Spread the news - Cheese is great for your health!

Cheese and Dental Health

Did you know that cheese plays a major role in the fight against tooth decay? Studies show that cheese has anticariogenic or 'anti-cavity' properties, including its high mineral content and its ability to stimulate saliva in the mouth. When released, the calcium and phosphate in cheese fight against existing plaque in the mouth. By increasing saliva, cheese also helps clear sugar from the mouth.

Recent studies show that most Canadians do not consume the daily recommended number of dairy products. Recognizing how important calcium is to dental and bone health, the new Canada Food Guide has increased the daily recommended number of servings for each age group and gender.

If you would like to know the magic number for your age group, log on to www.dairygoodness.ca or go to the Health Canada web site and print off a copy of the guide. Put it right beside your cheese board-then start enjoying more dishes made with cheese! Eat a slice after meals and it's quite likely you'll take the bite out of your next visit to the dentist.

The Good Fat in Cheese

Did you know that certain types of trans fats are actually good for your health? Cheese does contain a very small amount of naturally occurring trans fat but it is not linked to health problems associated with other trans fats. In fact, recent studies suggest that this good trans fat called CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) is good for us and may even protect us from certain types of cancer.

Not all fats are created equal. We know that artificially produced trans fats are very bad for the heart because they lower our good cholesterol (HDL) and raise our bad cholesterol (LDL). Hydrogenation creates these bad fats which are typically found in margarine, shortening, fried foods and many commercially-produced snacks.

But CLA is a different kind of fat found naturally in small amounts in some of the foods we eat, including dairy products and of course, cheese. Recent studies on animals have shown that CLA may be helpful in decreasing body fat and reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease.

But how do we apply this knowledge to our daily eating habits? We recommend following the guidelines put forth by Canada's Food Guide which includes foods that contain CLA (beef, lamb, dairy) and have many other nutrients that are essential for your health.

Cheese and Bone Health

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that is caused by a combination of genetics and too little calcium in the diet. If you suffer from this disease, your bones become fragile and brittle and they are more likely to break later in life. This is why it is crucial to get enough calcium in your diet today.

It is particularly important to meet the Canada Food Guide recommendations for calcium intake during adolescence when bones are developing quickly. In fact, nearly half of all bone is formed during this time of life. If your body does not get enough calcium to build and maintain strong bones, it will steal calcium from your bones which will inevitably lead to osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis cannot be reversed. But it can be prevented. Make cheese an important part of your daily bone-friendly diet. Cheese is one of the best sources of calcium and its versatility allows you to meet your daily requirement with ease.

Use your imagination! Virtually every meal or snack can use a bit of cheese. Replace the jam on your toast with a slice of our Jalapeno Monterey Jack. Shred some Smoked Mozzarella on your tossed salad or eat a chunk of our 2 Year Old Aged Cheddar with an apple before bed. The possibilities are endless.

So take the time to count your calcium intake. One glass of milk, one cup of yogurt or a 1 inch block of cheese counts for a serving. These are your richest sources of calcium, so start eating more calcium today and play your part in averting what some experts are already calling a Calcium Crisis.

www.eatright.org
(American Dietetic Association)

www.healthcanada.ca
(printable copies of the Canada Food Guide)

www.dieticians.ca
Web site of the national association of dieticians

www.dairygoodness.ca
Dairy Farmers of Canada web site