Washington is home to nearly 70 artisan and farmstead crafters of cheese. On Saturday, September 9th at the Seattle Design Center, you can celebrate and explore the wonderful world of Pacific Northwest cheese at the Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival.
Worried that a trip to this local show will be too much of a guilty pleasure? Fear not! Cheese actually offers some serious health benefits for those of us who aren’t lactose intolerant. Keep reading to learn more.
Health Benefits of Cheese
Like most foods, you get what you pay for when it comes to cheese. The Cheesemakers Festival is your perfect opportunity to buy some locally made cheese products made with the art of craft, sustainable and ethical practices, and high-quality ingredients that can deliver a variety of health benefits:
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Consistently Good Source of Calcium
Calcium is an important mineral that your body needs for proper teeth and bone growth, muscle function, blood circulation, and more, and cheese has long been recognized as a good source of it.
In fact, one serving of cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss each contain at least 20% of the recommended daily value.
May Protect Against Diabetes, Cancer, and Fat Gain
Many kinds of cheese, including Gouda, Gruyère, blue, cheddar, and Parmesan, contain a fatty acid compound called butyrate, which is recently being recognized for its anti-inflammatory effects on the body.
While more research is needed, it’s reasonable to assume that eating butyrate-rich cheeses may have the potential to improve the health of your cells, increase your metabolism, and help control blood glucose levels, which could play a role in preventing cancer, obesity, and diabetes, respectively.
Often Lower In Lactose Compared to Other Dairy Products
Natural and aged cheeses, including cheddar, Gouda, Brie, and Swiss, tend to have lower amounts of lactose in it compared to milk, yogurt, and other cheeses. So even if you’re lactose intolerant, you may be able to add a moderate amount of cheese to your diet.
Love cheese as much as we do? Check out the Washington State Cheesemakers Association to learn more.
