A Study On The Health Benefits Of Cheesecake

You know the old adage, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!" So, here I am, studying the health benefits of cheesecake.

I have mentioned at various times and places that such a study should be done. We study everything else, so why not "cheesecake"?

Let me state my credentials. While I haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, I rely on this: Back in my first year of college, that would be the 1978-79 academic year, I was a declared Biology major. Currently, I have a BA in Religion as well as one year of Advanced Course of Study at Duke (which means I graduated from Basic COS) and am a Local Licensed Pastor in the United Methodist Church. I've got science AND religion covered!

A word of warning to any student who may come across this completely serious study and wish to cite it in a paper. Probably not a good idea. I have received no Federal Funding for this important project. It is completely unbiased, unpaid for, and the only "Think Tank" involved is my brain.

So, let's grab a fork...uh, the recipe, and study. This is the one I use.

Philadelphia New York Cheesecake  (complete recipe)

6 Honey Graham crackers, finely crushed (about 1 cup)

3 Tbsp.  sugar

3 Tbsp.  butter, melted

5 pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup  sugar

3 Tbsp.  flour

1 Tbsp.  vanilla

1 cup (8 oz.) Sour Cream

4 eggs

(An important note in case you actually make this: the first three ingredients, crumbs, sugar, and melted butter, are the crust...do not mix those in with the rest!)

This will bake, slowly, in a 325 degree oven for a little over an hour. The constant heat will refine the goodness and torture the badness. The goodness will remain while the badness is killed.

Now, we can look at this right off the bat and see "sugar" and "eggs", and not much "sugar" at that. Both ingredients come from nature and have health benefits unique to themselves. Both were in that wide realm of stuff pronounced "Good" at the beginning, before "The Fall." They have, both, been given a nod by God and by science. To be fair and impartial, too much sugar can have its downside.

Butter. Dairy. Food group.
Cream cheese. Cheese that has been creamed. Dairy. Food group.
Sour cream. Cream that has been soured. Dairy. Food group.
Flour. Ground from wheat. Grain. Food group.
Vanilla. From vanilla bean. Vegetable. Food group.
Honey graham crackers. Honey. From bees. Just plain good and nutritious.
This is the list of ingredients of Honey Made Honey Grahams. Lots more flour. There's some iron in there and some calcium. No problems there.

So, my unbiased and completely unfunded, but not "unfunned", study reveals, conclusively, that Cheesecake is made up of all natural ingredients blessed by God and by science...it has its bases covered...and that it is a necessary component of a healthy diet.

I could not be more pleased with the results of this study.

Life's short. Eat cheesecake.

And be grateful!