit and vegetable tips:
• Try to eat more fruits and vegetables. If you need 2,000 calories a day to maintain your weight and health, aim for at least nine servings (4½ cups) a day.
• Choose a variety of different fruits and vegetables. It's easy to get into a rut when it comes to the food you eat. Break out and try a wider variety - include dark-green, leafy vegetables; yellow, orange, and red fruits and vegetables; cooked tomatoes; and citrus fruits.


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