Looks like it’s good news for all you cheese lovers out there!
Usually, people tend to associate cheese with high amounts of fat that contribute to a lot of weight gain. A recent study by University College Dublin, Ireland however, seems to prove this common perception wrong.
This study was carried out among 1,500 people between the ages of 18 to 90 years and it examined the effect of dairy products like milk, cheese, yoghurt, cream and butter, on indicators of overall body fat and health.
Surprisingly, the study found that people who ate more cheese did not have high body fat or cholesterol.
Frequent cheese consumers did not have a higher cholesterol than those who ate cheese less frequently or not at all.
What’s even more shocking is that consumers of low-fat dairy products seemed to have higher cholesterol!
The study also found that those who eat dairy products like cheese frequently had lower Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage, blood pressure, and even smaller waist sizes.
Dr. Emma Feeney, who was the head researcher of this study, addressed the interesting results, stating that she found it intriguing that people who eat more cheese consume more saturated fats, but had the same amount of LDL cholesterol levels as people who consume less cheese.
LDL cholesterol is a type of cholesterol in our blood that helps our bodies function healthily. However, if our bodies have too much LDL, it can stick to the walls of our arteries, obstructing blood flow therefore increasing the risk of heart disease.
On what these results actually mean, Dr. Emma went on to say,
“We have to consider not just the nutrients themselves but also the matrix in which we are eating them in and what the overall dietary pattern is, so not just about the food then, but the pattern of other foods we eat with them as well.”
Well, it looks like cheese isn’t that bad for us after all! So the next time your friends ask you where to makan, tell them:
Also read: 5 Best Places For Cheese Naan In Klang Valley You Absolutely MUST Try