Dairy products are necessary for a balanced diet, and eating dairy products can lower your risk of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease osteoporosis. Type 2 diabetes, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But a few dairy products that don’t can have the same impact on your health.
The USDA suggests choosing low-fat or non-fat dairy products to reap the maximum health benefits. Cheese sticks, prepared by cooking breaded cheese in a pan until golden brown, have some healthy nutrients, but they ultimately hurt your health because of their fat and salt content.
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Cheese Sticks Nutrition Facts| Beneficial Nutrients
Cheese sticks can be an essential source of nutrients. Cheese contains protein and, according to USDA National Nutrient Database, one serving of cheese sticks at the national chain restaurant will provide an average of 30 grams of protein which your body uses to build muscle mass and ensure that your tissues are healthy.
Cheese sticks can also increase the intake of calcium, which is a mineral that is essential to bone strength and nerve and muscle function. Each cheese stick contains 763 milligrams of calcium, 76% of the recommended daily dose per the Linus Pauling Institute.
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Sodium
Cheese sticks contain a huge amount of sodium. Certain amounts of sodium in your diet can maintain your health and help control your blood pressure and fluid levels; however, high-sodium foods such as cheese sticks can destroy your health. One serving of cheese sticks is around 2,000 milligrams of sodium, which is more than the whole amount of sodium you require every day and nearly 87 percent of the maximum recommended sodium intake, as per the Linus Pauling Institute.
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The excess sodium in your diet can raise the pressure in your blood, and regularly consuming too much sodium increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Saturated Fat
Cheese sticks can also increase the amount of saturated fat you consume. This kind of fat can increase the amount of cholesterol harmful in the bloodstream. A diet high in saturated fat could increase the chance of developing prostate cancer, as per researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health; however, its involvement in prostate cancer needs further study.
It is generally recommended that you reduce your total saturated fat consumption in the range of less than 10% of your consumption of food, suggests Harvard. One portion of cheese sticks is 15.5 grams of saturated fat. This is the equivalent of 93 percent of your daily intake of saturated fats in the case of an eating plan of 1,500 calories, or 70 percent if you are following a diet of 2,000 calories.
Healthier Options
Do not eat fried salty cheese sticks and create your baked cheese sticks using cheese that is low in fat and whole-wheat breadcrumbs. Although even baked cheese sticks contain saturated fats and should be consumed with caution, making yourself cheese sticks lets you reduce your salt intake and practice portion control to avoid eating too much. Suppose you want to eat healthier bake breaded tofu pressed with a little oil in the form of “cheese sticks” rich in protein and low on saturated fat.
