According to a study by Texas A&M University, the polyamine compounds found in aged cheese can prevent damaged liver cells from replicating, offsetting some of the harm caused by one too many cold ones.
As well as reducing the risk of liver disease and even cancer, the compound has also been shown to increase life expectancy in mice by up to 25 per cent, while a human study published in Nature Medicine linked a higher intake of the nutrient to lower blood pressure and reduced heart disease. Some studies suggest it could even lessen a number of the negative effects of a high-salt diet.
If the Alps is out of your budget, melt your own mix of gruyere, Emmental and mature cheddar. Ripe cheeses will serve you best as not only are they higher in polyamines, but their enzymes will have broken down the protein, so they’ll liquefy easily. Combine with crushed garlic, pepper, nutmeg and a dash of white wine. Well, who are we to depart from tradition?
