You often have it in your cake recipes. You often have it in between your sandwiches. You often have it to mix with your carbonara. You often have it on the top of your pizzas. Sometimes, you even have it to go well with your red wine. This internationally healthy food staple is so versatile that not only it appears on different occasions, but also contains awesome nutrients for the sportspersons.
Cheddar, Gouda, Camembert, Brie, Blue, Ricotta, Cottage, Swiss, Mozzarella, Feta, Parmesan, and the list goes on and on. What is it about cheese that makes it a great all-rounder food?
- Maintains Bone and Teeth Strength
Cheese is a great source of Vitamin A, B, D, and Calcium. A for healthy skin, B for blood formation, D for stronger bone density. And the combination of vitamin D and calcium deters osteoporosis (bone weakness). Also, it promotes dental health by strengthening teeth, inhibiting tooth decay and helps to stimulate saliva to brush away cavity-producing bacteria, minimizing tooth demineralization and rebuilding lost enamel. Calcium-rich cheeses include Mozzarella, Swiss, and Ricotta.
- Aids Muscle Recovery and Growth
The protein content of cheeses helps muscles recover. It’s never easy to build your muscles. You need a balanced diet and regular to help your muscle tissues grow. Cheese seems to be the right food to produce muscle as it contains high protein. Cottage cheese and Ricotta Cheese are among the higher protein varieties.
- Improves Immune System
Cheese contains zinc that is useful for producing hormone and improving the immune system. The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content is an antioxidant which enhances the immune system as prevention of virus as influenza, fever, cough, and an anti-inflammatory which reduces joint soreness. A shred of cheese a day, keeps the doctor away!
- Produces Good Bacteria for Body
Cheese contains millions of probiotics like what yogurt serves us. Good bacteria have positive effects on a body such as to prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol. Also, it is good to cure digestive problems such as IBS, infectious diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
- Burns Fats and Gains Weight
Sharp Cheddar has the highest amount of CLA content that promotes fat loss by converting fat to energy and minimizing the size of fat cells. For athletes, it is always significant to have a higher muscle-to-fat body composition. On the other hand, cheese is also high in calories which is optimal for athletes seeking to gain weight with calcium and protein.
Last but not least, cheese is wonderful for athletes on the go for quick protein, serving as a great portable pre-workout meal when paired with energizing fruits, nuts or veggies. Or a mozzarella stick can be startling during your long-distance ride! So, what are your favorite kinds of cheese, and how often do you eat them?
