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