Studies have shown…
The health effect of cheese is a regular subject for food studies. Sometimes, the outcome states that cheese is not that healthy while other studies claim that it is good for your health. So what to believe? Let us explain the truth of the matter!
Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders
According to the outcome of a study that was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, cheese has a positive effect on your health and can prevent cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Researchers at the University of Copenhagen randomly picked 139 adults to join a test trial of 12 weeks. During this time, the effect of cheese on the body was tested. The 139 people were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 could not eat cheese at all, group 2 had to eat 80 grams of low-fat cheese per day, and group 3 had to eat 80 grams of full-fat cheese per day. None of the groups showed a difference in the level of bad cholesterol. However, group 3, which ate 80 grams of full-fat cheese per day, showed an increase in good cholesterol and this protects against cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. This means that eating cheese can be good for your health!
Reduced fat accumulation in the liver
Moreover, a study conducted in Japan showed that the consumption of cheese prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver. The study included 2 groups of rats that were given a diet with or without cheese for nine weeks. The group that was given cheese showed a reduced accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. The increased consumption of cheese also increased the excretion of fat in the faeces. This may not sound very tasty but, on the whole, the result shows that cheese has various beneficial health effects!
A longer life
Another study carried out by Nature Medicine suggests that the consumption of cheese could be the key to a longer life. This particularly refers to eating extra matured cheese as this contains a substance called spermidine. Researchers tested the effect of spermidine on mice and rats and they noticed that the animals lived longer. A lifestyle and diet survey was conducted with a group of 800 Italians and it appeared that the people who had a higher intake of spermidine also had a lower blood pressure, had a forty per cent lower risk of heart failure, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Enjoy, but with moderation
So all in all, these are positive things. It means that you can enjoy a delicious piece of cheese without feeling guilty as you now know that it is also good for your health! On the other hand, we have to be sensible: Enjoy your cheese, but always with moderation. As it goes with everything, of course.