Skip the Chips and Say "Cheese, Please!"

Contributed by Sue Moores, M.S., R.D., Kowalski's Nutritionist.

Just in time for the holiday season (and the tasty cheese boards that go with it), we have happy news. Recent research suggests that if you have a hankering for foods higher in sodium (think chips, crackers, soups, pickles and condiments), cheese is your friend. Even though cheese is considered a higher-sodium food, milk-based cheeses seem to react differently in your body than other salty foods, which produce more negative effects. Too much sodium constricts blood vessels, which in turn affects normal blood flow.

Scientists have studied how participants' blood vessels responded after they ate regular cheese versus pretzels and soy cheese. When participants ate dairy-derived cheese, blood vessels did not constrict, yielding better blood flow. Scientists believe the reason why blood vessels may react differently with dairy cheese is because the proteins in cheese have antioxidant properties. Those substances, plus other nutrients in cheese such as calcium, may also keep blood vessels dilated and blood pressure in check.

Now you can feel a little better about saying "cheese, please!" Check with our Cheese Specialists in every store for some amazing holiday cheese ideas.