Cheese can be good for runners, as it provides many nutrients including calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, which are involved in bone health, muscle contractions, and blood pressure) [1
]. Eating cheese after a run may be especially advantageous because it’s rich in leucine
, an amino acid shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis.
That said, runners should avoid eating cheese immediately before a run because it provides little carbohydrate to fuel working muscles, and is rich in protein and fat which can cause GI distress during exercise.
Furthermore, runners should be cautious about eating too much cheese. Cheese is rich in sodium, and for those who are dairy-intolerant, it can cause digestive issues. In addition, cheese tends to be high in saturated fat which has been linked with inflammation and heart disease.[2