It may seem counterintuitive, but eating more heavy, full-fat dairy products can be a great way to stay healthy and trim.
A study of more than 3,700 healthy adults revealed those who ate more whole-fat dairy were more likely to have higher levels of the fatty acid trans-palmitoleate in their bodies. That, in turn, corresponded with slightly trimmer waistlines, less fat tissue, and more of the good kind of (HDL) cholesterol.
A much larger study of nearly 27,000 people from ages 45 to 74 found that participants who ate more high-fat dairy had the lowest diabetes rates.
"Those who ate the most high-fat dairy products had a 23% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least," study author Ulrika Ericson said in a statement.
That wasn't true for people who ate more meat, which was linked to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, regardless of the fat content.