Researchers have revealed that your favourite piece of dairy may lower your cholesterol. For more the team was joined by
TODAY nutritionist Joanna McMillan.
Danish researchers compared the effects of cheese and butter on heart health and found cheese did not increase cholesterol levels.
The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Researchers recruited 40 people to follow either a high cheese diet or a very high butter diet for six weeks. After a two week break the participants then switched dits for another six weeks.
Despite the fact participants ate more fat and saturated fat than they normally did, those who ate the high cheese diet had no increase in LDL "bad" or total cholesterol.
Diary Aus dietitian Glenys Zucco said these results were significant because cheese is often thought to be off limits for people concerned about cholesterol.
The researchers concluded there could be something specific in the make-up of cheese which affects the way it is digested.
They suggest fermentation may be one of the reasons cheese does not affect cholesterol levels.
The results support findings from previous smaller studies which also found cheese did not increase cholesterol.
For more information visit www.drjoanna.com.au
