Jarlsberg Cheese May Help To Stave Off Bone Thinning

Table of content:

• What is Jarlsberg cheese?

• Difference between Jarlsberg cheese and Emmental cheese

• What is bone thinning?

• Factors contributing to bone thinning

• Jarlsberg cheese and bone health

• Jarlsberg cheese and diet

• How to use Jarlsberg cheese

• Take-home points

• FAQ on Jarlsberg Cheese May Help To Stave Off Bone Thinning

What is Jarlsberg cheese?

A Swiss type of cheese originated in Norway in the Jarlsberg region in the middle 1850s. An all-purpose cheese produced with cow’s milk in the village of vales. It is one of the nutritious cheeses with large distinguishing irregular holes in it. It is described as firm yellow texture rich with a slightly nutty and sweet flavor. 

Difference between Jarlsberg cheese and Emmental cheese

Jarlsberg cheese shares characteristic features with Emmental cheese, however, there are some significant differences apart from similarities in the method of production, taste, and massive popularity in the world.

As said by Hippocrates: 

“LET FOOD BE THY MEDICINE AND MEDICINE BE THY FOOD” 

Jarlsberg cheese is a precise example of it! Cheese is one of the favorite food across the world and Jarlsberg cheese dip is one of the most loved dips among other cheeses; which is quite evident with its rich flavor and high nutritional values that could help you in your bone growth. One portion of Jarlsberg dip contains:

• Calcium---------410mg 41% RDA/RI (for bone)

• Phosphorous-------254.8mg 37% RDA/RI (for bone)

• Vitamin A ---------136.8microgeam 18% of RDA/RI (for eyes)

• Vitamin B12---------1.6microgram 41% of RDI/RI

• Copper ---------------0.244mg 18% of RDI/RI

• Zinc------------1.84mg 15% of RDI/RI

• Calories ------140cal 8%RDA/RI

• Sugar---------0g no RDA/RI

• Protein----------11g RDA/RI

• Salt------------12g RDA/RI

Apart from all these Jarlsberg cheese dips is a very good source of vitamin K2 which is present in the form of menaquinone, vitamin K2 plays important role in bone growth and development, which means now you can now happily enjoy your favorite craving with a Jarlsberg cheese dip with extra health benefits.

What is bone thinning?

It is a natural process of growth, as we age human body gradually starts reabsorbing calcium and phosphorous from bones. This process escalates in elderly people; at a certain stage of this process and specific loss in calcium and phosphorous levels in the body, it is called osteoporosis. People with diabetes, thyroid complications, breast and prostate cancer, kidney disease, and multiple myeloma are at higher risk of bone thinning. 

Factors contributing to bone thinning

1. Sex: Females are at higher risk of bone loss than male

2. Age: As we age bone loss becomes significant with a sedentary lifestyle, and imbalance diet 

3. Race: Whites and Asian women have higher % rates of bone loss compared to other races.

4. Thyroid: After menopause, there is an increase in the level of PTH (parathyroid hormone) which enhances bone reabsorption markers; deoxypyridinoline (DPD), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRSP 5b), amino-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX-1) and carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of 1 collagen (CTX-1).

5. Calcium levels: Negative calcium balance and decreases intake of calcium from diet contribute to bone loss 

6. Menopause: Declining estrogen levels in women is one of the major risk factors for bone thinning, it decreases the level of bone formation marker osteocalcin and procollagen type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP). After menopause bone reabsorption escalates by 90% due to negative calcium balance. 

7. Sex hormone: Estrogen and testosterone play major roles in bone formation; decreased levels accelerate bone loss.

All these factors lead to osteoporosis, the most common disease among the elderly. 

Jarlsberg cheese and bone health

It has been documented that vitamin K has beneficial effects on the bone growth profile. Bone formation is a continuous process that occurs throughout your life and after a point, it starts to decline as a result of all the above-mentioned factors and external parameters too. Bone growth is a complex process where vitamin D, vitamin K, calcium, phosphorous, and estrogen play a major role in it in both sexes. 

According to the research, the Jarlsberg cheese dip contains a higher amount of vitamin K2 than any other cheese. Vitamin K2 is important for the carboxylation of osteocalcin which plays a starring role in bone formation. Vitamin K2/ menaquinone (MK) has several variants. Its long-chain derivatives like MK-7, MK-8, and MK-9 show desired action. These long-chain derivatives could possibly be found in fermented foods only; hence cheese is the major source of vitamin K2. MK-9 is the dominating vitamin K2 variant in cheese with fluctuating quantities. Nevertheless, Jarlsberg cheese is evidently rich in MK-9, as the Jarlsberg cheese-making proceeds with Propionibacterium freudenreichii which is known to produce MK-9 and MK-8 variants of vitamin K2. 

In one of the studies conducted in pre-menopause age with 12 female volunteers with Jarlsberg cheese for osteocalcin levels, the study showed a significant rise in carboxylated osteocalcin levels. In the study, the volunteers were given a MED dose of Jarlsberg cheese which is the maximum effective dose of 57g of cheese, for six weeks period. Later they found out Jarlsberg cheese is a good source of vitamin K2 for improving bone health, it could also be used as an additional treatment option for osteoporosis disease, without much compromising on fast food. As per WHO oral vitamin K doses of 10 to 20mg per day or even more are completely safe with beneficial effects on your bone health and free from toxic side effects. 

Jarlsberg cheese and diet

Our diet affects our health overall, when it comes to bone health and growth we need to have a balanced diet. Not all fast foods can cause potential damage to your health, some of them could help you to boost your health without comprising another bite of your favorite dish. One such fast food is Jarlsberg cheese dip which is an all-purpose dip with a rich flavor. Cheese slices and cheese dips are components that complete your fast food and your dopamine cravings; so if you are a cheese lover and a health nut fitness freak; you can now enjoy an extra second last bite of your pizza, burger, or quesadilla with Jarlsberg cheese without any guilt. 

How to use Jarlsberg cheese

Popular around the world for its subtle nutty sweet taste yet a versatile cheese that will make each dish very rich. You can enjoy Jarlsberg cheese in any form and still get the immense health benefits mentioned above. 

1. Simply slice it on your sandwich

2. make a Jarlsberg cheese dip for some extra kick

3. Grate it on casseroles, frittatas.

4. Melt into any soup or fondue

5. A perfect dip for your barbeque season. 

6. Enhanced your mac and cheese with a subtle nutty and slight sweet kick of Jarlsberg cheese dip.

7. It surprisingly works well with most drinks like Scandinavian liquor added with the aroma of cardamom, orange, peels, and fennel.

Take-home points

• Osteoporosis is a result of bone thinning which is common in males and females and shows a gradual increase as age increases. 

• Bone thinning could be delayed by routine exercise; a proper diet and selective food could improve your bone health.

• Major risk-bearing diseases which could potentially turn into osteoporosis are diabetes, thyroid, and menopause condition.

• Jarlsberg cheese is one of the healthiest options for enhancing bone growth markers.

• You can have Jarlsberg cheese daily; because an intake of 20mg of vitamin K of benefits your health.

References: 

NCBI

NCBI

Jarlsberg and bone health

ScienceDirect 

Jarlsberg cheese