The first meal that springs to mind as the reason your clothes start to feel a little tighter than usual and you're trying to figure out why might be cheese. The high fat and calorie content of cheese might cause weight gain if consumed in excess, but when ingested in moderation, it's a healthy addition to your diet. An enduring favorite, cheese is prized for its depth of taste, creaminess, richness, and satiating properties. It was found in prehistoric societies when agriculture developed and sheep and goats were domesticated for their milk. By mistake, the milk went sour and the protein components curdled into solids when it was exposed to the sun for many hours. Farmers discovered these curds had a pleasant flavor when the liquid part, or whey, was drained and removed leaving only the solid curds.

Everyone is aware that consuming too many high-calorie foods might result in weight gain. Although not all cheeses are rich in calories, some are high in fat. Therefore, weight gain is inevitable when you consume them often in substantial amounts. Cheese's saturated fat is to blame for raising cholesterol levels. Heart disease risk may be increased by high cholesterol. But on the other hand, cheese is completely safe to consume in moderation. Cheese is a lactose-containing dairy product with a high-fat content. If you are lactose intolerant and are unaware of it, eating too much cheese might cause constipation, gas, and bloating. Sodium, which is abundant in cheese, helps to keep the equilibrium of water in cells. However, consuming too much salt is linked to kidney, heart, and osteoporosis problems as well as high blood pressure.

Overeating cheese can result in heartburn and indigestion. Your body may be having problems breaking down the lactose in cheese if you ever have an uneasy stomach rumble after eating a lot of cheese. Heartburn can also result from eating too much cheese. The esophageal sphincter, which opens to let food into the stomach and then closes to stop it from going back up, relaxes and slows down digestion when foods that induce heartburn are consumed.

For people who do not have an allergy or intolerance, cheese may be a helpful source of calcium, but it must be carefully chosen and taken in moderation. You can get guidance from a certified dietitian on whether to drink milk or other dairy products and if so, which ones.

"Everything in moderation" is the motto to live by when it comes to eating, and cheese is no different. In addition to containing additional minerals including vitamin A, vitamin B-12, phosphorus, and potassium, cheese is a rich source of calcium and protein. You don't have to completely give up cheese if you're concerned about gaining weight. Instead, keep your consumption within a reasonable range.

PDO I Ayesa Gay A. Bejerano, RND

References:

Cheese

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/cheese/

6 Reasons Why Dietitians Don't Want You to Eat Too Much Cheese

https://www.livestrong.com/article/504830-what-does-too-much-cheese-do-to-the-human-body/

4 things that happen when you eat too much cheese

https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/nutrition/here-are-4-things-that-happen-when-you-eat-too-much-cheese/