Cheese & Brain Health: Good News!

I love cheese and, according to a new study from Sweden, cheese just might love me back. Might.

My mission is to empower people to achieve real health through real food. And one of my favorite real foods is cheese!

🧀 What the study found

A long-term Swedish study followed roughly 20,000 adults for about 25 years, tracking dietary patterns and dementia outcomes.

Two findings stood out:

✅ Among people with a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, higher intake of full-fat cheese was linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s, on the order of about 20 percent compared with those who ate little or none.

✅ Across the broader population, higher intake of full fat cream was associated with a lower risk of dementia overall.

You can read the Science Daily summary of the study here:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260203030540.htm

🧀 Association, Not Causation

This study looked at associations, not cause and effect. It does not prove that eating cheese or cream will prevent Alzheimer’s, or that avoiding them will cause harm.

Real life is never that simple.

But here’s what did catch my attention.

🧀 Big Fat Low-Fat Finding

The findings directly challenge a belief that was drilled into us for decades: that fat is dangerous, and low-fat is safer and smarter.

In this study, the potential benefit appeared with full-fat dairy, not low-fat versions. When the fat was removed, the benefit disappeared.

That matters.

🧀 My Take-away

I am not telling anyone to eat more cheese.

I am saying: don’t be afraid of real cheese, of full fat cheese.

For those of us who spent years choosing skim milk, low-fat yogurt, and reduced-fat cheese in the name of health, this is... infuriating? Sure, and... welcome news.

We never needed to fear natural fat in the first place.

Permission to embrace natural fat granted.

🧀 Brain Connection

Fat plays a central role in brain structure, signaling, and energy. The brain is largely fat, and it does not thrive in a chronically low-fat environment. In other words...

Enjoy your cheese.

🧀 Are you eating enough fat?

The Mister and I eat a lot of ground beef, which comes with plenty of built-in natural fat.

We still eat white-meat chicken once or twice a week, mostly out of habit. That lean breast doesn’t feel quite as laudable as it once did. So I reach for heavy cream and real cheese and bust out a simple, rich sauce to go with it. Delicious.

And it turns out, there was never a good reason to fear it.

Feed your brain!

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Until next time, stay strong, wise, kind, and good.

Choose real food for real health.