Good news for all cheese lovers. Researchers have found that this superfood can lengthen a mammal's lifespan.
A new study published in Nature Science said that aged cheeses contain spermidine, a compound that has an effect of adding years to life based on an experiment on mice and rats.
The laboratory animals were given spermidine mixed in water. Aged cheeses include Manchego, Gruyere, Cheddar, Gouda, Grana Padano, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The healthy compound is also present in certain grains and vegetables.
Other than the use of laboratory animals, the researchers also conducted a consultation on hundreds of individuals from Italy with regards to the amount of cheese they consume and its effect on their health. Italians are known for their love for cheese and any food mixed with it.
The study revealed that people who a have high consumption of cheese have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure or even heart failure. Spermidine is believed to be the cause of this positive health effect. Meanwhile, the mice fed with cheese appeared healthier.
Dr. Frank Matero said that "the mice do not only live longer, when we supplement spermidine to the drinking water, they are also healthier in terms of cardiac function." The results show that spermidine results in autophagy where dysfunctional heart cells automatically disable themselves.
Although the effect of spermidine found in cheese has not yet been scientifically proven in humans, Dr. Mateo said that the compound increases in centenarians' blood serum which may suggest that supplements have affects the aging process. The researcher said that they are "planning a trial where we administer spermidine to humans and measure their cardiac function."