Say Cheese!

Cheese is often slammed as a fat-packed, artery-clogging, guaranteed way to gain weight. But now, it seems, one of the world’s favourite dairy products provides health benefits too – so long as you indulge in moderation. The ‘European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition’ has found that incorporating some cheese into your diet can lower your risk of diabetes by up to 12%. Findings published in the ‘American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’ suggest there are ‘healthy’ fats in cheese (conjugated linoleic acids) that contribute to wellness, as well as those that, in excess, aren’t so good for you (saturated fats). In fact, eating cheese did not increase total or ‘bad’ LDL-cholesterol and may even lower it when compared with eating butter. Make sure you eat fresh cheese instead of the processed variety.