Feta: The Healthy Cheese That Nobody Talks About

Cheese is a usual accompaniment to popular foods such as sandwiches, burgers, salads, pizza, and Mexican dishes. Alone, cheese might be an appetizer or a snack. Moreover, it can be easily added to pastries, soups, and sauces.

There are different types of cheese, from mild or mature in flavor, and high-fat and low-fat in composition. Many people who love cheese, probably wonder which is the healthiest cheese?

Well, we have the answer, it is feta cheese. Surprised? Read on to find out more.

A Healthy Cheese

Feta cheese is actually a unique cheese since it had a soft and at the same time firm texture, it has a nutty flavor and is the perfect salty and cheesy punch to every dish.

You should know that this cheese is as good for your health as it’s yummy. Why? Well, take a look at its nutrition.

Nutrition of Feta Cheese

This cheese might have fantastic nutrition, mainly if it’s produced from organic goat’s or sheep’s milk.

Bad Source of

• Sodium – around 1674 mg a cup. 70 percent DV;
• Cholesterol – around 133 mg a cup, 44 percent DV.

Good Source of

• Phosphorous – around 506 mg a cup, 51 percent DV;
• Protein – approximately 14 grams a cup;
• Calcium – about 739 mg a cup, 74 percent DV;
• Vitamin B12 – approximately 2.5 mcg a cup, 42 percent DV;
• Riboflavin – about 1.3 mg a cup, 74 percent DV.

Feta Cheese and Its Health Benefits

1. Abundant In Vitamin A

Feta cheese is abundant in vitamin A. Moreover, its fat content makes it more easily absorbed by the body. This vitamin is vital for your vision, immune function, and reproduction.

2. Abundant in Calcium and Good for the Bones

Feta cheese is rich in calcium, a mineral that has a vital role when it comes to bone health. Also, the calcium helps the blood clot correctly, muscles contract, and nerves send messages.

As a matter of fact, approximately 99 percent of the calcium stores of your body are located in the teeth and bones. Moreover, you should know that you lose calcium through feces, skin, urine, sweat, nails, and hair.

The bad news is that your body is not able to make new calcium in order to replace the lost one. Therefore, you should include calcium from your diet, or the body will steal it from the bones. This might cause osteoporosis, fractures, and breaks.

3. The Powerful Combination of Vitamin B6 and Histidine

Vitamin B6 is vital for transforming food into energy, metabolizing proteins and fats. In addition, it’s the primary nutrient for the health of the liver, eyes, skin, and hair.

On the other hand, histidine is a vital amino acid, which the body cannot make it and it’s essential for us to get it with the help of the proper diet.

The combination of vitamin B6 and histidine leads to the production of histamines. Histamines are part of the inflammatory response of the cells in the body to illness and injury.

Often histamine and inflammation reactions are seen as negative things when it comes to allergic reactions and chronic illness. However, in reality, small amounts of acute inflammation are necessary in order to combat sickness and to help the body recover.

For this reason, feta cheese is good for your immunity, mainly when it’s is eaten together with foods rich in antioxidants such as vegetables and fruits.

According to studies foods that have the combination of vitamin B6 and histidine are useful for recovering, improving, and treating issues with fatigue.

4. Abundant in Protein

Every single cell in the body has protein. People need protein in order to repair old cells to produce new ones, and for the proper function of the immune system.

Proteins function as storage, enzymes, transport, support and structure, messengers, and antibodies. Feta cheese is rich in protein, as a matter of fact, it contains 4 g of protein in 18 g of serving.

One study shows that protein from animal milk products like cheese can actually lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

5. Feta Cheese Is Good for People Who Can’t Digest Cow Dairy

Many people find it hard to digest products from cow’s milk. If you belong to this group of people, you shouldn’t worry since you can consume feta cheese.

Feta cheese of good quality is produced from sheep’s milk or goat’s milk, which is easier for your stomach.

When you choose feta cheese, make sure that is not from cow’s milk. In that case, it’s fake and for sure will have a different taste.

6. Feta Cheese Helps Prevent Degenerative Eye Disease and Protects the Eyes

Feta cheese contains riboflavin. According to studies, people who follow diets high in riboflavin have a lower risk of generative eye diseases like glaucoma, keratoconus, and cataracts.

Conclusion

Now you know that feta cheese is good for your overall health. These health benefits above mentioned should be enough for you to include feta cheese in your usual diet. However, all cheese lovers should remember one thing – moderation is the key.