Health Benefits of Cheese
Cheese is a calcium-rich food that may help reduce the risk for osteoporosis—a disease in which bones become fragile and are more likely to break.
In addition, in moderation, cheese is included in the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet designed to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. This moderate fat diet, which includes three servings daily of low-fat and fat-free milk, yogurt and cheese, and eight to ten servings daily of fruits and vegetables, has also been shown to reduce other risk factors for heart disease.
Nutrients in Cheese
Cheese contains important nutrients like calcium, protein, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B12. Did you know that it takes about ten pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese? This makes cheese a concentrated source of many of milk's nutrients, such as calcium, which is critical for building strong bones.
Calcium is one of the nutrients most likely to be lacking in the American diet. According to government statistics nine out of 10 women and seven out of 10 men fall short of calcium recommendations. The high-quality protein in cheese provides your body with essential building blocks for strong muscles.
If you are lactose intolerant, many cheeses, particularly aged cheeses such as Cheddar and Swiss, contain little or no lactose and are often well tolerated.
Cheese Serving Size
One serving of cheese is one and one-half ounces for hard cheeses (about the
size of six dice); two ounces for processed cheeses. The Dietary Guidelines
for Americans recommend that individuals ages nine and older consume at least
three servings of milk, cheese or yogurt each day.
Enjoy Different Types of Cheese
Cheese is a delicious and nutritious food that is also very versatile. You can add it to other dishes or eat it by itself. It’s convenient and portable – and kids love it! There are many different varieties with unique flavors to complement any dish.
More than 300 varieties of cheese —including American, Cheddar, Mozzarella
and Colby—are available in various flavors, forms (chunks, slices, cubes,
grated, crumbled, sticks, spreads) and packaging to meet consumers' needs.
From Cheddar to Gruyère—enjoy trying new types of cheeses with your favorite foods to make nutritious, tasty dishes. Cheese can jazz up a salad, pasta, sauces and even desserts!
Having a party? Serve Cheese
Make a quick and easy cheese, cracker and fruit plate. The sweet and savory flavors complement each other perfectly and it requires minimal preparation. You can put toothpicks by the platter for a mess-free appetizer. And, of course, cheese pairs very well with wine.
Concerned about calories? Lower Fat Cheese
Choose harder cheeses you can grate and sprinkle over your dishes or aromatic and sharp cheeses so that you can get the delicious cheese flavor with fewer calories. Many reduced-fat varieties of cheeses are also available.
Keeping your favorite cheeses on hand can take your meals to a whole new level! Be prepared for compliments!
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