Is Dairy Beneficial or Harmful for Your Heart?

Overview

Supermarkets have long promoted low-fat foods as healthier options for heart health, particularly dairy products.

New research challenges the low-fat trend and sheds light on the impact of dairy products on heart health.

Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Uppsala University took a unique approach to studying the effects of dairy fats on our well-being.

Challenges with Food Questionnaires

Traditionally, studies on food and health rely on food questionnaires where participants recall their dietary intake. However, the accuracy of these reports can be questionable, especially when it comes to dairy consumption due to the prevalence of dairy ingredients in various foods.

Instead of relying on self-reported data, researcher Matti Marklund, Ph.D., and his team measured blood levels of specific fatty acids found in dairy products to objectively assess dairy fat intake.

Their analysis revealed a surprising finding: individuals with higher levels of dairy fats in their blood exhibited lower risks of cardiovascular disease.

Benefits of Dairy Fat for Heart Health

The study initially involved over 4,100 individuals in Sweden aged in their 60s. By analyzing blood tests measuring a fatty acid predominantly found in dairy, researchers estimated daily dairy fat consumption for each participant.

Over a 16-year period, the researchers monitored the participants for heart-related issues, strokes, and mortality causes. The study demonstrated that those with higher dairy fat intake experienced fewer heart problems and did not face elevated risks of other diseases.

When the Swedish data was combined with findings from 43,000 individuals in 17 countries, consistent results were observed.

Professor Marklund emphasized the importance of choosing certain dairy products in a healthy diet, such as yogurt over butter, and avoiding sugar-laden dairy items for optimal heart health.

Contrary to popular belief, consuming full-fat dairy products, as suggested by this research, may offer greater heart-health benefits compared to low-fat alternatives.

Dr. Kathy Trieu from the George Institute supported this notion, stating that reducing dairy fat or eliminating dairy altogether may not be the most favorable choice for heart health.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34547017/

References

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Zhang R, Zhang M, Wang P. The intricate interplay between dietary habits and cognitive function: insights from the gut-brain axis. Front Nutr. 2025 Jan 29;12:1539355. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355. PMID: 39944956; PMCID: PMC11813792.

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Susan Parker

Susan Parker is a 49-year-old Senior Manager at a marketing firm. With two older children becoming more independent, she is now focusing on her own health and wellbeing. She’s passionate about natural and holistic health approaches, and values high-quality, trustworthy products. Susan enjoys yoga, gardening, reading, and cooking, and seeks to stay energetic and sharp while balancing a busy career and personal life.