Health benefits of cheese

Cheese is very nutritious and one of the most convenient and versatile foods around.

Most cheeses are packed with several essential nutrients that are important for good health at all ages. The nutrients in cheese play many important roles within the body:

  • Calcium for strong bones and teeth
  • Vitamin A for eyesight
  • Vitamin B12 for red blood cells
  • Magnesium for muscle function
  • Phosphorus for release of energy

3-A-Day

Dairy foods are the largest providers of calcium in the UK diet. The Dairy Council recommends eating three portions dairy (milk, cheese and yogurt) every day to help keep your bones and teeth in good shape through out life.

A few reasons to get munching on cheese

  • Helps build strong bones - Bones require calcium for development and cheese is a good provider of calcium. A small piece of hard cheese (30g for a teenage girl or 45g for a teenage boy) will provide a teenager with approximately a third of the calcium they require daily.
  • Good for teeth - Eating a small piece of hard cheese as a snack or after meals can help reduce the risk of tooth decay.
  • It is nutrient dense - Although cheese does contain some fat, it also contains many essential nutrients. Cheese is therefore nutrient dense. For example, for 7 to 10-year-olds, a serving of Cheddar cheese (25g) can supply around a quarter of their daily protein needs, a third of their calcium requirements, a fifth of vitamin A needs and 60% of their vitamin B12 requirements!
  • Helps improve children’s diets - Children who include plenty of dairy foods in their diet, generally have better nutrient intakes than those who do not. Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that children who consume milk and dairy foods are likely to be slimmer than those who do not. Because, in contrast to many foods that contain some fat, such as crisps, cakes and biscuits, cheese is nutrient dense as it provides many essential nutrients compared to its fat and calorie content.
  • The perfect snack - Cheese is very convenient and versatile. You can cut it, slice it, grate it and don’t forget that it makes a perfect toastie! It is so easy to add a wee bit of cheese into recipes and enjoy everyday as a snack.

Did you know?

The amount of vitamins and minerals varies between different varieties of cheese, but on the whole hard cheeses, such as Cheddar, have the highest concentration of nutrients.
For more information, why not take a look at The Dairy Council's website: www.milk.co.uk