Good reasons to eat cookies and cheese

Often when a food study is conducted on something that isn’t a known healthy item like vegetables, the result indicates that we shouldn’t eat it because it raises cholesterol or is linked to cancer. However, two recent studies find that you should eat the items in question: sugar and Camembert cheese. The first found that while an excess of sugary treats may not be good for your cardiovascular system, eating no sugar at all is even worse.

The research indicated that sugary drinks are very bad for you, but the group that ate no sugar at all had worse outcomes than those who said they ate sweets like cookies or cake. The authors cautioned that since the study relied on self-reported data, the results shouldn’t be taken as gospel, but rather that the somewhat surprising outcomes warranted further investigation. But the preliminary findings indicate that we shouldn’t feel too bad about having the occasional sweet treat.

The second study found that compounds found in Camembert cheese can help improve memory and learning. What makes Camembert so special compared to other soft cheeses? Apparently it has to do with the white mold (Penicillium camemberti) that is used to ferment the cheese. This process produces fatty acid amides like myristamide, which can promote a healthy brain by “boosting neurotrophic factors, proteins that support brain cell growth, repair, and memory formation.” I’ll take this excuse to eat Camembert (not that I needed one).

In case you missed these posts over the Holiday:

• Feeding the in between
• Have yourself a crabby little Christmas