Health Benefits of Cheese:

Necessary Vitamins and Minerals, Holly Easton DO

Cheese is an excellent dietary source of calcium, phosphorus, zinc and protein as well as vitamins A and B12. What’s important about these nutrients and why do we need them to maintain our health?

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and helps to build and maintain strong bones and teeth. It also conveys messages between the brain and the body and helps blood vessels move blood. Phosphorous is also in cheese and is the second most abundant mineral in the body. It too helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth. It is necessary for the kidneys to filter waste and helps diminish muscle pain after exercise.

Cheese is a good source of protein too. Our body’s physiologic processes are regulated by proteins which are used to produce enzymes and hormones. Protein is also an energy source. It is used to build and repair body tissues.

Zinc helps maintain our immune system’s function, is used to build genetic material in cells and also comes from cheese! Adequate vitamin A is paramount for vision, heart, lung and kidney function. Our immune system also requires adequate vitamin A. Cheese is a good source of this as well as vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is used by our body to maintain nerve function. It is also used to make red blood cells.

So check out the list of body parts that need nutrients cheese in our diets helps to provide us: our brain, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, muscles, bones, teeth! (and this is the short list...)

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