Is Gourmet Cheese the Key to Good Health?

It’s 6 weeks into the New Year and I would venture to guess many people have become lax about their new years resolutions to exercise and eat healthier. The gym is less crowded than it was a month ago and Valentine’s Day reintroduced us all to sweets such as cookies, chocolate and the ubiquitous cupcake. It should be no surprise that as The Cheese Ambassador, one of my indulgences is and gourmet cheese. It turns out is that cheese may not necessarily be an indulgence after all but can be a part of a healthy diet and even prevent cancer! Foodies take note: gourmet cheese and good health are no longer at odds.

According to a study by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who ate an ounce of full-fat cheese gained fewer pounds over time than women who did not include cheese in their diet. Cheese contains conjugated linoleic acid, which may boost your metabolism. While it’s hard to limit myself to just one serving, one way I incorporate and gourmet cheese almost daily into my meals and snacks (I hate to use the word ‘diet’) is as part of a large salad. Blue cheese, especially, packs such a punch of flavor you don’t need more than an ounce. Here are a few of my favorite salad and cheese combinations:

• Mixed greens, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, blue cheese, raspberry vinaigrette


• Romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, pepperoncini, garbanzo beans, feta cheese, olives, red wine vinegar and olive oil


• Arugula, pine nuts, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, lemon juice and olive oil


• Romaine, tomatoes, zucchini, roasted corn, black beans, jicama, aged cheddar and salsa vinaigrette

The good health/and gourmet cheese connection doesn’t stop there. Dr. Oz recently featured an esteemed panel of cancer experts on his television show to provide cancer prevention tips. Renowned cancer researcher, Dr. William Li, recommended adding hard cheeses like Gouda to your diet. Hard cheese includes Vitamin K2, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells. It can prevent cancer, especially lung cancer. As a bonus, this vitamin also protects from heart disease and heart attacks by preventing the arteries from hardening. Soft cheese is also a source for Vitamin K2 but offers about half the amount, according to Livestrong.com, the Lance Armstrong Foundation for health and fitness. Check out the list of gourmet cheese high in Vitamin K2. Chances are many of your favorites are already on the list!

Hard Cheeses

Asiago

Cheddar

Edam

Emmenthaler

Gouda

Jarlsberg

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Soft Cheeses

Blue Cheeses

Brie

Camembert

Feta

Marscapone