What Happens To Your Body If You Eat Too Much Cheese?

The globe is split into two groups when it comes to eating a meal's final course: those who choose pudding and those who choose the cheese board.

The latter will have been delighted to read that there are now all-you-can-eat cheese parties taking place in the UK. Is this the best news ever?

Even if we are totally in favor of a cheese festival, it made us consider what happens to our bodies when we overeat.

Despite the fact that cheese has many health advantages because it is a rich source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus, there are a few things to be aware of if cheese is your preferred food.

As Melissa Kuman, the Delicious Nutritionist points out, as with anything, too much is never a good thing.

“Although a healthy part of any diet as cheese is high in nutrients such as iodine, phosphorus and calcium which is great for bones and teeth, cheese is energy dense and if consumed in excess can have a damaging effect on the body,” she explains. 

Short-term impacts

Kuman says the immediate side effects of consuming a lot of cheese can leave you feeling sluggish, at an increased risk of headaches and digestive problems from the sudden intake of high amounts of dairy.

According to Terry Fairclough, nutritional therapist and founder of Your Body Programme the fact that cheese is high in saturated fat and salt can mean it is a lot of the body to deal with at one time.

“Being high in fat, protein and salt will be difficult to digest possibly creating indigestion,” he explains. 

Longer-term effects

But consuming lots of cheese on a regular basis can have more of a lasting impact with the increased saturated fat and salt in cheese leading to complications such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart disease or strokes

Fairclough explains that this is down to saturated fat blocking essential fatty acid absorption.

“Essential fats have many essential jobs,” he explains. “They are also anti inflammatory. So eating too much cheese may increase inflammation throughout the body. Making existing inflammatory conditions such as arthritis worse.”

And saturated fat will inevitably Increase cholesterol.

“If you are one of those people who is susceptible to the affects of cholesterol, eating cheese may increase your risk of heart disease and stokes,” he continues.

“Saturated fat also slows liver function, which will subsequently increasing toxicity. Which can damage tissue contributing to diseases such as cancer.”

Fairclough says some people are more prone to the affects of a high salt diet.

“Eating too much cheese with its high saturated fat and salt content can contribute to high blood pressure,” he adds.
 

Know your cheese limits

But, wait, this doesn’t necessarily mean we have to swear a vow of cheese celebacy. According to Kuman it is all about knowing your camembert limits.

“Portion control, as with any food, is crucial in making sure your body isn’t over loaded with fat, salt or sugars it can’t adequately process,” she explains.

“We are recommended to have a piece of cheese about the size of two thumbs together (30g) as a portion. In a day we should aim for 2-3 portions of dairy a day.”