The Importance of Cheese
Nutritional Value
All types of cheese provide significant nutritional value to our diet. In fact, it’s possible to maintain a balanced diet and avoid deficiencies by consuming just cheese, bread, and fruit, as this combination delivers essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins.
Health Benefits
Cheese is rich in nearly all the nutrients necessary for human growth and development, making it highly recommended for everyone, particularly during childhood and old age.
Research shows that cheese can help mitigate the effects of chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, kidney stones, and type 2 diabetes.
For pregnant women, cheese is an excellent choice. Incorporating a daily serving of 150 grams of cheese, divided into two portions, can help meet the calcium, vitamin D, and other nutritional needs essential for both mother and baby.
Proteins
Cheese is an excellent source of protein, crucial for the body because animal-based proteins are fully utilized for vital functions. These proteins contain essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce on their own but are necessary for optimal health and function.
Fats
A balanced diet should include essential fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize and must obtain from food. These include linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids. Cheese provides all of these fatty acids in well-balanced proportions.
Carbohydrates
The main carbohydrate in cheese is lactose. Cheese is well-digested and is often suitable for individuals with lactose intolerance because, in aged cheeses, the lactose from the milk diminishes over time, becoming almost negligible.
Minerals and Vitamins
Cheese is a rich source of phosphorus, riboflavin, vitamin B12, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and vitamin A, all crucial for optimal growth and development. It also contains vitamins D and E.