How To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Finally, theres good news for those of us who love the taste of whole milk, sour cream and thick creamy cheeses.

While reviewing the data of over 3,700 American adults, researchers discovered that those who had higher blood levels of fatty acid -- known as trans-palmitoleic acid -- were about 60 percent less likely to develop type 2 Diabetes over the next 20 years than people with the lowest blood levels.

Of more than 700 study participants with the highest blood levels of the fatty acid, 38 later developed diabetes. That compared with 94 cases among the 700-plus with the lowest levels of the dairy fat.

When the researchers adjusted for the other factors in their analysis, people with the top-20-percent blood levels of the fatty acid showed a 62 percent lower risk of diabetes than the group with bottom-20-percent fatty acid levels.

This is especially surprising since it goes against the usual recommendations to opt for skim milk, low-fat cheeses and sorbet instead of ice cream. Further research is needed because scientists arent ready to recommend we switch low-fat dairy diets to dairy-fat ones. After all, full-fat dairy foods are generally higher in calories, which translates into increased weight a sure fire risk factor for diabetes. Dairy fat has also been shown to boost LDL cholesterol the bad kind which leads to heart disease.