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No matter which way you slice it, full-fat cheese seems to be better than the low-fat stuff.
Research is slowly coming around to the idea, according to the New York Post, which reported that a “growing body” of evidence is showing that full-fat cheese — shredded by critics over its saturated fat content — can be beneficial if eaten in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
Moreover, the Post reported that the “skinny mozzarella and fat-free ricotta you’ve been choking down to cut fat and calories could actually be working against you,” despite suggestions that low-fat or fat-free dairy products can decrease the risk of heart disease.
“The recommendation is rooted in the belief that saturated fats — often found in animal products like cheese — raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular issues,” the Post‘s McKenzie Beard wrote.
“By contrast, healthy fats, such as those in olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocados, are considered beneficial for providing energy, aiding vitamin absorption and supporting overall health.”
Experts, however, believe recommendations for full-fat cheese are outdated, the Post reported, with Tufts University professor Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian telling the New York Times they were introduced in 1980 in the first edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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Mozaffarian, who is also a cardiologist, told the Times that studies have found there are no significant health benefits when it comes to picking low-fat dairy products over the full-fat versions.
Despite research challenging those outdated recommendations, U.S. dietary guidelines still tout low-fat and no-fat dairy products as “healthier” options, the Post reported.
“Is whole milk better than low-fat milk? The answer is no,” said Dr. Frank Hu, a nutrition and epidemiology professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The evidence doesn’t really support that.”
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in a 2017 study cited by the Post, even found that full-fat cheese did not “significantly” affect LDL cholesterol levels while having a positive effect on HDL cholesterol, which helps remove excess cholesterol from the blood and arteries.
Other studies have found that dairy consumption, regardless of fat content, can lower the risk of high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, the Post reported, while full-fat cheese contains fewer additives and might help you maintain a healthier weight.
“When the fat is processed out of dairy foods, you lose not only the flavour but the food’s natural ability to keep you full,” dietician Nicole Magryta told the Washington Post, via the New York Post.