The old notion is that cheese is unhealthy because of all the saturated fat it contains. But newer research disputes the link between saturated fat and heart disease. In fact, eating cheese is linked to many health benefits.
Here are 4 health benefits of cheese
Reduces the risk of heart disease
Some researchers believe that cheese may explain the so-called French paradox, that the French have low rates of heart disease despite their devotion to cheese and other foods high in saturated fat, such as butter.
There’s also a 2016 report that analyzed results from 31 prospective cohort studies that looked at how much dairy participants consumed and whether they had cardiovascular disease. One important finding was that consuming almost 50 grams of cheese per day was linked to an 18 percent lower risk of heart disease. Another key finding was that consuming 14 grams of cheese per day could reduce the risk of stroke by 13 percent.
Protects against diabetes
Consuming 10 grams of cheese a day may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 8 percent, according to a study by the group in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
There’s more good news from the same study, people who ate about 3/4 cup of yogurt a day had an even lower risk. Another study from the AJCN found that women who ate just under 50 grams of cheese also reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes.
Increase your muscle mass
Eating about a cup of ricotta cheese a day for 12 weeks will increase your muscle mass, according to a 2014 study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging.
So, maybe it’s time we stop regretting every time we enjoy delicious cheese.
Dining and Cooking