Life itself is the proper binge. Julia Child
Cheese and Nutrition
Consumed in the right amount, an individual can get a variety of valuable nutrients from cheese. A mere ounce of cheddar will provide just over 7 grams of protein, while delivering a little over 200 mg of calcium.
The casein in the milk used to make cheese is a useful protein in supporting health, since it contains all the essential amino acids. The phosphorus in cheese is one of the vital minerals needed for a healthy body, as is sodium which is critical to the heart's activity.
It takes about 10 pounds of milk to produce a pound of cheese, and almost all the nutrition in that original source is preserved in the final product. For the most part, making cheese from milk leaves the original vitamins and minerals intact.
You'll need to take some care to get the best nutrition that cheese has to offer. Long term storage should be between 35-40F. Once exposed to air, both temperature and organisms will quickly act on the cheese. Flavor is lost quickly as the air dries out the cheese and certain harmless but distasteful molds can grow on the surface quickly.
Cheese stores well at room temperature, so when wrapped properly it can provide that nutrition on the road. In fact, the best cheeses are served at room temperature, since that brings out their full flavor. When a food tastes good, maintaining good nutrition is all the easier. Perpetual bland and tasteless food is not a great incentive to continue on a stringent diet.
Many cheese do contain substantial percentages of fat. But, though it has been the subject of a lot of junk science, fat is actually healthy in moderation. Fat is dense in calories, with each gram supplying around 9 calories. That's the source of much of its bad reputation. For those dieting it is necessary to watch the amount of fat consumed, since it's possible to take in so many calories in a small quantity of material.
Two other reasons for its bad reputation are the role it can play in the creation of cholesterol and, of course, the unattractive deposits it forms around the waist. But again, the key is moderation. In the proper amount, fat is essential to the regulation of vital neural processes and helps regulate hormones.
Understanding the nutritional content of the cheese you are eating will help to eliminate any negative health results. There are several different good cheeses on the market that are made from low-fat milk and are low in sodium. Educate yourself and enjoy!
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