January 12, 2012 – Is cheese less harmful to cholesterol than butter? This is what a Danish study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Cheese contains saturated fatty acids which cause high levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol. This “bad” cholesterol is responsible for the formation of lipid plaques in the arteries which interfere with the passage of blood, which can cause various heart problems.
However, it would seem that it is better to consume a portion of cheese to a slice of butter.
An experiment was carried out on 50 people. Participants had to replace part of their daily fat intake for 6 weeks with a serving of cheese. After a 14 day break, these men and women had to substitute that serving of cheese for a serving of butter.
The results are surprising: participants’ LDL cholesterol levels do not increase for the first 6 weeks. However, it increases sharply as soon as participants start to eat butter.
The reasons for these results remain uncertain. The presence of calcium, known to reduce blood pressure, and lactic acid bacteria in cheese would have a protective effect.
However, it is important to be vigilant. Indeed, the content of fats and saturated fatty acids differs from one cheese to another. It is advisable to avoid hard cheeses which are very fatty to favor low-fat cheeses, such as cottage cheese or mozzarella.
Anaïs Lhôte – PasseportSante.net
