Is milk good for weight loss?

I've heard that any kind of calcium-source foods are good for weight loss because they raise your metabolism. My friend who is really overweight went to a nutritionist and the first thing she was told to do was drinking at least 3 glasses of milk everyday.

Is this true? Or should I get my calcium from fat-free yogurt and stuff?

I drink 1 glass of milk everyday. I used to drink 3, but what the hell.. I don't really like it too much...

This is controversial right now.  Some studies say that milk products help you lose weight, while others say that they don't.  The scientific community also has no idea what in milk would actually cause the positive results of the studies.  The FAT in milk actually may be what is doing it!

I see NO reason to be drinking milk if you don't like it.  Get your dairy for other sources, like yogurt and cheese, if you prefer, or even substitute with other sources of calcium and protein.  And consider that the fat in dairy might actually be the source of the positive results.

I say: eat what you like, as long as you are getting the proper mix of nutrients.

Hmm yeah, but I always add some fat/sugar-free cocoa powder, and some Splenda, and it's yummy <3 but I hate it at the same time because 1 glass of milk can fill me up as if I ate a burger or something... since my stomach is small because I'm struggling with eating disorders...

=[ Arsh

If you are worried because a glass of milk fills you up too much... then why do you care about it's possible weight loss effects? 

Especially if you are struggling with an ED, just eat what you feel like eating at the time, and just make sure that your choices are mostly healthy and that you are eating plenty of calories!  Milk WILL NOT cause you to lose weight if you are not eating a low calorie diet. 

Edited to remove post...

Well I have heard that too but also I heard that it contains certain things in it that are good for your thyroid + metabolism.

Calcium is an important component of a woman's diet, at any age. Milk is one of the best sources of calcium and a glass a day will help you get the nutrients you need, if you're also eating cheese and yogurt.

Low-fat chocolate milk is a great way to get the milk you need if you don't particularly like to drink it. If you're recovering from ED those extra calories won't hurt.

eh, I never drink milk.  I don't go by the popular belief that it is healthy.  I mean it's from cows, meant to be a nutrient for growing baby cows.  Full of hormones for the purpose of growth.  I don't even believe children should have that kind of milk.  It just doesn't seem right.

There's some good books out, like "Milk- the deadly poison"

Milk is a good secondary source of protein besides meat, soy, beans, etc. so thats why I have it. I've always hated milk but just recently I've started using it on my cereal (skim milk+splenda). I wouldn't force myself to drink 3 glasses of it a day though...

There's no need to drink cow's breast milk to help you lose weight. It's main and sole purpose is to help baby cows grow and gain weight properly. Of course, there are nonfat varieties out there, but even they are filled with pus, bacteria, and hormones.

Your choice.

man i hate when people use the word PUS , is it really needed?  Milk isnt pus. and its full of good bacteria iam sure. Hormones? you can buy milk without it.

but if you like milk . have some , if you dont, its not a big deal , you get alot of calcium from alot of other things =]

Original Post by zebulancherry:

There's no need to drink cow's breast milk to help you lose weight. It's main and sole purpose is to help baby cows grow and gain weight properly. Of course, there are nonfat varieties out there, but even they are filled with pus, bacteria, and hormones.

Your choice.

Man, there are some milk-haters out there! If there is pus, bacteria and hormones in cow's milk . . . don't you think there's bacteria/hormones in human breast milk too? Bacteria and hormones are not necessarily bad . . . think of the live & active cultures in yogurt.

Anyway, I'll admit that the studies on milk are mixed. But, esp. for women, it's a great source of calcium and may have other benefits too. I got used to skim milk and now I love it - adding Ovaltine (high-nutrient chocolate powder) makes it yummy if you can't drink it straight. But I agree that if you hate milk, get your calcium from other sources.

But, that yogurt, cheese, etc. . . . also made from milk. So unless you're going to cut out all dairy, you're not going to get away from the cows, so just live with it.

Original Post by zebulancherry:

There's no need to drink cow's breast milk to help you lose weight. It's main and sole purpose is to help baby cows grow and gain weight properly. Of course, there are nonfat varieties out there, but even they are filled with pus, bacteria, and hormones.

Your choice.

Maybe raw milk, but the highly pasteurized milk that makes it to the grocery store? I doubt it (except for the hormones... there are hormones in every animal product you buy unless you go out o fyour way to get hormone free.)

 

As far as the original question... if your friend has the same trouble eating that you have her nutritionist probably recommended the milk as a good way to get her calories and nutrients up.  The weight loss benefits of dairy products (not just milk, so your nonfat yogurt would be included) was pretty popular for awhile, but lately it has come under a lot of doubt.

I don't think there are any foods that can help a person lose or gain weight. Weight loss/gain is all about calories in vs. calories out. Milk has protein and may fill you up longer, but it's not going to magically make you drop 3 lbs.

just eat a balanced diet, with good fats, protein and carbs and stay within your daily calorie range and you'll lose weight.

Man, there are some milk-haters out there! If there is pus, bacteria and hormones in cow's milk . . . don't you think there's bacteria/hormones in human breast milk too?

Considering that we don't get human breast milk that has been pumped full of hormones, overworked by heavy machinery, and collected by large factories with filthy facilities; I'd have to say no.

I've read that eating dairy products are beneficial to people who have an apple shaped figure as they help get rid of fat around the stomach area and reduce waist circumference.

Just wanted to add that if you buy UHT milk then it won't contain live bacteria and any hormones in it won't do you any harm, hormones are proteins which are denatured above temperatures of around 40ºC and become inactive. Proteins also denature when they are put in solutions out of their optimum pH, and as a human stomach is around pH 2 this would destroy the majority of hormones in the milk anyway. Oral hormone treatments like the contraceptive pill use chemically synthesized hormones for this reason.