Addicted to Cheese? Help is Here

If you love cheese and feel like you could never get away from it, you might be surprised at the benefits of doing so.
The average American eats 35 pounds of cheese per year. That adds up to approximately 60,000 calories.

If you love cheese and feel like you could never get away from it, you might be surprised at the benefits of doing so:

  • weight loss (on average about 15 pounds)
  • clearer skin
  • migraines disappear
  • joint pain diminishes
  • fertility issues resolved
Why does cheese have a negative impact on your health and wellness?

According to Neal Barnard, MD, author of The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy, estrogen is one culprit.

While thought to be biologically trace levels in cows' milk, this sex hormone becomes concentrated when milk is turned into cheese. Men may experience reduced sperm count, girls may hit puberty much earlier than typical, and post-menopausal women may have estrogen in their blood.

Another issue arises from the morphine-like compounds that are liberated upon consumption, which are strong enough to get people "hooked" on cheese.

Dr. Barnard advises vegan cheese (and milk) alternatives, such as almond-based, soy-based, and cashew-based options. These are not necessarily lower in calories, but they're hormone-free. You can also use avocado on your salad instead of Feta for that "fatty" flavor and nutritional yeast on your pizza to replace mozzarella.  

Listen in as Dr. Barnard joins host Lisa Davis to explain why cheese is so bad for you, as well as the myriad of health benefits you might realize when breaking the cheese trap.

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The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy

Additional Info

  • Segment Number: 1
  • Audio File: talk_healthy/tt84.mp3
  • Featured Speaker: Neal Barnard, MD
  • Book Title: The Cheese Trap: How Breaking a Surprising Addiction Will Help You Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Get Healthy
  • Guest Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/NealBarnardMD/
  • Guest Twitter Account: @DrNealBarnard
  • Guest Bio: Neal-BarnardNeal Barnard, MD, FACC, is an adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C., president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and founder of Barnard Medical Center.

    Dr. Barnard is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the 2016 recipient of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s Trailblazer Award, and has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, and chronic pain, including a groundbreaking study of dietary interventions in type-2 diabetes, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Barnard has authored more than 70 scientific publications as well as 18 books, including the New York Times bestsellers Power Foods for the Brain, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart, and the USA Today bestseller, Dr. Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes.

    As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. He hosts four PBS television programs on nutrition and health and is frequently called on by news programs to discuss issues related to nutrition and research.
  • Length (mins): 24:16
  • Waiver Received: No