Parmesan Cheese

Parmesan is a salty, nutty-flavored hard, aged cheese with a gritty texture. It's made from raw, unpasteurized cow's milk that's been kept for at least a year to kill harmful bacteria and give it a rich flavor.

An A1-ounce (28-gram) serving contains about 30% of the RDI for phosphorus. Because Parmesan is high in calcium and phosphorus, two nutrients involved in bone formation, it may help to maintain bone health. Higher dietary calcium and phosphorus intakes were substantially associated with better bone mass in certain parts of the body, including the femur, the longest human bone, according to one research of nearly 5,000 healthy Korean adults. Finally, because it has been stored for a long period, Parmesan has a very low lactose content and can usually be tolerated by most lactose-intolerant people. Pasta and pizzas can be topped with grated Parmesan. Spread slices on a cheese board with fruit and nuts, or sprinkle them on eggs.