![]() Harris III, MS, RD, SCCC, is Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Development at the University of Oregon.Milk gels (acid or rennet) are used by dairy industry to produce dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. Another interesting suggestion would be to add healthy fats like Fish and olive oils that contain Vitamin D to these athletes’ regimens to aid in healthy hormone production, Vitamin D and Calcium absorption and maybe even bone health. ![]() Milk should also be purchased in cardboard containers as light can damage the structure of Vitamin D. Of course, this hypothesis needs more research but has seen some anecdotal success in practice with college and professional athletes. The switch may also be beneficial in athletes who exhibit very low body fat percentages like those found in the at risk sports. Part of the solution may be found in prescribing 1 percent milk as an alternative to skim milk to athletes who participate in sports that are notorious for stress fractures like track and field and cross country. This leads to poor bone health and ultimately to injuries. Low dietary fat leads to decreased fat intake, poor hormone production, reduced vitamin D and Calcium absorption and possibly irregular menstrual cycles in females. Disordered eating can be unintentional as the athletes are simply trying to eat healthy to improve performance. Regardless of sex this process can lead to the elements of the female athlete triad. In these athletes we must be careful that their dietary fat intake is not too low as to interfere with Vitamin D absorption and normal hormone production. This combination produces individuals with low subcutaneous fat. Part of being a lean athlete is incorporating a low fat diet with a challenging exercise routine. Some calcium is still absorbed but simple logic can see the importance of dietary fat during this process. When the fat is removed from milk this chain of dependence is broken. It is well known that Vitamin D enhances the absorption of Calcium but what macronutrient is needed to absorb Vitamin D? The answer is FAT! Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin bound to the milk protein and absorbed in the intestine. In fact, it is so essential that it’s fortified in most milk products because natural production can be hampered by climate, exposure to the sun and other factors. This Vitamin can be produced by the body in the presence of the sun in most instances and is essential in the absorption of Calcium. ![]() If bone health is the motivation for incorporating dairy into the diet we must look at Vitamin D. This would be true if we were only looking for a good source of protein and carbohydrate but many look to skim milk to maintain bone health. Compare this to the fat content of other form of milk it is no wonder why athletes and even health professionals choose skim milk.Īt first glance most think all athletes should include this nutritional beverage in their training routines as a way to follow a regimen of reduced dietary fat intake. This translates out to be about 300mg of Calcium and 100 IU of Vitamin D. The label also boasts that 30 percent of calcium and 25 percent of vitamin D needs can be met based upon a 2000-calorie diet. According to the label, an 8-ounce glass of skim milk contains about 85 calories, 8g of protein, 12 g of carbohydrate and 0g of fat. Currently whole milk is spun at very high speeds to separate the milk from the fat. At this point all of the fat would be “skimmed” off to produce a non fat beverage. In the old days the milk was allowed to settle and the fat or cream would rise to the top. Skim milk is made by processing whole milk, which has about 8g of fat. To answer these questions we must closely examine skim milk and its nutritional composition. The question that should be asked is why choose skim over other milk sources that contain fat? Does an athlete’s milk choice contribute to their risk of bone issues? Are health professionals ignoring basic nutrition principles when prescribing skim milk? It has become a staple in the diets of top athletes and body builders around the world and prescribed by doctors, trainers and sports nutritionist for those with bone issues like breaks, and stress fractures. In today’s health conscious society skim milk has become very popular because of the absence of fat and presence of valuable nutrients like Calcium and Vitamin D. Many have heard the slogan “Milk does the body good.” But does that mean all forms of milk?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |