A diet rich in cheese might actually be good for our health, according to a new study.
A group of researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that eating cheese could help to improve health by increasing our levels of “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – thought to offer protection against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The researchers conducted a 12-week cheese test with 139 adults to discover how full-fat cheese can affect our bodies in different ways.
They split the subjects up into three groups. The first group were told to eat 80g of regular high-fat cheese every day, the second group ate 80g of reduced-fat cheese, while the third group didn’t eat cheese and ate 90g of bread and jam each day instead.
The researchers report, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, that while none of the groups experienced a change in their levels of “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – which is thought to be counterproductive to good heart health – those that ate the regular high-fat cheese saw an increase in their levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
“Diets containing high levels of protein, calcium and vitamin D, among other bioactive nutrients can be an important part of a prudent weight loss or weight maintenance diet” Dr Wendy Chan She Ping Delfos
This isn’t the first time a study has linked cheese to good health. A recent study from Japan found that cheese consumption prevents fat accumulation in the liver and has the potential to improve serum lipid parameters – how we measure for cardiovascular risk.
Meanwhile, a small 2015 study found that cheese could be the key to a faster metabolism and reduced obesity.
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/high-fat-cheese-the-secret-to-a-healthy-life/
