TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Dec. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- New Year's diet resolutions can
be unkind to the bone -- when the calorie conscious choose weight-loss plans
with little or no dairy products. A new nutritional analysis commissioned by
The Dannon Company showed that of ten popular published diet plans, including
those on The New York Times Best Sellers List, half of the diets are low in
calcium and other critical nutrients. Author Jeanne Goldberg, PhD, RD,
Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Nutrition Communication at
Tufts University in Medford, MA cautions women who follow calcium-poor diet
plans for extensive periods of time that they may unknowingly jeopardize their
long-term bone health.
An estimated 50 million Americans each year, many of whom are women, will
start a weight loss diet. In doing so, many women will unknowingly place
themselves at greater risk for osteoporosis since many popular diet regimens
reinforce the myth that dairy foods are fattening. ``Long term use of very low
calcium weight-reducing diets can contribute to bone loss,'' notes Dr.
Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg also found in a review of published studies that when
people were put on a variety of modified diets, including low calorie weight
reduction regimes, their calcium intake also declined.
The importance of these findings is heightened by the Dietary Reference
Intakes (DRIs) for calcium proposed in August 1997 by the National Academy of
Sciences (NAS). The new recommendation for calcium was raised from 800 to
1,000 mg a day for people age 19-50, partly in recognition of the role
lifelong calcium intake plays in reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Regardless of the higher recommendation, the reality is that eight out of ten
women aged 25-50 do not meet the old standard. ``While a woman may know that
calcium is important to help ward off osteoporosis, she may not be aware that
her own calcium intake is inadequate,'' says Connie Weaver, Professor and Head
of Department Food & Nutrition at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. The
fact that many popular diet plans tend to contain insufficient amounts of
calcium is even more disturbing in light of the increased DRI.
According to Dr. Goldberg, the published diets that contained the least
calcium included Dr. Atkins's New Diet Revolution, The New Beverly Hills Diet,
Five Day Miracle Diet, Grapefruit Diet and Protein Power. ``A woman who
follows the guidelines set forth in these diets would get less than 60 percent
of the current RDA for calcium and in some cases certain other important
nutrients,'' she says. On the other end of the scale, Dr. Goldberg found that
the Eat More, Weigh Less Regimen, devised by Dean Ornish, MD (an outspoken
advocate of severe fat restriction as a means of reducing heart disease risk)
and the T Factor Quick Melt plan were nutritionally sound. Both diets
provided adequate amounts of calcium and other nutrients. These diet regimens
demonstrate that without dairy products it becomes very difficult to meet the
RDA's for calcium and other essential nutrients.
To help women achieve the intake levels recommended by the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Osteoporosis Foundation suggests at least
three servings of dairy products a day, which provides about 900 mg of
calcium. Nutritionists recommend that consumers eat a variety of calcium-rich
foods to meet their needs, including dairy foods, canned salmon (with bones),
broccoli and tofu.
``Women who are concerned about their weight or who want to reduce their
fat intake should choose nonfat or lowfat dairy products,'' says Goldberg.
``It's easy to find these choices in yogurt, milk and cheese.'' In fact, many
companies have modified their products to help make it easier to reach the
daily value for calcium. For example, DANNON(R) Light Nonfat Yogurt with
Aspartame and Added Calcium provides 35% of the daily value of calcium and 8
grams of high quality protein, in a single 8 oz. serving -- with
100 calories(A). Including DANNON(R) Light in a balanced diet to help fulfill
your daily value of calcium and keeping to a regular exercise program can help
you achieve your personal health goals whether you are interested in healthy
weight control, reducing the risks of osteoporosis or following a heart
healthy diet.
The Dannon Company, Inc., with headquarters in Tarrytown, N.Y., is the
leading producer of yogurt products in the United States. To maintain its
market leadership position, The Dannon Company prides itself on consistently
delivering high-quality, wholesome products and responding to consumers' needs
with innovative new products and flavors.
(A) DANNON(R) Light with Crunchies contains 140 calories.
Wednesday December 31, 7:00 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE:
The Dannon CompanyNew Year's Diet Resolutions Can Be Unkind to the Bone; New Analysis Reveals Dieters May Lose More Than They Bargained For
Copyright © 1997 PRNewswire.