Good news for cheese lovers! A recent study found that eating cheese can reduce your risk of sleep apnea by 28%. Learn how these foods play an unprecedented role in your diet It may seem surprising, but there’s research to back it up: Eating cheese can reduce your risk of sleep apnea. The condition affects one in ten people worldwide and wreaks havoc on the lives of millions. A new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found that cheese lovers are 28 percent less likely to experience breathing problems at night.
Sleep apnea: A condition that affects millions
According to the French Ministry of Health and Medical Research, around 1.8 million French people are treated for sleep apnea each year. The symptoms, which result from the relaxation of the throat muscles, affect around one in ten people worldwide. The main symptoms include snoring, pauses in breathing at night and excessive tiredness during the day. These benefits affect the quality of life of patients. Men, obese people and people who drink and smoke regularly are more likely to develop the disease.
Study proves cheese benefits
To understand how cheese can help prevent sleep apnoea, researchers analysed data from 400,000 participants from the UK Biobank and FinnGen biobank repositories. Their findings were clear: People who regularly ate cheese had a 28 percent increased risk of sleep apnea.
This association was explained by cheese’s effect on 23 biomarkers associated with sleep apnea. Cheese is rich in protein, calcium, vitamins, and fatty acids, which can improve cardiovascular and metabolic health, which are often linked to the development of sleep apnea.
Eating to prevent sleep?
These results are encouraging and open the door to further research. “These findings highlight the potential for dietary interventions as part of public health strategies to reduce the incidence of sleep apnea and related health problems,” the researchers said.
Eat cheese, but in moderation
While cheese is known for its saturated fat content, it is a healthy food when consumed in moderation. Hard cheese, for example, is rich in calcium, which is important for cardiovascular and bone health.