A recent study from Ben Gurion University in Israel claims that calcium and serum vitamin D helped study participants lose weight.
Researcher Danit Shahar and colleagues assessed data from 322 overweight men and women aged 40 to 65 over a two-year period and found that those who drank the most milk (nearly 2 glasses per day) and had the highest levels of vitamin D lost more weight—an average of 12 pounds or 5.45 kilograms—over two years than those who had little or no milk products.
Researchers also discovered that participants who consumed at least one glass of milk a day lost six pounds, compared to three pounds for those who drank less than half a glass daily.
Despite the potential health benefits, many people are still not getting the recommended minimum 400 IU of vitamin D each day – the amount in four glasses of fat-free or low-fat milk.
Known for its role in helping to keep bones strong, vitamin D is now being hailed for much more.
Emerging science suggests vitamin D supports a healthy immune system, and may also help protect against diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain cancers.