Cheese metabolism: how eating cheese could help you lose weight

Your gut bacteria’s general well being is essential to your overall health and it is common knowledge that a healthy gut can speed up weight loss, reduce food cravings, and improve your digestion.

Professor Tim Noakes, who is well known in South Africa for leading the charge against carbohydrates and promoting the Banting lifestyle is a firm believer in a healthy gut and regularly asks the question: how can humans possibly know if a balanced diet (that includes carbohydrates) is a healthy diet? With over ten-trillion bacteria in our bodies – how can we possibly know what exactly is ‘balanced’.

 If you are following the Banting lifestyle – according to the ‘house rules’ most cheeses are perfectly acceptable as part of the diet.

According to this article in The Independent – eating more cheese produces more bacteria that really is healthy for your gut.

‘The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry published a study this month that discussed the importance of something researchers labelled “cheese metabolism”.

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University compared urine and faecal samples from 15 men, who consumed a diet featuring milk and cheese or butter but no other dairy products for two weeks.

The small test, which was partially funded by the Danish Dairy Research Foundation, found that those who ate cheese (or milk) during the trial had a noticeable different composition of bacteria in their gut.

The cheese-eating group had higher levels of the compound butyrate, an anti-inflammatory fatty acid that can increase energy production.

Butyrate has been found, in some circumstances, to improve metabolism, maintain body fat percentages and prevent the development of obesity – according to an American Diabetes Association study in 2009.’

Before you rush out though and buy all the cheese in your local supermarket though – we would suggest that you do consult your doctor before making any significant dietary changes. Also read up more on the Banting diet before you decide whether it is a suitable diet for you. Many people have claimed amazing results from following the low carb high fat (LCHF) eating plan advocated by Tim Noakes. The anti-Banting fraternity however still believe that eating high amounts of fats and cutting carbs completely is very unhealthy.

There are so many scientific studies on the internet these days that point us in the direction of losing weight, such as this study that suggests re-heating pasta also makes it much healthier, and this one suggesting that tequila helps you lose weight. Confusion is bound to set in. So make the educated choice; consult your doctor, try out different eating plans and go with what makes you feel good and works for your body!

Do you find these articles around new scientific studies that help with weight-loss interesting? Or a load of rubbish?

For some cheesy inspiration, look no further:

Crumbed chicken and blue cheese Banting salad

Stuffed chicken breast parcels

Gammon and Cheddar omelette

Butternut, blue cheese and Parmesan pasta