Can a diet of cheese and dairy help you shed those excess pounds?

It has long been blamed for causing nightmares. But cheese may also give you a dream figure. A diet packed with cheese and other dairy products helps with weight loss, a study found. Australian slimmers were put on low-calorie diets which included varying amounts of cheese, yoghurt and low-fat milk. Those who increased their daily servings of dairy products from three to five lost the most weight.

They also had lower blood pressure, the least tummy fat and 'significantly improved' their chances of avoiding heart disease and diabetes.

The researchers, from Curtin University of Technology in Perth, said that although dairy products are widely perceived as being fatty, they have a place in the slimmer's shopping basket.

Dieters, however, should still keep an eye on their fat and calorie intake.

Cheese and other dairy products are high in protein, which helps us feel full quickly and speeds up the metabolism.

Laura Wyness, of the British Nutrition Foundation, said dairy products were a good source of calcium and vitamins, as well as protein.

However, she warned that cheeses can be high in salt and advised dieters to check labelling before buying.