Benefits of Roquefort Cheese

Allo! Allo! Winding down after a big New Year's bash? Hold that mug out a little so I can see if there's any residual shaking left over, eh. None! Good. You're fit as a fiddle then. Since you have the mug held out there, move it a little to the right under the coffee urn and pull down on the spigot. Wait till the mug is fulll before turning your head towards the tray of delectable virtual treats, though. Got some special cheese danish today. Delicious! On the subject of cheese...

Blue cheese might look unusual, but it offers great health benefits. Blue cheese has a blue or blue-green mold running through it called Penicillium roqueforti.

Surprised that the name sounds like the common antibiotic? The mold is, in fact, related to penicillin and fights harmful bacteria in the body. In addition, blue cheese contains goat's milk rather than cow's milk, which is healthier in several ways.

Goat's milk has less saturated fat and cholesterol but is higher in vitamins A and B, calcium, iron and phosphorus. Consequently, it is easier to digest than cheese made from cow's milk, so it is often a better match for those who are lactose intolerant.

Blue cheeses like Roquefort and Bleu d'Auvergne are being credited with helping reduce cardiovascular disease in France.

A study by the UK-based biotech company Lycotec found that blue cheese may have anti-inflammatory properties that protect against many diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties increase the longer the cheese was ripened.

The benefits of the cheese work best in the gut and just underneath the skin, which may help slow signs of aging.

Researchers said that blue cheese may be one factor in explaining the so-called "French paradox," long and healthy lifespans in France despite a high-fat diet.

So, don't let the moldy appearance put you off. Eat blue cheese - especially Roquefort - it's good for your health. Aha...blue cheese muffins! Should be good!

See ya, eh!

Bob