Author Lisa Samson summed up our feelings on fromage perfectly when she quipped, “I just don’t see the point of not eating cheese. I mean, if God didn’t want us to eat cheese, would he have let man invent it?”
Preach.
Yes, (boring) people have told us, time and time again, that cheese is bad for us – but, if anything, that only made it more enjoyable: after all, everything tastes extra delicious when it’s a naughty treat.
Now, as it turns out, they were wrong. Very wrong. Because scientists have only gone and proven that cheese is basically the elixir of life.
Researchers from the Texas A&M University have discovered that aged cheeses – such as brie, mozzarella, gouda, parmesan, and cheddar – could be the key to long-term liver health, and, as a result, a longer life expectancy.
According to researchers, le fromage contains a special compound which occurs naturally in food: spermidine.
They went on to explain that this compound is “able to prevent liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer, developing by stopping damaged cells replicating”.
This means that. instead of living to 81, you could make it to 100 – although scientists added that you’d had to have begun consuming lots of the compound from childhood.
A goal which, when we look back on all the cheesy goodness we’ve dipped into over our lifetime, we’ve probably managed to achieve.
It’s not the first time that cheese has been proven to have a positive effect on our health; recent studies have shown that it can help battle insomnia, boost our moods, improve our sex lives, and plenty more besides.
So, while cheese does contain sodium and saturated fat (both big no-no’s), enjoying it in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet should see you reap the health benefits.
It’s also worth noting that, if cheese isn’t your kinda thing (and who are you heathens?), then don’t despair; spermidine can also be found inside mushrooms, corn, soya, legumes, and wholegrains.
Happy munching, everybody.
Images: iStock
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