Why cheddar and Brie deserve a spot on your holiday spread |
Two slices of cheddar cheese per day were associated with a 13% lower risk of dementia in a Swedish study that followed 27,670 people over 25 years. Those consuming high fat cream showed a 16% lower risk, with even stronger protection against vascular dementia.
The findings challenge decades of advice to limit full fat dairy. “Cheese is not just saturated fat,” explains Emily Sonestedt, PhD, from Lund University. “It is a fermented food with a unique combination of fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins, including vitamin K2 in some varieties.”
A separate Japanese study found similar associations, though experts caution that both studies show correlation, not causation. The benefit was observed only with high fat varieties, such as Brie, Gouda, and aged cheddar, but not with low fat cheese or butter.
The Swedish participants typically ate cheese uncooked, while Americans often melt it with meat or in casseroles. “In practice, the message is that no single food can protect your brain on its own,” notes preventive cardiology dietitian Michelle Routhenstein. “Smart substitutions and overall brain-healthy dietary patterns matter most.”
Still, if you need to persuade yourself to splash out on cheese this week, these studies help make the argument.
To learn why fermentation and preparation methods may be key to cheese’s brain benefits, jump to “Do high fat cheese and cream help keep the brain healthy? What to know.”
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