Eating is a minefield these days. It’s hard to keep up with what we should and shouldn’t be eating – particularly when it comes to dairy. While most of us were raised on a diet of glasses of full-fat milk, there’s been a steady stream towards alternatives in recent years thanks to a general understanding that dairy is only bad for our health. However, salvation may be here, thanks to a new report that proves the value of a slice of cheese.

A new study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology has determined that consuming dairy favourites cheese, milk and yoghurt does not, in fact, increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. It states that dairy does not have an effect on raising the risk of serious heart problems or cardiovascular disease, rather it has a neutral impact on health overall.

The study is the result of an analysis of 29 previous studies undertaken on the subject over the past 35 years, incorporating 938,465 participants in total. Moreover, while neutral isn’t exactly the same as beneficial, it will be comforting to Australian dairy farmers who in recent years have had to battle dropping prices, as well as rifle through rumours that milk is doing society more harm than good.

Earlier this month The Guardian UK confirmed it’s actually the saturated fat and salt in dairy that we should be looking out for, rather than the dairy itself. The publication reported that the Public Health England, unfortunately, says both are found in the majority of dairy products, and that “we’re all consuming too much of both, increasing our risk of heart disease.”

Like we said, a minefield. Sometimes it’s best to just enjoy the cheese and not think about it.