ADDING dairy products to everyday meals makes them more pleasurable, according to a study.

The experiment looked at what happens to our brains and bodies when we taste and look at different foods - both with and without a dairy component.

It found pleasure levels increased by 25 per cent on average in three quarters of participants when they tucked into the dairy options.

The 30 participants wore electroencephalogram (EEG) headbands which measured electrical patterns in the brain.

At the same time their body language and vocal reactions were monitored and recorded by a psychologist.

The experiment was jointly carried out by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Dairy UK.

Those taking part were presented with several everyday dishes including potatoes with and without butter, garlic bread with and without cheese, apple crumble with and without cream, along with granola and fruit with and without yogurt.

Behavioural psychologist Dr Peter Collett was part of the team who worked on the experiment.

He said: "Generally, people cannot control their brainwaves, so a study like this is a great way to get a more truthful representation of how people feel about dairy.

"Across the four food groups trialled, more than 82 per cent of the preferences were for dairy over non-dairy.

"With people saying that adding yogurt, butter, cheese or cream made food more 'moreish', improved the flavour and added to the texture.

"Participants also showed notable visible and audible signs of enjoyment, such as touching their mouth and chewing quickly."

A separate study of 2,000 adults, commissioned by the Department of Dairy Related Scrumptious Affairs, also found three in 10 would rather eat cheese than have sex.

Women in particular have a fondness for fromage - 40 per cent would choose it over being intimate with their partner - compared to 18 per cent of men.

It also emerged cheddar is the nation's favourite cheese - 52 per cent of Brits named it their favourite.

Carried out through OnePoll, the research also found more than a quarter eat ice cream every week, 39 per cent have yogurt every day and two thirds have butter up to three times a week.

And almost three quarters revealed they 'couldn't imagine a world without dairy'.

The study was carried out as part of a joint initiative by the AHDB and Dairy UK called the 'Department of Dairy Related Scrumptious Affairs'.

A spokesperson for the campaign said: "We've proved that by simply adding a delicious dollop of dairy to your meals you could tickle your d-spot and have a surge of pleasure.

"Adding a splash of milk to your cuppa tea or lathering your crumpet with luscious chunks of butter will make you happier and make your day just that little bit more pleasurable."