Skim/Low-fat Dairy Linked to Parkinson's Disease

Real dairy is full fat, full of flavor, and full of fun!

We've written before about why whole fat dairy foods are generally a healthier choice than processed low fat dairy foods, and now a recent study provides another reason to consider avoiding low fat dairy: increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

"Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression, or your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time." - Mayo Clinic

Researchers looked at dairy intake and Parkinson's disease, analyzing data of over 120,000 Americans for about 25 years. There was no link between full fat or whole dairy products and the disease. However, consuming three daily servings of skim or low-fat dairy products increased the risk of developing Parkinson's by 34% (from 0.6% to 1%). Researchers speculated why this may be, but do not really know.

Low fat dairy linked to health problems

Prior research has already linked low fat dairy consumption to weight gain, insulin resistance (diabetes), and infertility. Though the increase in Parkinson's was not huge with low fat dairy (due to the low risk of the disease in general), it provides one more reason to consider avoiding low fat dairy. Processing foods only tends to make foods less healthy, not more healthy. In this case, removing the fats removes healthy nutrients and concentrates the sugars. We recommend eating the least processed whole foods for better health, so choose the least processed whole milk, yogurt, and cheese you can find (as long as your body can handle dairy).

Check out our milk infographic to learn more about the difference between full fat and low fat dairy.

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