Oh, dear, lovely Cheese. Munster, Swiss, Jarlsberg and Romano; Bleu Cheese, Cheddar, Brie and Feta, Mozzerella, Parmesan. It's melty on top of Old Smokey, or spaghetti. It's flavoring your pizza, enchilada, your tuna melt, your panini. So many of us have a love verging on lust for cheese that we simply can't not, even when we're watching our weight, even when we're on a diet even if, health forbid, we are lactose intolerant.
So what's the deal, REALLY? Is cheese worth your time, money, and hard earned calories? If you need to find something to indulge in and desperately want it, will you sabotage or support your health, well being, and happiness by letting yourself have some glorious, tasty cheese?
Let's break it down.
Cheese has the nutritional value of all milk products including calcium and protein. Unfortunately, most whole milk and regular cow's milk cheese also contains a great amount of fat and calories. One exception to this is goat's milk cheese. Goat's milk cheese has a wonderful flavor and all the health benefits of cheese without all the fat and calories. For more on goat cheese, follow this link:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1525602/the_health_benefits_of_goat_cheese.html?cat=51
Goat cheese can also be easier to digest than cow's milk cheese.
Another interesting option is feta cheese. This type of cheese is lower in fat and calories and still incredibly delicious. It is tasty and won't cost you as many calories.
Eating feta cheese can have other health benefits, such as boosting metabolism. For more on feta cheese, follow this link:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2450724/four_health_benefits_of_feta_cheese.html?cat=5
For a list of cheeses and their caloric content, click on the following link:
http://www.weightlossforall.com/calories-cheese.htm
In summation, cheese is delicious, nutritious and culturally appealing. It is an old favorite among the elderly and young children alike. People of all ages adore it. Just learn as much as you can about the different types, opt for those with lower fat and calorie content whenever possible, and enjoy!
Aimee Boyle is a freelance writer and special education teacher in CT. She eats cheese happily on toast, crackers and tortillas, almost daily.
For more on the nutritional value of cheese, follow this link: http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/fresh-ideas/healthy-dinners/health-benefits-of-cheese-ga.htm