Moo for the morning
A new study in Australia has found that drinking milk in the morning makes us feel fuller for longer and stops us eating so much at the next meal. The study showed that the people drinking milk took 50 fewer calories at lunch; this may not seem like much but, all other things being equal, it would lead to a weight gain of 2lb each year.
Research suggests that the protein and lactose (natural sugar in milk ), or maybe just the thickness of the milk may be the reason that milk is more satisfying, leading to us feeling fuller for longer. Keeping hunger at bay is definitely the way to go if you are trying to watch your weight.
Milk is also a great source of calcium, which is vital for your bones. For a balanced diet it is recommended that you have three servings of dairy products each day. If you don’t want the fat, go for the low fat varieties.
The majority of Ireland’s population is gaining weight slowly and steadily so anything that can combat that is to be recommended!
By Cara Cunningham, senior community dietitian, Mullingar. Tel (044 ) 9353220 email [email protected].
FSAI advises against rice milk for infants and young children
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI ) has advised that as a precautionary measure, infants and young children up to four and a half years old should not consume rice milk as a substitute for cow’s milk, breast milk, or infant formula.
This advice is based on recent studies that showed that there are low levels of inorganic arsenic found in rice milk. Parents of young children who are currently using rice milk as an alternative to cow’s milk, breast milk, or infant formula, should contact their GP or dietitian for advice on a suitable alternative.
Arsenic is present in the environment and, therefore, can be present in a range of foods, including rice, at low levels. However, as young children tend to drink large amounts of milk compared to their body weight, they are potentially exposed to higher relative amounts of arsenic that may be present. Although the risk is low, it is probably best that parents not give rice milk to infants and young children up to the age of four and a half. The toxicity of arsenic depends on the form in which it is present, organic or inorganic. The inorganic form is the more toxic form and the FSAI says that exposure to this should be kept as low as reasonably practicable.
