Cheese: To Cut It Or Not To Cut It
Is the moon really made of cheese?
Of all the questions you could ask about cheese, this is your first? Of course it isn’t—that idea was put forth in the 16th century. Cheese is derived primarily from cow milk, but is made also from buffalo, goats, sheep and everyone’s favorite, yak. Cheese contains high amounts of saturated fat, protein, calcium, as well as the vitamins riboflavin and B12. It’s thought that cheese has been around since at least 5500 BC. The US is the biggest producer of cheese. Lastly, depending on the definition of cheese, there are about 1,000 types of cheeses worldwide.
Okay, I’m a little “cheesed off” that you’re acting like a “big cheese” spouting off cheesy facts. Just give me the story. Does cheese cause heart attacks?
The bottom line is that it doesn’t. This may be contrary to what many people think about cheese. In fact multiple studies have shown that dairy products, which include cheese, prevent a host of chronic diseases including strokes, type 2 diabetes, obesity, as well as reduce risk of colon, bladder and stomach cancers.
Seriously!?! I can eat cheese and not increase my risk of heart attacks?
Absolutely, and there is good science saying it probably PREVENTS heart disease. One recent study, compiling the 15 best studies showed that to reduce your risk of heart attacks, eating about 1.5 ounces a day provided the most benefit. Eating more cheese did not provide any further benefit. This amount of cheese was also shown to prevent heart disease in another study that evaluated over 30 studies.
Hold the cheese, this can’t be! I thought cheese contained a lot of bad saturated fat that causes heart disease?
It is true that cheese contains saturated fat. Remember though, that saturated fat has NOT been shown to be associated with heart attacks. Cheese does contain minerals, proteins, and vitamins that together, may have an impact on preventing heart disease. So enjoy your 1.5 ounces of cheese a day. It’s actually good for you, so go ahead and cut the cheese.