Meet growing demand for low GI dairy with Valio Eila® milk powders
Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is essential for preventing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and supporting healthy weight management, two of the biggest global health challenges and major drivers for better food and beverage solutions. Valio’s research shows that Eila® lactose free skimmed milk powders have a naturally low glycaemic index (GI 40–41), making them an ideal ingredient for developing delicious, low-GI, high protein products that meet today’s health and wellness trends.
Tackling a global health challenge
Obesity and T2D continue to rise worldwide, with serious impacts on public health and economies. Since 1990, the prevalence of adult obesity has more than doubled and diabetes cases have quadrupled, according to the World Health Organisation. Today, more than 95% of diabetes cases are T2D, often linked to excessive energy intake and sedentary lifestyles.
Weight management has become a top consumer concern, and food choices reflect this. According to Innova Market Insight (2024), nearly 2 in 5 consumers identify weight management as their leading physical health priority, while 1 in 4 report buying functional foods and beverages to support it.
Nutrition or medication? GLP-1 and the food opportunity
The rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic has brought public attention to the link between blood sugar regulation and weight control. Yet long before these medications, nutrition science had established the role of low-GI foods in supporting metabolic health and reducing T2D risk.
GLP-1 medication has shown to be an effective tool for diabetes care and weight loss, but it is associated with high financial costs and unpleasant side effects. By contrast, nutritious, low-GI foods provide an affordable, natural, and sustainable way to help regulate blood sugar and appetite. This creates a clear opportunity for food manufacturers to develop health-focused solutions that consumers can easily integrate into their daily diets.
Why low GI matters
The glycaemic index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels
- Low GI foods (<55) release energy more slowly, preventing sharp spikes
- They support satiety and help maintain stable energy throughout the day.
A strong body of evidence links low GI diets to improved metabolic outcomes:
- Individuals following a low-GI diet had a significantly lower risk of developing T2D (Livesey et al. 2013).
- A low-GI, energy-restricted diet was more effective than a high-GI, low-fat diet in reducing body weight and improving glucose and insulin metabolism (Juanola-Falgarona et al. 2014).
- High intake of high-GI foods has been linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in women (Liu et al. 2000).
What is glycaemic index (GI)?
- Glycaemic Index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar levels
- Low GI (<55) foods release energy slowly and steadily
- Low GI foods help maintain stable blood sugar, satiety, and weight control
- Dairy products are naturally low GI
Proven benefits of low-GI dairy
Dairy products are naturally low GI, with values ranging from 32 to 48 for skim milk and 11 to 46 for full-fat milk (Foster-Powell et al. 2002). This makes them excellent components of diets aimed at blood sugar regulation and weight management.
In addition to their GI profile, dairy ingredients provide high-quality protein and essential nutrients that enhance their metabolic benefits:
- Weight management and metabolic health: Dairy protein and fat help reduce the risk for metabolic syndrome, a major driver of T2D (Bjørnshave & Hermansen 2014; Kim & Je 2016).
- Insulin sensitivity and appetite control: Whey protein promotes insulin sensitivity, improves glucose tolerance, and supports satiety (Turner et al. 2015).
- Protein-driven weight loss: Clinical trials consistently show that high protein diets reduce body weight, preserve muscle mass during weight loss, and help prevent weight regain (Moon & Koh, 2020).
“Eila® skimmed milk powders are naturally low GI and well suited to developing products that align with today’s health and wellness trends.”
