There are many rumours and misconceptions about food and in turn cheese.
One of these is that people trying to diet should cut out cheese, believing it to be unhealthy and packed full of fat. Yes, cheese does contain fat, but not as much as people think. Cheese is a completely natural, healthy and complete food that can play an important - and delicious - role in a sensibly balanced diet. In no arena is this truer than in the fight for healthy teeth and bones.
An excellent source of nutrition, cheese contains plenty of the protein, vitamin A, vitamin B 12 and vitamin D that helps put a spring in your step. Protein is essential for forming the building blocks of the body; vitamin A plays a vital role in vision, bone growth, cell division and the immune system; vitamin B 12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA; and vitamin D is needed to help facilitate the absorption of calcium and assist in the formation and maintenance of strong bones.
Perhaps the most telling contribution cheese makes to a well-balanced diet is with calcium. Cheese is a goldmine of calcium - the stuff that builds strong bones and teeth - and it is vitally important to consume sufficient quantities of calcium at all stages of life - especially as a child. Eating some cheese every day, as part of a snack or a meal can get you well on your way to the recommended daily amount. Just a 30g piece of Cheddar (the size of a matchbox) is a compact powerhouse of calcium, providing 216mg of calcium.
The argument that cheese is great for teeth was further strengthened in 1999 by a Task Force report from the British Nutrition Foundation. The report - called 'Oral Health: Diet and Other Factors' - concluded that finishing a meal with cheese is proven to protect against tooth decay. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, cheese is thought to increase the amount of saliva in the mouth, helping to neutralise the acid and wash it away. Also, the high calcium and phosphorous content of cheese may also help by replacing some of the minerals in tooth enamel - the protective coating on teeth - and further strengthening them. Finally, it is understood that cheese prevents the bacteria on the tooth's surface turning sugar into the harmful acids that then attack and damage the enamel. So, getting your teeth into some cheese is an excellent way to keep that smile fresh and proud.
As well as helping in the fight against tooth decay, cheese can play an important part in a bone-friendly diet and lifestyle that will help stave of the terrifying - and often overlooked - threat of osteoporosis. People suffering from osteoporosis find their bones lose their strength and density much quicker than usual and become so porous and fragile that they are liable to break easily. In the UK, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men over the age of 50 will be affected by this debilitating condition with someone suffering from a fracture due to osteoporosis every three minutes. The annual cost to the NHS of osteoporosis related treatment is £1.7 billion. Eating cheese each day can significantly help you reach the calcium levels recommended to help prevent osteoporosis.
Of course, cheese is not only healthy; it is also a delicious addition to your diet. There are some 700 different varieties in the UK alone, meaning that there are at least 700 ways to inject some extra nourishment and taste into your everyday diet.
Two examples of cheese in simple, easy to make, calcium rich British Cheese Board recipes are: Gloucester Ham and Vegetable Pasta Bake and Fruity Three-Cheese Salad.
For more cheesy recipes take a look at MoreThanJustCheese | 
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