Eight Maids a Milking...

Everyone loves cheese and biscuits at Christmas. Wondering which one has the most health benefits? Feta made from sheep and/or goats milk is rich in nutrients. It is also much easier to digest and much less allergenic and inflammatory than cows milk products.

Always look for unpasteurised cheese where possible as a number of nutrients are less bioavailable after pasteurisation.

1. Bone Health - Everyone knows calcium is good for your bones. But did you know that countries with high dairy intake also have some of the highest osteoporosis rates in the world? Wondering how that can be possible? It's actually because milk has a habit of causing acidosis (high levels of acid) in the body which can damage bones. Therefore a cheese like feta is a much better source of calcium and if it's raw cheese the calcium will be more bioavailable.

2. Support Immune Health - Feta Cheese contains probiotics which help support your immune system and help protect  against foreign bodies which cause disease.

3. Prevent Headaches - Feta contains high levels of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) which has been used for a long time as a natural remedy for headaches and migraines. Including foods rich in B2 (and taking supplements where necessary) can be a simple way to minimise the number of headaches and migraines you get.

4. Eye Health - People with diets rich in B2 have also been found to have much lower risk of developing problems like cataracts and glaucoma.

Can't tolerate any dairy products? Don't worry you don't need to miss out on cheese this Christmas. A number of the supermarkets including Sainsbury's and Tesco now have their own range of cheeses made from coconut milk. They come in a number of flavours including:  cheddar; feta; Wensleydale and cranberry and spreadable with or without herbs.

There are also a number of brands of coconut yoghurt and 'single' cream from Oatly if you are looking for a dairy free alternative to accompany your festive puddings.