From the Atkins to the South Beach diet, meal plans with high protein contents are tried and tested regimes which count many A list celebrities amongst their fans. From Jessica Alba to Jennifer Aniston carbs have been banished from Hollywood.Carbs, however are not the only no-no foods; dairy products are considered to be public enemy number two, perhaps, and have often been ostracised by those who want to maintain a svelte figure. A 2010 research in fact, reports that soy based product sales in the US amounted to a business of $4.5 billion dollars for 2009.

 Supermarket Chic, from a fashion spread in Interview Magazine, March 2011, by Robbie Fimmano

But there are good news for all those goat cheese and real milk lovers out there. The September issue of the Journal of Nutrition published by the American Society of Nutrition revealed some surprising results about dairy products.

The study compared three groups of overweight women. One group ate a low amount of dairy food, one at a medium amount, and the third ate a high amount. Their exercise routines were identical. At the end of the four-month testing period, the women who were on a higher-protein, higher-dairy diet "experienced greater whole-body fat and abdomen fat losses, greater lean mass gains and greater increases in strength". More specifically, those who consumed a lot of dairy lost twice as much belly fat as the others.

 Hurray! Bring on the assiette de fromage! Actually, probably better not- the article also specifies that the dairy consumed by the ladies in the study was not high fat, non-pasteurised Brie or Camembert, but low fat yogurt and fresh cheeses. Nevertheless, this is a small victory for us cheese lovers.

So next time that you find yourself salivating in front of the cheese counter at your local deli, maybe hiding behind your maxi sunglasses and a head scarf, why not whip off the disguise and rejoice in the fact that dairy has officially been cleared of crimes against humanity.

Written by: Valentina Zannoni

Credits: Robbie Fimmano

Interview Magazine