The surprising benefits of cheese nibbling

Why you should be having more cheese with your wine! We don’t need telling twice…

There has been a notable growth in the number of people taking an active interest in their health and wellbeing. As a social movement, I have to say that this is brilliant, and we couldn’t be happier!

People are finally investigating their food, its origin and nutritional content. As a grass-fed business, this is great news for us, as people are realising the amazing benefits of grass-fed meat (leaner, higher in omega 3… and that’s just the beginning!)

However, alongside all this wellbeing hype (as great as it is), we couldn’t help but notice that our tasty friend, cheese, has been getting some rather bad press!

This simply can’t do, so we assembled the troops to defend its noble name! After all, when something is that darn tasty it’s not worth letting it go without a fight, right?

And now, you’ll be relieved to hear that we reckon we’ve gathered enough information to prove that cheese can definitely stay as part of your diet… Thank goodness for that!

Consider the following:

Teeth, bones and joint health

Cheese is great for maintaining teeth and bone health. It has a high calcium content which aids the body’s ability to strengthen the bone and enamel. The result of this means that your teeth can better defend against the effects of daily sugar-based food consumption, such as glucose, fructose and sugar, found in sweet foods, fruits and even some vegetables.

Secondly, it is a brilliant food to help combat the effects of osteoporosis, a condition especially prevalent in post-menopausal woman and the elderly. Calcium alone is not enough to really make much difference, it needs calcium, protein and a vitamin rich diet. Luckily, cheese is rich in all of these, making it a great choice of food for anyone who sufferers from, or is susceptible to osteoporosis.

Energy

Cheese contains an abundance of B vitamins, which are the energy vitamins! B vitamins are essential for the body to effectively generate and produce natural energy, which is imperative for basic daily functions such as exercise, movement and cognitive function. Quality energy release during the day also supports a more restful and rejuvenating sleep. Therefore, in the long run, adequate B vitamin consumption help the body’s natural daily functions, combatting fatigue and stress and strengthening immunity.

Muscles

Cheese contains high levels of protein. This is essential for building muscle and healthy muscle repair. Muscles build by tearing and breaking and then rebuilding stronger. So, you can support that by eating cheese and getting more protein in your diet. In addition to this, consuming adequate protein can actually help to speed up the metabolism.

Gut health

Bad bacteria are often the cause for poor digestion and discomfort. Good bacteria are essential in combatting these effects by balancing the gut and fighting the bad bacterias such as candida that build up in the intestinal wall. These good bacteria are especially prevalent in mouldy cheeses such as blue cheese! Therefore, eat probiotic foods such as cheeses (especially mouldy cheeses) and enjoy a happier and healthy gut*. Time to try our Blacksticks Blue?

* Do be aware that if you are sensitive to any of these moulds, they may cause you additional discomfort. If this is the case, try to find your probiotics in other natural food forms, such as probiotic supplements or fermented veggies such as kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir.

Vitamins and minerals

In almost all cheeses you will find an abundance of vitamins and minerals, all of which help the body’s natural performance. The vitamin and mineral content varies in different cheeses, however you are likely to see all the following, in some form, in fermented cheeses across the board*.

Vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K. Other vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin can also be found in different types of cheese (such as cheddar.) They also provide certain vital minerals such as sodium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and iron to the body.

For a serious vit and mineral hit, try the Capricorn Goats Cheese!

* Fermented being cheeses that have been matured using mould, unlike paneer and cottage cheese.

Fats

They’re not all bad! Yes, fats in excess are often going to cause weight gain, however in moderation they do also play an essential part in keeping the body healthy and happy. Not only do fats help to protect your organs, but fats with low saturates also assist cognitive function (brain health) and keep the skin moisturised! However, do try to avoid eating too many saturate fats and trans fats in your diet as these can be detrimental to your health.

For something with a great flavour and a good fat balance, I’d recommend our camembert’s tastier cousin, Cranbourne!

Happiness

Cheese tastes fantastic! Did you know, if you like a food, when you eat it your body produces dopamine- the happy hormone! Therefore, eating what you love will keep you feeling positive and rewarded throughout the day. Mental health is just as important as physical health, so you’ll agree, this is a very compelling argument for cheese consumption.

What you didn’t know…

Lactose intolerance doesn’t necessarily mean that cheese is off the cards! Hard cheeses such as Edam and Cheddar actually have a very low lactose content, so if you find yourself to be lactose sensitive or intolerant, hard cheeses are probably a good option for you! If you have a calcium deficiency, when eaten in moderation, this could be a great way for you to get a sufficient amount of calcium into your body without suffering from digestive discomfort.

Like the 1833 Vintage Cheddar, oh the cheddar!

So, to cut a long story short… DIG IN!