Roquefort cheese is one of the oldest known varieties in the world and has been around since Roman times. It is a strong, salty blue cheese made from sheep’s or goat’s milk. But, if you are looking to maintain a healthy diet, is Roquefort bad for your health?
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what makes Roquefort cheese special and explore how its high fat content affects its nutritional value. We will also see if it can be beneficial or harmful to include this important element of French cuisine in your daily diet. Whether you want to reap the benefits of this mineral-rich treat or simply reduce the potential risks of overindulging, read on!
Roquefort: Its particularity and its nutritional value.
Roquefort cheese is a special type of French blue cheese that has been made since the 10th century. It is made from sheep’s milk and aged in natural limestone caves near the town of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon in southern France. The sheep’s milk used to make this cheese has a unique grassy taste due to the type of pasture the sheep graze on, and is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. This is what gives cheese its unique flavor and texture.
The distinct flavors of this cheese come from its unique ripening process and the formation of mold during aging. During maturation, each wheel is injected with spores of the fungus Penicillium Roqueforti, which gives it its characteristic green or blue veins.
This cheese has many nutritional benefits thanks to its high quality ingredients and production process. Roquefort is a good source of fat, protein, calcium and phosphorus as well as vitamins A and D3. Its fat content ranges between 45-50%, making it one of the richest cheeses available on the market today. As for the protein content, it can vary from 13 to 19% depending on the degree of maturity of the cheese at the time of consumption. Roquefort also contains an abundance of minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium and many more which are beneficial for overall health.
Besides its nutritional value, what makes this cheese unique is its strong smell and intense taste that lingers in the mouth after consumption, which few other cheeses have to offer!
With its red nutri-score level, does that mean that it is bad for your health?
Roquefort is classified in the “E” level of the nutri-score, where we generally find a variety of junk food that is known for its bad reputation and its harmful effect on overall health. However, does it make sense that such a rich and flavorful cheese should be included in this type of food?
No, Roquefort’s Nutrition Labeling System score does not necessarily mean that it is unhealthy, as this score takes into account other factors such as saturated fat and sugar content. Roquefort is a high-calorie food due to its fat content, but eaten in moderation, it can still be part of a balanced diet.
Although Roquefort is more caloric than feta, camembert or Pont l’Évêque per 100 g (384 Kcal against 350 Kcal), its saturated fat content is lower: 22 g/100 g against 30 g/100 g for camembert and 34 g/100 g for feta. Therefore, although Roquefort cheese should be eaten in moderation due to its higher calorie content, it can still be a healthy source of nutrition if eaten in small portions.
In addition, Roquefort contains beneficial minerals such as zinc, iron, phosphorus and magnesium, which are important for strong bones and teeth. It is also an excellent source of protein and calcium – two essential nutrients for overall good health – with 14g of protein per 100g and 1120mg of calcium per 100g. All these valuable nutritional elements make Roquefort an interesting option when it comes to healthy eating!
