Here's Why You Should Eat Gouda Cheese

Many of us don't need a reason to eat cheese, especially when it comes to a Dutch cheese like Gouda. It has such a magnificent savory quality to it, it's difficult to resist. According to igourmet, Gouda is probably the most popular Dutch cheese that is made around the world. Named after the Dutch town where it originated, Gouda accounts for half of all cheeses produced in Holland. While we're are all familiar with the phrase about imitation being the most sincere form of flattery, there's nothing like the real thing, and that's especially true when it comes to Gouda.

It also turns out that Gouda doesn't just taste good, it is also Gouda for you, particularly Dutch Gouda. In fact, you should not just enjoy eating it, but feel good knowing it is providing you with an essential vitamin that most of us don't think about much, and perhaps haven't even heard of. Most of us our probably conscientious about getting Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E because we hear about them so much, but how many of us think about vitamin K? Per Real RN, cheeses like Gouda are a good source of vitamin K, and you need to be eating it. 

Per the National Post, vitamin K is found in high quantities in leafy greens, nattō (a Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans), and also in some cheeses, like Gouda, made in the Netherlands. Additionally, some researchers are studying whether or not vitamin K may have a role in fighting COVID-19. But why is vitamin K important? As Harvard Health explains, vitamin K is critical for building proteins to help our bodies when it comes to blood clotting properly, and helps strengthen bones. The adequate amount of vitamin K to consume each day is 120 micrograms for men and 90 micrograms for women. InnovixLabs notes that while Dutch Gouda is high in vitamin K, American Gouda, not so much. Still, this tasty cheese has other benefits to consider beyond its vitamin K contributions to your daily diet.

Jake's Gouda Cheese points out that Gouda is also a great source of calcium and protein. Boasting 198 milligrams of calcium, or 20 percent of the daily recommended intake, per a single ounce, and 7 grams of your daily protein needs, eating Gouda cheese can help contribute to healthy bones, building and repairing cells, and providing you with energy to fuel your body. Eating Gouda cheese is clearly an effective and delicious way to get many of the nutrients needed to keep us strong and healthy.