Cheese 101: Health benefits of cheese you didn't know Cheese 101: Health benefits of cheese you didn't know

​Unless you're lactose intolerant, you probably have eaten cheese and loved it.

With thousands of varieties available worldwide, cheese is the cornerstone of most delicious food—from pepperoni pizza to cheesecake, cheese bread, mac' and cheese, pasta, cheese, cheese, cheese! It's something you shouldn't miss. I mean, who doesn’t want wine and cheese over a sleek slate of cheese board?

Wait, you're worried about saturated fat? Sadly, a lot of people avoid cheese because they thought fat is all it could give to them.

​Well, I'm actually here to challenge that popular belief. Here are reasons why eating this creamy, milky and heaven-sent dairy delight is beneficial for you.

A study conducted by the scientists from the University of Turku in Finland revealed that probiotic cheese has the ability to prevent the age-related deterioration of the immune system.  Dr. Fandi Ibrahim, the leader of the study said that the regular intake of probiotic cheese can help in boosting the immune system and improve an elderly person's immune response. So if you want your immune system to remain strong even after you've aged, then don't forget to include cheese in your diet!

​While it's easy to vilify cheese, would you believe that it can actually help improve your intelligence? A study from American and Australian researchers last 2012 found out that people who regularly consume dairy products (cheese included) score better on mental ability tests than people who rarely or don't consume dairy products at all.

Have you heard about the French Paradox? This term is used to describe the paradox that French people tend to have low rates of heart disease. What's mind-blogging is this happens despite their affinity for cheese and other saturated fat–rich foods such as butter and duck! Researchers believe that cheese may have something to do with it. Also, it's said that eating at least 1/2 ounce of cheese a day could cut risks of getting stroke by 13 percent.

​An analysis of the cohort studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that eating 1 3/4 ounces of cheese a day can lessen up to 8% the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

​Calcium makes our bones strong and healthy. Over time as we age, our bone mass begins to weaken. Hence, we become prone to diseases such as Osteoporosis. Cheese, being a dairy product, contains Calcium along with other important vitamins which keep bones stronger.

All thanks to Calcium and Phosphorus found in cheese, the lactic acid that’s present in our mouths is prevented from breaking down tooth enamel. Also, a research in Finland found that the probiotic known as Lactobacillus present in cheese helped lower the count of cavity-causing yeast in the mouth. Imagine your pearly whites can remain strong and healthy because of cheese. Oh, what would we do without cheese?

​Now that you have learned about the benefits of eating cheese, do you still think it's bad for you?

Eating cheese will only have a negative impact if you overdo it and eat beyond its recommended daily intake. Like all other things, moderation is the key. Following a well-balanced diet can help you gain the benefits of cheese in the long run.

So, what are you waiting? Go ahead and enjoy that lump of Feta cheese you've been craving for.

​Unless you're lactose intolerant, you probably have eaten cheese and loved it.

With thousands of varieties available worldwide, cheese is the cornerstone of most delicious food—from pepperoni pizza to cheesecake, cheese bread, mac' and cheese, pasta, cheese, cheese, cheese! It's something you shouldn't miss. I mean, who doesn’t want wine and cheese over a sleek slate of cheese board?

Wait, you're worried about saturated fat? Sadly, a lot of people avoid cheese because they thought fat is all it could give to them.

​Well, I'm actually here to challenge that popular belief. Here are reasons why eating this creamy, milky and heaven-sent dairy delight is beneficial for you.

A study conducted by the scientists from the University of Turku in Finland revealed that probiotic cheese has the ability to prevent the age-related deterioration of the immune system.  Dr. Fandi Ibrahim, the leader of the study said that the regular intake of probiotic cheese can help in boosting the immune system and improve an elderly person's immune response. So if you want your immune system to remain strong even after you've aged, then don't forget to include cheese in your diet!

​While it's easy to vilify cheese, would you believe that it can actually help improve your intelligence? A study from American and Australian researchers last 2012 found out that people who regularly consume dairy products (cheese included) score better on mental ability tests than people who rarely or don't consume dairy products at all.

Have you heard about the French Paradox? This term is used to describe the paradox that French people tend to have low rates of heart disease. What's mind-blogging is this happens despite their affinity for cheese and other saturated fat–rich foods such as butter and duck! Researchers believe that cheese may have something to do with it. Also, it's said that eating at least 1/2 ounce of cheese a day could cut risks of getting stroke by 13 percent.

​An analysis of the cohort studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that eating 1 3/4 ounces of cheese a day can lessen up to 8% the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

​Calcium makes our bones strong and healthy. Over time as we age, our bone mass begins to weaken. Hence, we become prone to diseases such as Osteoporosis. Cheese, being a dairy product, contains Calcium along with other important vitamins which keep bones stronger.

All thanks to Calcium and Phosphorus found in cheese, the lactic acid that’s present in our mouths is prevented from breaking down tooth enamel. Also, a research in Finland found that the probiotic known as Lactobacillus present in cheese helped lower the count of cavity-causing yeast in the mouth. Imagine your pearly whites can remain strong and healthy because of cheese. Oh, what would we do without cheese?

​Now that you have learned about the benefits of eating cheese, do you still think it's bad for you?

Eating cheese will only have a negative impact if you overdo it and eat beyond its recommended daily intake. Like all other things, moderation is the key. Following a well-balanced diet can help you gain the benefits of cheese in the long run.

So, what are you waiting? Go ahead and enjoy that lump of Feta cheese you've been craving for.