A. It all depends on who you ask! It's been my experience that the cheese debate is right up there with butter or margarine fight! People cite research arguing both sides. I've read and heard everything from cheese is great for weight loss to it's higher in fat and causes heart disease. So let's break it down into some sub-categories and see if we can find some answers...
Low and Fat Free Cheese vs. Full Fat Cheese.
Both contain the same amount of nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. The full fat varieties tend to contain more saturated fats however which are generally higher in calories and unhealthy. The downside of low fat and fat free cheese though, they tend to not taste as good (flavour comes from fats), and they tend to melt less even. I have also found they tend to have a plastic like consistency.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a form of sugar found in milk (dairy) products. The enzyme lactase is responsible for breaking down the lactose for the body to absorb and utilize it. Some people have a deficiency of lactase which then creates bloating, gas and other side affects. If you are lactose intolerant, you may find yes, cheese may be unhealthy for you.
Cheese Contains Vitamin D and Calcium Which Helps With Osteoporosis
It is true cheese contains the above mentioned micronutrients. These have been shown to improve bone strength. One ounce of cheese can provide about one quarter the daily recommended calcium requirement. Many cheeses are FORTIFIED with vitamin D which helps the body absorb calcium efficiently. There's that word FORTIFIED. I am always cautious of that word! If something is fortified with a nutrient, it had to be added because it was stripped during processing. The version of the vitamin or mineral added is usually synthetic!
Cheese and Heart Disease
Regular varieties of cheese tend to be high in saturated fats. There is some debate as of now to the effect of saturated fats and heart disease. My opinion... There are up to 6 grams of saturated fat in just on ounce of full fat cheese. That's a whopping 54 calories for that one serving of cheese and about 1/3 the recommended daily allowance of total saturated fat for the day! So IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO LOOSE BODY FAT AND BE HEART HEALTHY, EAT CHEESE IN MODERATION!
FIRM vs. SOFT CHEESE
I've heard it said hard cheese is better for you than the softer variety. I have found no research to argue definitively for either variety over the other. It appears all cheese basically have pretty much the same nutrient make up. The only variances I have come across are the levels of sodium, fat and calories. So at the end of the day, I would say, choose which ever suits your palate.
BOTTOM LINE
Cheese does contain protein, calcium and vitamin D. However, the trade off is that it is usually high in saturated fat and calories. It has also been my experience, when eating cheese, it is usually paired with other high calorie foods whether it be crackers and wine (mmmm) or added to a dish such as pizza, casseroles or grilled cheese. All these add even more calories! It is my opinion that cheese should be consumed in moderation as a "treat" and not a main staple food.
*Agree? Disagree? Hit the comment tab at the end and weigh in (no pun intended)!