In the United States, more than 10 billion pounds of natural and processed cheeses are made every year, from about one-third of all of the milk produced in the country; and the average American consumes about 27 pounds of cheese every year. Natural cheeses are made from whole, 2 percent, 1 percent or fat-free milk, or a combination of these. Cheese is a dairy product and offers high-quality protein, vitamins B2 and B12, calcium, phosphorus and zinc. An ounce of cheddar has 114 calories, 8.9 grams of fat and 204 milligrams of calcium. And some cheeses, when eaten after meals, have been shown to help prevent tooth decay.

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