People with heart problems and those who want to improve their overall heart health are frequently encouraged to eat low-fat dairy products, but recent research published in PLOS Medicine reveals that this isn't the only choice.
Researchers studied 4,150 Swedish men and women in their early 60s, an age group is known for having a high risk of cardiovascular disease. They provided food data and heart events, and blood samples that allowed researchers to track their fatty acid levels over around 16 years.
To overcome the limitations of focusing on just one country, researchers compared the findings with 17 other studies from around the world, providing more comprehensive evidence for their results—which found that those with the highest levels of dairy fat had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease.
Although further research is needed, study co-author Matti Marklund, PhD, a senior research fellow at the George Institute for Global Health, says the findings are noteworthy since they go against conventional wisdom.
"This implies that high-fat dairy can be part of a balanced diet, especially if certain dairy dishes are emphasized," he says.
Unsweetened whole-milk yoghurt, for example, is likely to be far better for your health than a low-fat yoghurt with a considerable quantity of added sugars. He says that fermented dairy products like yoghurt or cheese may be more helpful than butter or milk.
"It appears that the sort of dairy items you choose is more important than the fat content," he continues. "This means it's not fully apparent that avoiding dairy fats is the best way to improve your cardiovascular health."
According to a study, full-fat versions have more nutrients than their low-fat equivalents. That's not to say you should go out and eat many high-fat foods to improve your heart health, as lead author Kathy Trieu, PhD, of the George Institute for Global Health, points out.
Instead, the research suggests that you don't have to give it up if you don't like low-fat versions. She believes that other healthy fats, such as seafood and nuts, are still the best alternatives.
"Those foods, in addition to good fats, tend to have greater health benefits," she explains.