Personally speaking, there are two things I really love in this life: a delicious snack and sleep. Truly, you'll find me snuggled up in my bed whenever the opportunity arises, and I'm always down to go try some delicious new delicacies. So, it was quite thrilling to hear that one particular guilty-pleasure snack may actually help the quality of your nightly shut-eye. That's right, a recent study found that cheese could actually reduce your risk of developing sleep apnea.
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What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when breathing stops and starts during sleep, the most common form being obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to Mayo Clinic. It results in "fragmented sleep" and can also lead to more serious complications such as cardiovascular diseases, cognitive decline, and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, the study authors note. Snoring and feeling tired after getting a full night's rest are two key signs.
How can cheese affect sleep apnea?
The latest findings, published in Sleep Medicinelast month, evaluated data from the UK Biobank and the FinnGen Bank to see how cheese intake affected sleep apnea. Researchers found that higher cheese intake was correlated with a reduced risk of developing sleep apnea, specifically affecting the levels of 23 biomarkers for the condition, including blood pressure and testosterone levels.
"These findings underscore the potential of dietary interventions in public health strategies aimed at decreasing sleep apnea prevalence and associated health risks," the study authors wrote. "Overall, this study highlights the complex connections between diet, biomarkers, and sleep apnea, emphasizing the necessity for further research across diverse populations to enhance the generalizability of these results."
However, the study used a research method called Mendelian randomization, which used genetic variants to identify a link between eating cheese and sleep apnea risk, as opposed to highlighting a direct cause and effect.
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Cheese has been linked with better sleep before, too.
This isn't the first time cheese has been cited as a beneficial snack for sleep. A Jan. 2023 study published in Advances in Nutrition outlined the positive relationship between dairy products (like cheese) and sleep. While data was limited at the time of publication, the study authors noted that dairy is "notably rich in tryptophan," which plays a role in serotonin and melatonin production (both of which are key for sleep). According to a post on MyFoodData, cottage cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, and gruyere cheese are all high in tryptophan.
But before you go and stock up on your favorite cheese varieties, study authors concede that more research is needed to understand its connection to sleep apnea. In addition, too much of most foods, including cheese, can contribute to weight gain—which is particularly important considering that excess weight "greatly increases the risk of OSA," per Mayo Clinic. Other risk factors include neck circumference, a narrowed airway, being male, age, and smoking, among others.
