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No, cheese is not so bad for your health. It is even rich in interesting proteins and minerals… provided that you consume it in moderation. But then, what is the right amount to allow yourself, without fearing an impact on cardiovascular health? Science has the answer.
Do you never finish a meal without cheese? This is not necessarily a fault. Although it is criticized as being too high in calories and too fatty and therefore bad for cardiovascular health, cheese is not the nutritional enemy that one might think. Rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc, it can even be part of a balanced menu. Yes, but in what quantity? Because there is still a difference between a lick of Emmental and a whole log of goat cheese…
Cheese is good for the heart
First good news, according to a meta-analysis of 15 scientific studies published in theEuropean Journal of Nutritiondaily (moderate) consumption of cheese would be, against all expectations, beneficial for the heart. It could even protect you from certain cardiovascular diseases such as strokes. Skipping the cheese platter because you fear an impact on your heart is therefore not a good idea. On the other hand, you should not overdo it, especially since the different varieties do not have the same composition.
A few reasonable grams per day
With 1,200 varieties of cheese in France, it is therefore normal to discover many differences. To know if a cheese is more or less fatty, we can rely on its appearance:
- The fresher a cheese is (and the more water it contains), the less fat it contains (8 to 12% fat);
- Conversely, the more pressed the cheese is (like Parmesan or Comté), the fattier it is (35 to 40% fat);
- Between the two, soft cheeses such as Camembert or Brie contain 20% fat;
- According to the study, reason and your heart allow you 40 to 50 g per day of non-fat cheese (ricotta, goat’s cheese, etc.).
- This quantity is less (30 g) when we are talking about a fattier cheese like Camembert.
In case of hypertension, however, it is advisable to avoid very salty cheeses such as Feta or Blue cheeses. And to accompany the chosen cheese with a green salad. The potassium it contains helps to maintain low blood pressure.