Is Cheese Good For Your Health?
Why you can trust Nutri Advanced Every article on our site is researched thoroughly by our team of highly qualified nutritionists. Find out more about our editorial process.
New research has come to light that could indicate that as well as red wine one of the secrets of the French Diet is the consumption of cheese. It has long been understood that the benefits of drinking red wine can be attributed to the resveratrol and flavonoids that are contained within it and previously it was believed that it was the overall effect of a varied diet or portion control of cheese and bread that contributed to the “French Paradox”. Now it could be that the present of fermented dairy products in the diet can actually lend itself to positive changes in gut bacterial metabolism and lipid metabolism.
Ordinarily the assumption is made that foods like cheese which are high in saturated fats are bad for health and should be avoided, particularly in those with cardiovascular health risk factors such as high cholesterol. However new research has showed that compared to a control diet those consuming cheese had improvements in blood cholesterol markers. As well as a control group the cheese group was also compared to those consuming milk as a source of dairy and there were health benefits above and beyond the consumption of milk too. Correlation analyses indicated that microbial and lipid metabolism could be involved in the dairy-induced effects on blood cholesterol level.1
This isn’t the first time that benefits of cheese in the diet have been evaluated and there have been reviews of the research that have seen a potential health benefit for cardiovascular health but the exact mechanism has never been suggested before.2
Compared with milk intake, cheese consumption significantly reduced urinary citrate, creatine, and creatinine levels and significantly increased the microbiota-related metabolites butyrate, hippurate, and malonate suggesting that microbial and lipid metabolism could be involved in the dairy-induced effects on blood cholesterol level.
References:
1. Zheng H et al. Metabolomics investigation to shed light on cheese as a possible piece in the French paradox puzzle. J Agric Food Chem. 2015 Mar 18;63(10):2830-9. doi: 10.1021/jf505878a. Epub 2015 Mar 10.
2. Huth PJ1, Park KM. Influence of dairy product and milk fat consumption on cardiovascular disease risk: a review of the evidence. Adv Nutr. 2012 May 1;3(3):266-85. doi: 10.3945/an.112.002030.
This website and its content is copyright of Nutri Advanced ©. All rights reserved. See our terms & conditions for more detail.
Nutri Advanced has a thorough research process and for any references included, each source is scrutinised beforehand. We aim to use the highest value source where possible, referencing peer-reviewed journals and official guidelines in the first instance before alternatives. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate at time of publication on our editorial policy.
Most Popular Articles
-
5 Best Vitamin C Supplements Picked By Our Experts
Learn more about the different types of vitamin C, the different benefits you get from different types, and what you get for spending more on a good supplement. -
7 Surprising Ways To Support Your Magnesium
If you are displaying signs of a magnesium deficiency, here are 7 ways to boost your magnesium levels that are easy to incorporate into your daily life. -
Top 5 Vitamins For Energy And Tiredness Picked By Our Experts
The 5 best and most important vitamins for energy & tiredness including B vitamin food sources & best supplement forms for energy. -
Benefits of Myo-Inositol for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
In this research review article, we take a closer look at a lesser-known natural compound called myo-inositol that has been found to have significant potential to improve many of the prevalent features of PCOS. -
Top 10 Reasons to Give Your Kids Omega-3
Read the top 10 reasons that kids should have plenty of Omega-3- an essential fatty acid- including for depression, brain function, sleep & reading/maths skills.