The bad newsWhile cheese may have many celebrated health benefits, it also has some downfalls – one in particular is its high saturated fat content. Saturated fat raises one’s level of LDL “bad” cholesterol, causing plaque to build up in the arteries, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease. Moreover, a diet rich in foods high in saturated fat, such as meat and full fat dairy products, causes chronic inflammation, a contributing factor for strokes, heart disease, arthritis and even Alzheimer’s. Full fat cheese can contain as many as six grams of saturated fat per serving, which is nearly one third of the maximum daily recommended allowance.A common health myth is that “low fat” milk and other dairy products contain less calcium that then the full-fat versions. This rumor is not only so false, but skim (and 1%) milk and low-fat cheese actually contain more calcium than their full-fat counterparts. So if you plan on making cheese one of your main sources of calcium or protein, opt for skim or part-skim cheeses (1 or 2%). At the same time, watch out for those “no fat” products as the fat is typically replaced by tons of harmful chemicals and sodium.Another negative aspect of cheese is its high sodium content, which makes it unhealthy for those with blood pressure problems. That being said, recent studies have shown that people who eat more low-fat (and low sodium) dairy products have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than those who eat less low-fat dairy products.So what’s the verdict? While cheese provides some essential nutrients, it can still be quite unhealthy. So apart from Shavuot, where you can and should indulge, use cheese in modest quantities or opt for low-fat cheese to limit the possible negative aspects on your health.
Healthy Eating: Say Cheese
Some people say this dairy favorite is full of artery-clogging fat, while others swear by it. Find out the good and bad news about cheese.
The bad newsWhile cheese may have many celebrated health benefits, it also has some downfalls – one in particular is its high saturated fat content. Saturated fat raises one’s level of LDL “bad” cholesterol, causing plaque to build up in the arteries, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease. Moreover, a diet rich in foods high in saturated fat, such as meat and full fat dairy products, causes chronic inflammation, a contributing factor for strokes, heart disease, arthritis and even Alzheimer’s. Full fat cheese can contain as many as six grams of saturated fat per serving, which is nearly one third of the maximum daily recommended allowance.A common health myth is that “low fat” milk and other dairy products contain less calcium that then the full-fat versions. This rumor is not only so false, but skim (and 1%) milk and low-fat cheese actually contain more calcium than their full-fat counterparts. So if you plan on making cheese one of your main sources of calcium or protein, opt for skim or part-skim cheeses (1 or 2%). At the same time, watch out for those “no fat” products as the fat is typically replaced by tons of harmful chemicals and sodium.Another negative aspect of cheese is its high sodium content, which makes it unhealthy for those with blood pressure problems. That being said, recent studies have shown that people who eat more low-fat (and low sodium) dairy products have a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than those who eat less low-fat dairy products.So what’s the verdict? While cheese provides some essential nutrients, it can still be quite unhealthy. So apart from Shavuot, where you can and should indulge, use cheese in modest quantities or opt for low-fat cheese to limit the possible negative aspects on your health.