Milk Lifting weights has become more popular for women as increasing evidence points to this type of exercise as being a good way to keep weight in check, as well as to help strengthen bones and help prevent osteoporosis. But women tend to steer clear of dairy products, especially if they’re trying to lose weight – something that maybe they should reconsider.
Researchers at McMaster monitored a group of women over a three-month period, asking them to avoid eating or drinking anything for two hours before exercising. They then did a range of resistance exercises, including bench presses, ab crunches and leg curls. None of the women had used these types of exercises on a regular basis before the study.
One hour after the exercise session, one group were given 500ml of skimmed milk (fat free), the other group were given a sugar-based energy drink. The group who drank the energy drinks showed increased body mass; the milk-drinkers gained lean muscle mass but lost fat, and showed greater upper body strength too.
First published June 4, 2010