Can Eating Cheese Help You With Sleep Apnea? A Study Claims It Can

A recent study in Sleep Medicine (December 2024) revealed a surprising possible link between eating cheese and a lower chance of getting sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common problem where people repeatedly stop breathing during sleep, affecting about 30 million people in the US. What a lot of people do not know is that sleep apnea can lead to a lot of heart problems and that is why this research is interesting as well as beneficial for many people. According to the study even simple dietary choices like eating cheese might act like a shield against this sleep disorder, which is unexpected given how cheese's high fat and calorie content. This discovery has prompted discussions about how we view food and its complex relationship with our health.

Sleep apnea is when you repeatedly stop and start breathing during sleep. One bad night isn't a big deal, but many nights can be harmful because these breathing pauses deprive your body of oxygen, stressing your body and disrupting sleep. This stress can lead to inflammation, high blood pressure, and a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and weight gain. So, it's important to understand and manage sleep apnea for good health.

Unexpected Cheese Connection

Because being overweight makes sleep apnea more likely, it's surprising that cheese, which is high in calories and fat, might actually help. This makes us rethink labeling foods as simply "good" or "bad." Instead of just looking at calories and fat, we should consider how different foods affect our bodies in complex ways and look at our overall diet.

Cheese might help with sleep apnea because it affects certain things in our blood. Remember, whatever you eat will eventually end up as nutrients in your blood stream, which can change out risk of getting sick. Some studies suggest cheese can lower blood pressure and testosterone, which might help prevent sleep apnea. Cheese also has good nutrients like protein, calcium, healthy fats, and vitamins.

But you have to be very careful when it comes to eating cheese because it can be a bit tricky. There are two aspects that you must consider because it can act like a double-edged sword. On one hand you are eating cheese because it is helping your sleep apnea, but on the other, it can make you gain weight which is bad for your airways. So make sure you are eating in moderation.

Other Ways To Combat Sleep Apnea

So while eating cheese is definitely helpful as long as you are doing it in moderation, there are other ways like leading a healthy lifestyle. Here are some ways you can try, make sure you are speaking to your healthcare professional before making any major changes to your lifestyle or diet.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Previous reaches have shown that weight is one of the leading causes of sleep apnea. So, eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and omega-3s, along with regular exercise, helps maintain a healthy weight. This is important because excess weight can increase the risk of sleep apnea.

Avoid Acid Reflux Triggers

there are a lot of foods that can trigger an acid reflex, which is detrimental to your sleep apnea. These often include tomatoes, citrus fruits, chocolate, peppermint, and spicy foods. Avoiding these can help reduce nighttime breathing problems.

Avoid Harmful Substances

Alcohol, sedatives, and smoking can relax throat muscles and narrow airways, making sleep apnea worse. As we know, alcohol is causes inflammation so limiting or avoiding these substances can improve breathing during sleep.

Consult Specialists

While you may have been taking steps to make your sleep apnea better, if symptoms like nasal congestion or facial structure issues you must visit a dentist, ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor, or sleep specialist because they will help you find the root cause and find the right solution.