Nowadays, cheese is no longer considered an independent type of food. It is a traditional component of salads, original sandwiches and all kinds of hot dishes.
Many parents believe that cheese is an excellent substitute for milk in children. But, this snack can be an unnecessary caloric addition to the children’s table.
Is it necessary to use cheese in their own daily menu, and what are its best varieties for people who care about the health of the body.
The benefits of cheese
Like other dairy products, cheese is a wonderful source of potassium, calcium, protein, D vitamin.
But it also contains elements that are not exactly healthy, called fats. Especially in the case of hard varieties of cheese, which are created by the recipe of milk, plus, milk fat. For this reason, experts who prescribe diets recommend eating low-fat varieties of this product.
Scientists believe that low-fat cheese, with a minimum amount of salt, brings many benefits for both adults and children. Some varieties of cheese, such as cheddar, mozzarella and others, have a stimulating effect by protecting teeth from acid and germs that can cause tooth decay.
Is cheese a substitute for milk?
Let’s try to do some calculations. A glass of milk has about, 0.0025 mg of vitamin D. If a small piece of cheese is taken, 1 mcg. Then, to provide the body with a sufficient portion of vitamin D, it is necessary to drink a total of 4 glasses of milk, or eat no less than 10 pieces of cheese.
But the caloric value of cheese products is much higher than that of milk. 100 grams of milk, which has a fat content of 2.5%, has only 54 kcal.
Calculating the number of calories
Cheese is made from whole milk or completely devoid of fat additives. In addition, butter or cream is put in its composition.
Then, one slice of cheese weighing approximately 30 g can have the following caloric value:
70 kilocalories – when the cheese consists of high-fat milk or cream is added;
45 calories when the cheese is made with fatty milk (2%);
25 kilocalories – when the cheese is made with low-fat milk.
When it comes to a piece of cheese, you might think the calories are small. But if it is added to a certain, already cooked dish, the calorie count becomes 70 kilocalories more.
If one hamburger has 280 kilocalories, with cheese, it gets to 360 kilocalories. Broccoli baked, which has 26 kilocalories, becomes broccoli with cheese at 75 kilocalories. A baked potato with 145 kilocalories turns into a baked potato with cheese with 265 kilocalories.
So, count the amount of fat present:
For those who make every effort to maintain a stable body weight and follow a diet, should know what the capacity of fat in foods.
A piece of cheese that weighs thirty grams has this fat content:
- Fresh cottage cheese – five grams;
- Mozzarella – six grams;
- Kostroma cheese – six grams;
- Sausage – six grams;
- Adygean – six grams;
- Parmesan – seven grams;
- Emmental – eight grams;
- Cheddar – nine grams;
- Camembert – nine grams;
- Russian – ten grams;
If you’re really into pasta and cheese sandwiches, just focus on skim cheese. It, too, tastes good, and is also much healthier.
Also, keep in mind that the systematic consumption of other dairy products can fully meet your personal needs for vitamin D and calcium.
To summarize the most important
Cheese, like other dairy products, has a lot of useful elements. At the same time, cheese includes a lot of animal fat. And fat should be treated with caution, especially for those who care about blood cholesterol levels, and for those who have a desire to maintain a healthy, normal weight.