Now, you can have cheese every single day without any guilt. Eating up to 40 grams of cheese a day could reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke, according to a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition. 40 grams of cheese approximately equals one-third of a cup. [1]
Researchers at Soochow University, China evaluated 15 previous studies from Europe and the US which tracked diet and health data for more than 200,000 people. It was found that people who consumed 40 grams of cheese daily reduced the chances of a heart attack by 14 percent. The same portion size could lower the risk of a stroke by 10 percent.
According to researchers, the cheese raised levels of HDL or “good cholesterol” while reducing levels of LDL or “bad cholesterol”. “Cheese contains saturated fatty acids but also has potentially beneficial nutrients,” the authors of the research study wrote in the European Journal of Nutrition.
Studies are being carried out to understand the so-called “French paradox” – the curious case of the French who have low cardiovascular disease rates even when their diets are rich in cholesterol and saturated fat.
Traditionally, cheese is considered an excellent source of calcium and protein. It also contains high amounts of Vitamin A and B12, along with zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin.
However, people have shunned cheese in recent years due to warnings from nutritionists and fitness experts that it is a high-calorie and a high-fat food. But the findings of this recent study show that it is best to eat cheese moderately. So go ahead and sprinkle your salad with shredded cheese or add it to your sandwich to get the best benefits out of this calcium-rich food.
