Research says that cheese may have a hidden health benefit. A new German study suggests cheese is actually a cancer fighter.
Cheese is a rich source of menaquinones, a type of vitamin K that switches on genes in the body that knock out cancer cells. And when German researchers tracked the health and diets of over 24,000 people for up to 10 years, they found that those who ate the most cheese reduced their risk for fatal cancers by 28 percent, because they got the most menaquinones.
But here’s the thing: The biggest cheese-eaters in the study didn’t go overboard. They got just 29 grams a day, the equivalent of about an ounce of cheese or one deli slice. Everything in moderation for your health and your weight!
That’s great news to hear! (natural cheeses, right?) I love cheese; it’s one of my favorite foods. How much is considered a moderate amount (per day or per week). I would admit that I eat on average per day perhaps 3-4 ounces of cheese?- sometimes more though, but I don’t count ounces anymore, I just eat what I want and enjoy slowly until I’m just not hungry anymore). How much is too much and no longer moderate?
Hi Karen,
This is good news, I agree. But here’s the thing: The biggest cheese-eaters in the study didn’t go overboard. They got just 29 grams a day, the equivalent of about an ounce of cheese or one deli slice. Everything in moderation for your health and your weight!
I like your approach- eat slowly and mindfully and you will naturally eat the right amount! Depending on your activity and appetite, the amount may change from day to day.
So in other words, when we read that such-and-such foods are found to have good things about them, like cheese in this instance, it does not mean we should eat a lot of it like it’s the next “super food” or anything. Eat more balanced (moderation) and you will get most of what you need from what you eat? Is this what you mean? (I am pretty guilty of doing things like this in the past, like put red hot pepper flakes on everything that I eat because I heard that capsaicin may help speed up metabolism…things like that)
You’ve got it Karen! Americans seem to get a little carried away with the latest food news. Think about the benefits of soy, green tea or flax seeds- green tea ice cream, flax everything. In most cases, less is more!