Eating cheese is unlikely to be the key to preventing sleep apnea

There’s gouda news for cheese lovers.

A recent study found that cheese eaters are less likely to have sleep apnea than their counterparts who avoid dairy.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly during sleep. These sudden and frequent interruptions lead to disrupted sleep cycles and a variety of adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and cognitive decline.

The study, published in the journal Sleep Medicine, analyzed data from 400,000 people who took part in two long-term studies, the UK Biobank and the FinnGen Biobank.

The research team determined that those who ate cheese had a 28% lower risk of having sleep apnea than those who did not.

Furthermore, cheese consumption was associated with 23 biomarkers associated with sleep apnea.

“These findings underscore the potential of dietary interventions in public health strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of sleep apnea and associated health risks,” the researchers concluded.

While sleep apnea can affect anyone, certain factors, such as excess weight and a thicker neck circumference, which can cause narrowing of the airway, can increase the risk.

Older men are at a higher risk for sleep apnea, as are those who consume alcohol, smoke, or use sedatives or tranquilizers. Growing evidence suggests that oxygen decline is linked to years of reduced life expectancy.

Cheese is a rich source of protein, calcium, essential nutrients, fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins and bioactive peptides, all of which contribute to overall health. Researchers believe that these nutrient-rich qualities may positively affect metabolic and cardiovascular health, thereby reducing the risk of sleep apnea.

While the health benefits of cheese are well established, this is the first study to specifically focus on the relationship between cheese and sleep apnea. While more research is needed, the team hopes their findings will help provide insights into a new, diet-based pathway to preventing and treating sleep apnea.

“This study provides evidence of a significant inverse association between cheese consumption and risk of sleep apnea, mediated by several key biomarkers, including aspartate aminotransferase, urea, cystatin C, sex hormone binding globulin, testosterone, and diastolic blood pressure of blood”. said.

These findings suggest that cheese intake may affect the risk of sleep apnea through specific metabolic pathways, highlighting the potential role of dietary interventions in reducing the prevalence of sleep apnea.

Despite the health benefits of cheese, many health-conscious eaters tend to avoid it due to its high levels of saturated fat and sodium. However, cheese can be included in a healthy diet if you choose varieties that are lower in sodium and minimally processed.

Harder cheeses, such as cheddar, Swiss, Parmesan and blue, are usually healthier than soft cheeses, such as brie, because they contain more calcium.

In addition, aged cheeses have been identified as digestive aids and immunity boosters.

Different varieties have different health benefits, including vitamins, proteins and amino acids.

Cheese has also been found to reduce the chance of developing diabetes or hypertension. A 2020 study, which surveyed more than 145,000 people in 21 countries, found that consuming two daily servings of milk lowered the risk posed by each of the conditions by 11% to 24%.

ThIt is the latest study to build on previous research which found that people with strong mental health and resistance to stress were regular cheese eaters.