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September 2013

Three Daily Servings of Reduced-Fat Milk: An Evidence-Based Recommendation?

Author Affiliations
  • 1New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 2Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 3Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
JAMA Pediatr. 2013;167(9):788-789. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.2408

In light of research linking sugar-sweetened beverage consumption to obesity, the US Department of Agriculture, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other organizations have formulated recommendations on healthy beverages. These guidelines consistently recommend limiting consumption of all calorie-containing liquids, except reduced-fat milk, of which people in most age groups are encouraged to consume 3 cups daily. This article questions the scientific rationale for promoting reduced-fat milk consumption at these levels in children and adults and reconsiders the role of cow’s milk in human nutrition.

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