Today, I'd like to talk about my favorite snack.... CHEESE!!! Cheese is an ancient food whose origins may predate recorded history. Most likely discovered in Central Asia or the Middle East, cheese making spread to Europe and had become a sophisticated enterprise by Roman times. As Rome's influence receded, distinct local cheese making techniques emerged. There are hundreds of types of cheese produced all over the world. Different styles and flavors of cheese are the result of using different species of bacteria and molds, different levels of milk fat, variations in length of aging, differing processing treatments (cheddaring, pulling, brining, mold wash) and different breeds of cows, goats, sheep, or other mammals. Now, I know what you're thinking, "how can cheese be healthy for me". Well you might actually be pleasantly surprised. Cheese doesn't get enough credit for its health benefits, which include but aren't limited to cancer prevention, bone strengthen and believe it or not, cavity fighting. So let's just get into the nitty-gritty here. As far as nutrition goes cheese has a very high concentration of essential nutrients including high quality proteins and calcium. Cheeses also have other elements such as phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin, and vitamin B12. Now as far as cavity prevention goes, cheese is extremely high in its calcium content which is one of the most important things when it comes to strong teeth. Also cheese has very low lactose content, and lactose can significantly harm the teeth. In most cases with cheese, the older the cheese the lower the lactose content. In my opinion in most cases the older the cheese the better the taste.  Now on to cancer prevention. Cheese contains substances called Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Sphingolipids that help prevent cancer. Also the vitamin B in cheese is good for maintaining body functions and protecting the body from disease. Also it should be mentioned that being healthy isn't always about losing weight, there are those that need to put on a little weight to get into a better health situation. Cheese contains a lot of natural fats which can lead to weight gain, if you do not want to put on weight then you might consider a low-fat cheese. With that being said, if you are trying to put on weight, whether its muscle weight, fat, or bone density then cheese is the way to go. As I've stated cheese is extremely high in calcium and vitamin B which is especially good for the bones in children, the elderly, and pregnant or lactating women. Since Osteoporosis is a deficiency disease caused due to lack of calcium and is treated with proteins, calcium, and high intake of vitamins and minerals, then cheese is a perfect weapon against Osteoporosis. Sodium and cholesterol are the elements that are considered harmful in people with high blood pressure. Hypertensive people are told to avoid cheeses. Cheese in this situation must be considered carefully. The fat in cheese depends on the quality of the milk it was made with. Full fat or cream milk, or low fat or fat free milk will determine how high the fat content of the cheese is. Typically, high fat cheeses are more popular because they taste better, but many low-fat cheeses are being introduced to shelves. Make sure to look for the fat content in the cheese before you buy it. The sodium content in cheese depends on the amount of salt added to the milk before it was turned into cheese. There are low-sodium cheeses that are helpful in reducing agents that are associated with heart disease. The content of vitamin B in cheese is also helpful for those with high blood pressure. So, with all the information I've shared here today, I hope that you will take a good hard look at cheese and see that it is a healthy snack and so much better than possible alternatives.

Cheddar Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

2 pakages of cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1/2 cup sweet pickle relish

2 tsp minced onion

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions:

Combine ingredients (except nuts) and roll into ball form. Roll cheese ball in nuts to cover completely. Cover, refrigerate, and enjoy.