8 Side Effects of Giving Up Cheese, According to Dietitians
If you can’t get enough cheese, you are not alone. In fact, it’s safe to say that the U.S. is a nation of cheese lovers. According to statistics, Americans consumed a whopping 5.3 billion pounds of cheese in 2021—that’s 1.8 billion more pounds than we collectively ate in 2010. It makes sense when you think about it: Melted on burgers, sprinkled on pizzas, stacked high on charcuterie boards—cheese is an integral ingredient in so many of our favorite foods. Its allure is undeniable. And although cheese can be a healthy part of a balanced diet, like everything, moderation is key, and eating too much of it can have adverse effects too.
For one thing, many varieties of cheese are riddled with calories and can be high in fat and sodium content, which research indicates can potentially lead to type 2 diabetes, heart failure, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and stroke, among other conditions. Because of its sodium and fat content, Dr. Akua Woolbright Ph.D., the national nutrition program director of Whole Foods’ nonprofit Whole Cities Foundation, recommends limiting your cheese intake to 1-ounce servings of hard cheese or half-cup servings of soft cheeses at a time.
“One way to do this is to purchase varieties with stronger flavors [like Parmesan, feta, and Swiss], so you can add more taste to your food with lesser amounts,” says Woolbright.
But, while the research connecting cheese consumption to chronic diseases may be somewhat inconsistent, if you’re predisposed to high blood pressure or have been officially diagnosed with hypertension, you may want to steer clear of these sharp, hard cheeses. “If you are interested in reducing your sodium intake, avoid feta and hard cheeses,” Woolbright advises, adding, “you can go a step further by replacing whole milk cheeses with low-fat and reduced-fat options.”
Read on to discover some of the health benefits and side effects of giving up cheese—and for more dietitian-approved…
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