Cheddar cheese is named after the English village of Cheddar, where it was first created in the 11th century. The process of making cheddar is similar to that of other cheeses. It begins with a mixture of cultured milk and rennet. Leftover liquid, called whey, is then drained to leave behind curds. Heating the curds removes moisture and melts them into large slabs. These are then pressed through a mill and into a mold. The formed blocks of cheddar are then aged until ready to be eaten.

Nutrition Information

Like many dairy products, cheddar cheese is rich in calcium. In addition to helping build strong bones, calcium also plays a role in blood clotting and several other important functions.

Cheddar can also be a great source of:

•  Iron
•  Vitamin A
•  Vitamin K

One cubic inch of cheddar cheese contains:

•  69 calories
•  4 grams of protein
•  6 grams of fat
•  Less than 1 gram of carbohydrates

Potential Health Benefits of Cheddar Cheese

Many of the ingredients in cheddar cheese offer a variety of health benefits. Some of those benefits include:

Lower cholesterol. Despite its saturated fat content, eating cheddar cheese in moderation may help you lower you r cholesterol. This is especially true for middle-aged adults.

Participants in one study had more success getting their cholesterol levels down after eating full-fat cheese than people who ate reduced-fat cheese or butter. This was true for both overall levels and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Researchers credit this effect to the “cheese matrix”— a concept describing how the arrangement of proteins and calcium in cheese offers a variety of health benefits.