Many folks aren’t so sure whether they should include cheese in their diet. Some try to avoid the product for fear of gaining weight and developing a myriad of complications. What most people don’t understand is that cheese is a great source of very important nutrients that the body needs. The product packs some benefits; however, it comes with a slew of downsides, too. Here are the benefits and downsides of cheese that you should know:

Cheese is good for your bones and teeth

Cheese is rich in calcium. And a diet that has the right amount of calcium results in strong, healthy bones, thus, fortifying the individual from osteoporosis and a host of other bone problems that come with aging. Osteoporosis is where bones become fragile due to decreasing bone mass and the wasting of bone tissue, eventually leading to fracture. Most dairy products, owing to their calcium and protein nutrients, present the perfect protection for bones. Out of all dairy products, cheese does this more splendidly especially because it packs B-complex vitamins that help in the optimum absorption and distribution of calcium throughout the body.

As for the teeth, a recent study shows that cheese somehow protects one’s teeth from acid erosions caused by tea, coffee, wine, soda, etc., thus, preventing tooth cavity.

When a person consumes the mentioned products- i.e. tea, coffee, wine, soda, etc.- the natural pH levels of the mouth drop, causing damage to the tooth enamel as time goes by. Thankfully, there is saliva which brings the PH levels back to the optimum state; however, cheese accelerates the process by increasing the PH levels faster. In addition, another study conducted in Finland found that a probiotic known as lactobacillus that resides in cheese aids in the lowering of cavity-causing yeast in the mouth.

It then goes without say that consuming cheese is the key to excellent bone health and good teeth.

Weight Loss Aid

The jury is out on how cheese impacts one’s weight. There are conflicting findings, and so far there hasn’t been a consensus. In 2009, the National Dairy Council funded a study that was later published in Nutrition & Metabolism journal. The study found that cheese and other dairy food could help in the prevention of weight gain after one diets. A separate study found out that regular cheese consumers gained less weight compared to those who consumed cheese less often. However, there are other studies that present conflicting findings. For example, one John Hopkins study in 2008 reported that people who eat a lot of cheese tend to be overweight.

Cheese is good for the heart

A survey of fifteen different men found a correlation between consuming cheese and the excretion of a molecule known as TMAO. TMAO is linked to cardiovascular disease. The Harvard School of public Health accepted the results and stated that the finding comports well with other works in the area that draw a correlation between the consumption of cheese and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, consuming cheese has a couple of drawbacks. For example, it has a lot of salt, and a high sodium diet that can result in complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes and so on. Moreover, some studies have linked the consumption of dairy products to an increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer.

Conclusion

The consumption of cheese is highly encouraged. However, you should consume the product temperately. Go for healthier varieties and you will have cut back the downsides of cheese.

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