Cheese has been unfairly maligned. Now, will it help mental, physical health?

Almost immediately after it was published in the journal Neurology, a research paper invited the ire of naysayers. It made a broad claim: High-fat-content cheese — cheddar, gouda, brie, and the oh so smelly and delicious blues, from the underrated Stilton (yes, the English can make a decent cheese) to the mighty gorgonzola, which carries an ecosystem of microorganisms in every bite — reduces the risk of dementia. Its findings were based on analysing the eating habits of around 28,000 adults in Sweden. But even before turophiles could savour the moment as they would the softness of a camembert, there were caveats galore: Cheese alone isn’t a shield against dementia; the jury is still out on saturated fats in general; a balanced diet and exercise are key, and so on.

Cheese has been unfairly maligned. A growing body of research shows that it is sugar and not fat that is the main culprit for many lifestyle diseases, from obesity and hypertension to diabetes. In India, despite the prevalence of milk, cheese never quite took off — barring in some communities — because of the interdiction on fermenting/curdling “pure” milk. That said, the love of cheese has little to do with how healthy it is.

Plato, in his avuncular wisdom, had divided things that are “good” into three types: Things that are good in themselves and for their consequences (justice, health); good only in their consequences (medicine), and good in themselves (joy, pleasure). Lovers of cheese know that appreciating the sharpness, bitterness, tartness or stench of what is essentially milk gone off is like joy and pleasure — to be enjoyed in the moment, in full. No amount of research can turn it into medicine.

Overall Analysis

This editorial adopts a reflective and lightly ironic tone to discuss the renewed scientific interest in cheese and its possible health benefits, especially in relation to dementia. It begins with a reference to a recent research paper that sparked controversy by claiming that high-fat cheese may reduce dementia risk. The author immediately tempers this claim with caution, highlighting the caveats and limitations of nutritional science. This balanced opening signals that the piece is not about endorsing sensational health claims but questioning how food is judged in public discourse.

The editorial then widens its scope to critique how cheese — and dietary fat more broadly — has been historically blamed for lifestyle diseases. By pointing out that newer research implicates sugar rather than fat as a major culprit, the author subtly challenges long-held nutritional orthodoxies. The reference to India’s cultural resistance to cheese because of ideas of “purity” adds a sociological dimension, showing how food habits are shaped as much by belief systems as by health considerations.

In the final paragraph, the editorial shifts from science to philosophy, invoking Plato’s classification of “the good”. This move reframes the entire discussion: cheese is not medicine, nor does it need to be justified by health outcomes. Instead, it belongs to the realm of pleasure and joy — valuable in themselves. The language here becomes lyrical and indulgent, celebrating sensory experience. The author’s deeper point is that not everything we consume needs to be defended on utilitarian or medical grounds; some things are worth cherishing simply for the happiness they bring.

Overall, the editorial blends science, culture, and philosophy to argue against reducing food — particularly cheese — to a narrow health metric. It advocates a more humane, balanced way of thinking about diet and pleasure.

Important Vocabulary (5)

1. Maligned – spoken about unfairly or criticized without justification.
2. Ire – anger or hostility.
3. Caveats – warnings or conditions attached to a claim.
4. Culprit – the source of a problem or harm.
5. Avuncular – kindly, wise, and mildly humorous in manner.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial concludes that while scientific research on food is important, it should not strip eating of joy and cultural meaning. Cheese need not be defended as a health supplement to be valued; its pleasure is reason enough.

Tone: Witty, reflective, and gently persuasive, with a philosophical undertone.