Don't ditch the cheese
It seems the plea to be losing wieght to get us ready for summer means that we are cutting out vital parts of our diet.
Defying expert advice and putting themselves at risk, more and more people are ditching dairy from their food plans in order to shift the pounds.
In a study conducted by Dutch Edam, more than a third didn't eat dairy to get their ideal size and over two thirds fo not get their daily calcium requirements.
Nearly 60 per cent never consider the health of their bones or disease such as osteopenia (thinning bones), which Gwyneth Paltrow was recently diagnosed with.
Nutritionist Anita Bean is urging people to protect their bones now by eating three piecees id calcium a day or pay the price later in life.
Anita says: "These statistics are worrying as they suggest people are not consuming enough calcium - a dash of milk a day simply isn't enough to ensure the benefits of building strong bones. What's more ridding your diet entirely of diary in a bid to lose weight, is definitely not recommended, as well as the health implications, a balanced diet is a much more effective way to keep the weight off."
One in 5 wrongly assume that milk in their cereal is enough to fulfil the day's calcium requirements.
Rob Dawson, at the National Osteoporosis Society, says: "We build our peak bone mass by the age of 25 so it's vital to 'bank' bone density, building up healthy and strong levels. We can do this by getting out in the sun, taking regular exercise and having a healthy calcium-rich diet. Beyond 25, the body maintains bone density so you need to 'bank' strong bone before then to support you through life."
It seems then that eating that small block of cheese isn't so bad for us at all then.
Femalefirst Taryn Davies