Cardiologist: What kind of milk can harm your heart

Study shows: whole milk may increase risk of heart disease and overall mortality

As reported by TUT.AZ, dietitian and gastroenterologist Nuria Dianova told "Gazeta.Ru" about important results from recent studies.

"The impact of dairy products on heart and vascular health has been studied for many years. This year, data from a large-scale Norwegian study were published, which compared the effect of whole and skim milk on mortality from cardiovascular diseases. It was established that high total milk consumption is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and overall mortality. Moreover, consumption of whole milk (3.8% fat) has a positive association with coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality," noted Dianova.

The strongest association across all mortality categories was observed in women.

"It was also found that consumption of skim milk (0.5% fat) is associated with lower mortality rates. It is especially beneficial for women, as its consumption is inversely related to mortality from coronary heart disease and acute myocardial infarction. Additionally, increasing daily whole milk consumption by every 100g raised the risk of cardiovascular mortality," added the specialist.

According to her, to maintain cardiovascular health, it's worth replacing whole milk with skim or low-fat milk (1.5% fat).

"You can also use plant-based milk alternatives. If desired, you can start with a gradual replacement, mixing skim and plant-based milk, and then completely switch to plant alternatives - for example, adding them to beverages or breakfast dishes such as porridge, muesli, or granola. If you completely exclude milk, it's important to include other sources of calcium in your diet: sesame, nuts, seeds, hummus," concluded Dianova.