Excellent News for Cheese Lovers

Here’s some great news for those among us who get a significant chunk of their calories from cheddar and provolone and chevre: much to the chagrin of personal trainers everywhere, there are health benefits to eating cheese. And we’re not talking about that low-fat or non-fat nonsense that market themselves as healthier alternatives to the good stuff.

Cosmopolitan reports that, in three recent studies, researchers have found that people who eat cheeses (yes, even those high in fat) reap significant health benefits, which include a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure and blood sugar, lower BMI, less body fat, and a longer life. So that wheel of brie that’s been staring you down every time you open your fridge? Knock yourself out.

Here’s the rundown of this phenomenal news:

Study 1:

According to this study, consuming 8 or more high-fat dairy portions a day reduces the risk of developing a strain of diabetes. "Dietary fats could affect glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity and may therefore have a crucial role in the development of type 2 diabetes," says the study. Researches found that consuming dairy high in fat was associated with a 15 percent risk reduction for developing type 2 diabetes.

Study 2:

Another study published in the Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism journal found that cheese is great for metabolic health, therefore reducing BMI. It also found that ingesting dairy linked to lower blood sugar as well as lower blood pressure in both men and women. In men, they found that increasing dairy intake resulted in reduced weight.

Study 3:

And another Taiwanese study of nearly 4,000 people found that an increase in dairy consumption may result in a longer life by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke "even in communities where such foods have not traditionally formed part of the diet," the study says.

“So,” you’re probably wondering now, “how shall I utilize this knowledge?” Allow me to suggest a few options:

1. THE BURGER KING KURO BURGER

Probably your first instinct is not to put this in your mouth, but its dairy element is actually bamboo charcoal cheese (not dye, as most people imagine). Be adventurous. Let your hair down.

2. BREAD CONES STUFFED WITH MAC AND CHEESE

Because please look at this work of mastery.

DEEP FRIED GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

Where food porn dreams become a reality.

(Author's Note: Probably these studies don’t account for the saturated fats from the aforementioned recipes, but we’ll worry about that later.)