Is it healthy to eat cheese? That has the potential to be oozy. It has the potential to be gooey. It might have a sharp, buttery, or salty flavour. These are only a few of the characteristics that contribute to cheese tasting so “Gouda.”
Cheese, which comes in thousands of kinds such as Gorgonzola, Camembert, and Pecorino Romano, appears to be omnipresent in our lives, whether you’re assembling a cheese board, putting a slice on a burger, or munching on a wedge.
Is it healthy to eat cheese?
But is cheese healthy?
“Yes and no,” says Alexis Supan, MPH, RD, a qualified dietician. “Cheese has several amazing benefits, but it also has some drawbacks, such as high levels of saturated fat and sodium.”
So, while Supan describes the health benefits of cheese, let’s go a bit cheesy (and see if you can eat it every day).
Cheese’s health benefits
Certainly, cheese is a kitchen staple, but how does it affect your body? Supan talks about some of the health benefits.
It could assist in safeguarding your teeth.
While it’s not a good idea to brush your teeth with cheese (eww! ), eating cheese may help minimize cavities in a few ways.
Chewing cheese increases the flow of saliva in your mouth. Saliva aids in the breakdown of plaque and the removal of sugar.
In addition, the casein (the major protein in cheese) and whey protein contained in cheese may reduce the number of cariogenic bacteria in your mouth.
“This is an unexpected benefit of eating cheese,” Supan explains. “Research demonstrates that dairy does provide some tooth protection.”
It may help lower blood pressure.
Some research has looked into how dairy products, such as cheese, can help lower blood pressure. Bioactive peptides that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzymes are suggested to aid in blood pressure management.
“I’d take those findings with a grain of salt,” Supan warns. “Although cheese may have some qualities that decrease blood pressure, the salt level of cheese can potentially elevate blood pressure.”
So, I wouldn’t go overboard and start eating cheese to decrease your blood pressure.”
It may aid in the prevention of heart disease and diabetes.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), an omega-6 fatty acid found in dairy products and meat, is found in several kinds of cheese, such as Brie, cheddar, and blue.
We still don’t know a lot about CLA. While preliminary evidence indicates that CLA may help enhance your lipid panel and lower blood sugar levels, there has been debate over the negative effects of CLA due to a lack of human trials.
Yet, studies show that obtaining CLA through cheese or other foods may be more beneficial than taking a CLA supplement.
“One thing to know about CLA and cheese in general is that when we eat grass-fed types of cheese, we tend to get greater nutrients and levels of CLA,” Supan explains.
The label and packaging will usually indicate whether the cheese was manufactured with 100% grass-fed milk, which means the milk came from cows that only ate grass.
It contributes to gut health.
Probiotics, the good bacteria that can maintain or aid in attaining a healthy gut microbiome, are found in cheeses such as cottage cheese, provolone, and Swiss.
“There are several kinds of cheese that can aid your gut health,” Supan says. “Cheddar, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, and Gouda are all fantastic cheeses for providing us with beneficial bacteria and keeping our gut happy.”
It’s high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids can benefit many different sections of your body, including your brain, heart, eyes, immune system, and gastrointestinal system.
Because your body cannot efficiently create unsaturated fatty acids, we must obtain them from meals such as fish.
The USDA recommends that individuals consume 8 ounces or more of oily fish per week, which equals around 250 mg of omega-3s.
“There are a lot of cheeses that have omega-3 fatty acids,” Supan says. “It’s worth noting here that grass-fed dairy is slightly healthier for humans.
And we want to attempt to obtain more omega-3s in our diet since the average American diet depletes us.”
Cheese contains nutrients.
So, is cheese good for you?
It contains calcium, fat, and protein, as well as vitamins A, B, and 12, zinc, and riboflavin. Cheese also includes selenium, an antioxidant that supports our immune systems.
“For many people, cheese is their primary source of calcium,” explains Supan. “It can be an excellent approach for people to achieve their calcium requirements.” It also contains protein, which many people do not consider at the moment. Yet, protein is required to keep our muscles robust and healthy.”
Remember that the best way to receive calcium is from your diet, not a supplement.
“You always want to talk to your doctor before adding any vitamins if you believe you need them from a supplement,” she says.
The disadvantage is that cheese is high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium, and poor in fibre.
“Because of the amount of saturated fat and sodium, someone with serious heart disease who is trying to control their blood pressure should certainly drastically limit or omit cheese just to be on the safe side,” Supan says.
Is it harmful to consume cheese every day?
So, let’s get to the real question: Can you eat cheese every day?
Everything is dependent on the rest of your diet.
“If your diet is generally low in saturated fats and sodium, two to three ounces of cheese per day may be fine,” Supan explains. “If you’re trying to eat well or have cardiac problems, I’d limit myself to one ounce of high-quality cheese each day, or even less a few times a week.”
If you’re pregnant, physicians advise against eating soft cheese since there’s a potential that it’s unpasteurized and contains Listeria.
If you’re lactose intolerant, some cheeses, such as Muenster and Parmesan, contain less lactose.
“But if you are lactose sensitive, it is best to limit how much cheese you eat,” Supan advises. “Too much can be bad for your gut.”
So, when all is said and done, is cheese worth all the hype?
“Cheese has undeniable advantages,” adds Supan. “Although you should be cautious about how much cheese you consume due to some of the downsides, consuming some cheese in moderation is okay.”
