ISLAMABAD: A new study conducted by researchers at University College Dublin, revealed that higher dairy intake associated with lower body mass index.

Moreover, consuming cheese does not lead to increased body fat or cholesterol, stated the study. The scientists examined the impact of dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt, cream and butter on the health of people.

They studied eating habits of about1,500 Irish people aged between 18 and 90 years of age in this regard, the Guardian reported.

The study found that people who consumed most amount of dairy had lower BMIs, lower body fat percentages, thinner waists and lower blood pressure.

"What we saw was that in the high consumers [of cheese] they had a significantly higher intake of saturated fat than the non- consumers and the low consumers and yet there was no difference in their LDL Cholesterol levels," said study lead author Dr Emma Feeney.

"We have to consider not just the nutrients themselves but also the matrix in which we are eating them in and what the overall dietary pattern is, so not just about the food then, but the pattern of other foods we eat with them as well." -APP