A study suggests that you could be taking more than a minute off your life every time you eat a piece of cheese. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, compiled a list ranking 5,800 foods based on their effects on longevity.
They took things like additives, fats, calories, and sugar content into consideration before assessed the health impact of one gram of a particular food. They then adjusted it to a standard serving size to create a Health Nutritional Index.
The results of the study made for tough reading for some favourites. Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as Coca Cola and Mountain Dew, can shorten life by 12 minutes, bacon by six minutes, and a double cheeseburger trims off just under nine minutes.
They found that every hot dog consumed costs a person 36 minutes of “healthy” life. This high risk is due to their preservatives and nitrates, which are compounds added to food that enhance flavor, color, and texture – and have been linked to certain cancers – as well as other risk factors like sodium and trans fatty acids.
Chicken wings deduct three minutes and 30 seconds, while cured meats, like prosciutto, could cost you 24 minutes. The research also revealed that even a serving of cheese can take over a minute off a healthy lifespan.
The news is not all bad though. It was found that certain healthy foods can add to your lifespan. A banana was found to contribute 13 and a half minutes to life, a portion of baked salmon, another 16 minutes, and 30 grams of nuts can prolong your life by 26 minutes.
“By swapping just 10 per cent of daily calories from beef and processed meats for fruits, veggies, legumes, and nuts, you could potentially add an estimated 48 minutes to your life, according to the study.”
However, the findings do not completely align with some medical and nutritional advice. When it comes to cheese, the NHS says: “Milk and dairy products, such as cheese and yoghurt, are great sources of protein and calcium. They can form part of a healthy, balanced diet.
“Cheese can form part of a healthy, balanced diet, but it’s good to keep track of how much you eat and how often as it can be high in saturated fat and salt.”
The British Heart Foundation added that cheese, while potentially high in saturated fat, is a ‘great source of protein’ and said a 30g portion of cheddar provides over a quarter of an adult’s daily need of calcium. Cheese also contains phosphorus, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin A.