Good news for those eating the last of the Christmas cheese

Look, don’t worry. It MIGHT be all right after all. 

You know a week or two ago when you were waist-deep in yet another box of Celebrations, when you felt inflated, slightly touched by gluttonous guilt, and then you hit the cheese again? Right then you said it was ‘just Christmas’ and you were definitely about to stop – though you knew there was another one of those cranberry-flavoured Wensleydale triangular blocks in the fridge and it HAD to be eaten.

Well, it may be that more cheese is good for you. Edam it all, you gouda keep going!

Scientists – boffins! – in Sweden have said that a diet tied to a high volume of cheese can result in a lower dementia risk. People who consumed 50 grams of high-fat cheese per day had a 13% lower risk of dementia than those eating much less. 

Read more:

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There were 27,670 adults followed over 25 years for this study. However, before you reach for more crackers, there is word of caution from report author Emily Sonestedt, senior lecturer and associate professor of nutrition at Lund University.

“This does not prove that cheese prevents dementia, but it does challenge the idea that all high-fat dairy is bad for the brain,” she said, rather pulling the rug.

In something of a dietary butterfly effect, it seems it might have to do with the ground in Sweden. Dairy cows in Sweden are more likely to be grass-fed than in other major western economies – like the US. Grass-fed cows are more likely to produce milk, cream and cheese with more omega-3 fatty acids and, said neurologist Dr Richard Isaacson, director of research on Alzheimer’s at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Florida, this could be key. 

“Omega-3 fatty acids, in my opinion, are brain healthy,” he told CNN. So we need to make sure our dairy products are from grass-fed cows. Nature for health – whodathunkit?

You could always just look out the window. Another end of year study from scientists – more boffins! – discovered that natural light through a window can help improve blood sugar control in people with type-2 diabetes. It’s to do with the circadian rhythms, apparently. Presumably the light can help us all. I don’t know that – it’s a guess. Though ANOTHER study recently said viewing nature through a window can reduce stress and help mental health. Turns out that old wisdoms – light and nature – can help an awful lot. Which, as we trudge into the new year, are simple and welcome truths.

In addition, this week, we have the great Barry McGuigan (and others) providing tips for better health.
Barry’s involves drinking a lot of water – which isn’t the most taxing part of any regime. 

AND in 2026, we hit Big Issue’s 35th anniversary. Details of celebrations and developments are coming. All in all, things are looking up.

Paul McNamee is editor of the Big Issue. Read more of his columns here. Follow him on X.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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