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Low-Fat Milk May Not Be Better For Dieting, Study Suggests

BOSTON (CBS) -- For years doctors have been suggested people switch to low-fat or skim milk to cut down on calories and for better overall health. But WBZ-TV's Dr. Mallika Marshall reports that a new local study is calling that advice into question.

Researchers at Harvard and Tufts analyzed data on 3,333 adults and found that having a higher level of dairy fat in the blood was associated with a 46 percent lower risk of diabetes than those with lower levels.

One theory is that when people reduce fat, they feel less full and are more likely to overeat. And they often replace those fat calories with sugar and carbohydrates, which can have a unhealthy effect on insulin.

This is also more evidence that we should focus on the whole food and not just a single ingredient when it comes to dietary recommendations.

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