When you think of cheese, do you think “health food?” Probably not. Dairy, cheese especially, has a reputation that has been extremely under fire for years. Some people claim it’s great for you, others think it’s a fast track ticket to a premature death. A new study may clear up the confusion. It claims that consuming dairy is not, in fact, bad for you.
The study is a meta-analysis of 29 different studies on the nutritional value of dairy and its impact on human health. It was published in the European Journal of Epidemiology and concludes that dairy has no demonstrable link to coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death. In yet more good news, the study concluded that eating full-fat dairy does not elevate your risk any more than eating low- or non-fat dairy products.
In the 90’s, the belief that dietary fat had a direct causal link with heart disease became popular. That relationship is now considered ambiguous at best.
The researchers behind the new meta-analysis speculate that full-fat dairy may be good for you because it contains higher proportions of nutrients like potassium and calcium than their reduced-fat counterparts. Previous studies suggest that people who eat high-fat diets that are abundant in those minerals have, on average, much lower total cholesterol and LDL levels.
Full-fat dairy also has a higher satiety value, meaning it keeps you feeling full for longer so you don’t overeat.
This news will come as a shock to many people. Some corners of the healthosphere have been advocating for full-fat dairy for years. There is also a minority of people who think that drinking unpasteurized milk and eating unpasteurized cheese is healthier than the alternative, despite the sale of these products being illegal in many states.
If you’re avoiding dairy because you believe it to be bad for your heart health, now might be the time to reconsider your assumptions. Nutrition always seems to boil down to the same pedestrian insight, which is to eat a variety of foods in moderation, and to avoid processed and sugary foods where possible.
So crack those eggs, pour a glass of milk and slap some more cheese on your sandwich. At least one group of scientists just gave you the green light to start eating and drinking the real articles. If you haven’t tasted whole milk in a while, do yourself a favor.