Podcast: Go Easy on the Cheese

You may be tempted to put it on everything you eat, but hold that thought. This episode features audio from:
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[@seitanbeatsyourmeat666]

Since I learned to actually cook, and not rely on dairy products to make my food edible, I don’t miss (or need) cheese at all

[@fernandocortez2746]

yes, there is simply no objective reason to eat it.

[@tramvu78]

@@fernandocortez2746 l l T m

[@justinwescott8125]

I still crave cheese every day more than anything else. Vegan for about a year now.

[@davidhutchinson5233]

Cheese was the last thing I ever gave up but definitely one of the best decisions I ever made.

[@Alleryaxxx]

Thank you Dr. Greger for another amazing video 🥰

[@rp3343]

Here , in South Africa they've got their knickers in a knot over whether plant based burgers/ hotdogs/ sausages should be called as such. Because, you know, just in case someone gets confused and buys a veggie hotdog instead of a meat one. LOL 😂

[@NeneChan203]

they better ban hotdogs too as they're not really made out of dogs and you know... it could be confusing for the consumers. :-P

[@carinaekstrom1]

Yes, god forbid they get confused and eat something healthier.

[@ddpwe5269]

First world priorities.

[@TheHouseofFruits]

same in France. The meat industry won that one.

[@eric-jr2nf]

Same in Denmark. They get mad about oat milk being called milk. Someone pointed out that chocolate easter eggs are still called eggs too though. Haha

[@robin69banks]

Great video Dr. Greger! Congrats on sorting out the sound quality issues

[@KJSvitko]

It is a shame that doctors do not get nutrition education in medical school. Medicare and insurance companies should insist on nutrition education for doctors and patients. This would decrease disease, reduce costs for insurance companies and increase profits. It would reduce the countries national debt and money spent on disease caused by the foods you eat.

[@Anon.5216]

Doctors are now trained in pharmacology, i.e. drugs. They are not trained in preventative medicine.

[@bryant475]

As a future doc, I agree. Big pharma wants us to be drug pushing robots! I'm glad it's slowly improving, with more and more doctors getting on board with Lifestyle Medicine/WFPB ! The Truth is a stubborn thing, it doesn't go away!

[@mbonimpatimothy6051]

They can't because they need doctors to sell the medicines that they manufacture

[@lisac.9393]

Thanks, Dr Greger!

[@JohnnyCatFitz]

If I eat cheese, and sometimes I do, it leaves me phlegm-y and with the most grotesque, bloated face. I can always tell if my elderly mother eats it because she has a constant hacking/ throat clearing from the phlegm/ post nasal drip , which i suspect is an actual allergic/immune response.

[@nikanna75]

Or perhaps it flares up GERD - phlegm, nasal drip and coughing are common signs of it. It’s because stomach acid droplets irritate unprotected mucosa

[@annieesther8405]

Could be lactose intolerance or IBS

[@disky01]

Thank you for exposing junk science, Dr. Greger. I have personally recommended your channel to friends who are struggling with health and diet issues as a source of truth and inspiration, and I hope more hear what you have to say and make substantive changes in their lives. Your channel is fascinating and an invaluable resource.

[@annieesther8405]

I actually laughed at the final third of the video. And you've just proven yet again why reading the studies is so important.

[@biggiemauls7772]

Surgeon General Greger, keep saying it til it comes true everyone!

[@valerietomsic8454]

I know, right? ALL FOR IT!!!

[@bryant475]

Awesome vid as usual, Dr. Greger! I remember learning from Dr. Barnard about casomorphins making cheese addicting! I'm glad it wasn't an issue for me, since I was never a big cheese eater before switching to WFPB (maybe 1-2 times a week max). As a result, my cheese loving gut bacteria were small in population and thus their "craving signal" was pretty weak. They were likely all dead within a few weeks of no cheese! For some good WFPB cheese alternatives, check out "Plantiful Kiki cheese sauce"!

[@naftalibendavid]

Dropping cheese sent my cholesterol from 209 to 164. It’s a bad drug.

[@beepbeepnj2658]

A cholesterol level of 209 mg/dL is about the same as the Okinawa centenarians had in the 1992 nutrition for the Japanese elderly report. Now what are you going to do?

[@naftalibendavid]

@@beepbeepnj2658 I didn’t know that! I will stick with the vegan diet and regular exercise while trying to enhance my social support the way those folks do. Seem as if they all have a posse to talk to and people who share their life events.

[@Salamander407]

The best!!!!

[@carstenaltena]

Stop eating meat was easy, stop eating cheese (and other dairy foods) was hard. But not impossible. And with cheese alternatives getting better everyday, I can occasionally have my "cheese" and eat it too.

[@st.peterunner8758]

Everyone’s different. I ate meat for years without eating cheese or dairy. Never really liked cheese that much. My wife was like you though haha

[@AprilTDixon]

Cute😉

[@carstenaltena]

😄

[@lindaripp5902]

Thanks

[@CARLiCON]

if it's the saturated dairy fat, what if you switch to fat-free cheese, yogurt & skim milk?

[@amylindberg123]

maybe it's. the antibiotics used in feeding the cattle that create the dairy > cheese, yogurt & milk?

[@kimnenninger7226]

Great video. I never realized how bad American government intervention in food consumption was.

[@erikhall7735]

Its not much better in Norway

[@lauriekudoba7419]

Carry on the good fight Dr. Greger!

[@tonynes3577]

A long time ago when I started eating less meat, I started eating a lot of cheese. Bad! I gained weight! Now I limit my cheese: Some of it is Not real and has sugar in it. Now, Maybe a little fish, and lots of fruits and vegetables. it's difficult to eat these days! And I'm on vacation; it's double difficult. Thanks Doctor!

[@danluther1741]

As a struggeling vegan, I must admit, cheese IS addictive!! Although my consumption is down to parmesan on whole wheat pasta, that occasional bite of mozzerela or chedder is hard to resist! Nutritional Yeast is my nutritional savior!!

[@spgushue]

So I cut cheese out by about 80% since my last check up. Not many other changes, and I had lower total cholesterol during my latest blood work. No scientific causation but what I was testing if just keeping cheese off meatless burger or sandwich. Honestly I don’t miss it, so for me it is an easy take out of my diet.

[@Vegan4Life_]

Plants FTW🌱

[@JasonJrake]

Seeing kids raised vegan or even just dairy free is fascinating. Most of them avoid the “runny nose” phase, when I guess most innocent immune systems are learning to tolerate dairy/cheese 🧀 toxins the way that smokers’ bodies learn to tolerate combustion fumes.

[@meir4586]

What about yogurt vs cheese? High fat vs low fat dairy?

[@Hyperion1040]

Dear Michael Greger MD, what do you think about arguments proposed by Robert Lustig MD? Is there a chance for debate?

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

Great tasting vegan cheese must be the holy grail of that industry. All other dairy products have great vegan substitutes except cheese: for example, all the vegan melting cheeses I have tried are gluey and even faintly barfy-tasting! I know it's not health food and most of my cooking doesn't involve any cheese substitutes, but I'd still love to make an occasional whole wheat pizza with tomatoes, herbs, and veggies from my garden! Any suggestions?

[@MyGenderIsMusic]

Try home made cashew cheese! :)

[@kiwifeijoa]

@@MyGenderIsMusic Totally agree with you on that one, homemade cashew cheese is very nice. I make a soft cheese using water blended cashews, and light miso paste, it ferments well, and is tasty.

[@bryant475]

Check "Plantiful Kiki Cheese Sauce" :)

[@cosimavonliebenau8317]

We are led by donkeys.

[@cosimavonliebenau8317]

@April Walford you make a good point - apologies to donkeys everywhere.

[@leah4666]

I’m so happy I ditched all dairy and animal products. Try it for yourself ♥️

[@phillippinter7518]

Be aware, Most popular brands of vegan cheese (Violife, Myokos, Chao, Follow your Heart, Trader Joe's...) use coconut oil as their main ingredient. They are All higher in saturated fat than dairy cheese, I double checked the ingredients and nutrition facts to verify this

[@digitaldreamer8637]

True. But they are healthier than animal fats. Ultimately no cheese is best! 😉

[@phillippinter7518]

@@digitaldreamer8637 at least it's free of natural animal and synthetic hormones. And less toxins that move up the food chain

[@phillippinter7518]

@@digitaldreamer8637 or cultured nut and seed cheese

[@dreday6320]

So true. I avoid them at all cost

[@VeerleSaelens]

@@digitaldreamer8637 Plant-based cheese made of oil and potato/corn starch made me feel much worse physically than dairy-based cheese did (personal experience). I got killer headaches from them. I love cheese made of nuts or seeds, though! I've never felt so healthy before

[@dreday6320]

Cheese is my kryptonite seriously 🧀 😒. It's almost like I'm addicted. But I eat more fruit that the average person as well. Eventually I will let it go, but it's a struggle.

[@steve-adams]

You can do it!

[@spinalcrackerbox]

I can totally relate.

[@mariacallas9962]

Goat or sheep milk is as bad ? Please tell me no….

[@rodee1671]

Thanks. I hate cheese.

[@gabrielekennedy6123]

China's Dairy? I have never seen any Chinese food with cheese?

[@mcshow8121]

So never eat cheese again? What’s his solution then?

[@kamerad4212]

I'm from Wisconsin. I love cheese. But I know it should be limited. So if you're going to enjoy it, I guess it's best to at least eat the good stuff from the small family-owned cheese factories.

[@drmarkrieke]

Cow mucus, just fat and salt

[@adiposerex5150]

Have not had cheese for 10 years. No regrets either. The poor cows - we are all victims of humans.

[@alegro4046]

"We" ?

[@DonkeyFrog]

cry

[@greensmoothieparty]

You may love your cheese mommy (i.e. - casomorphins), but she does not love you back... she is trying to kill you!

[@greensmoothieparty]

@April Walford I filed a lawsuit against my cheese mommy for reckless child endangerment and she admitted to it under oath 🤢

[@gfy2979]

cheesecast eat it and die kinda thing

[@naftalibendavid]

Coconut oil cheese is probably no better.

[@leeduli]

I'll take homemade tofu/nutritional yeast/cashew cheese over that stuff any day

[@sharit7970]

dirty ball at its finest...

[@mnayak9348]

Cheese is fattening and animal protein link to cancer risk due to growth factor. It raise cholesterol is not matter much because cholesterol body need for various function and study says those who have more cholesterol live longer but regardless cheese is animal protein and no fiber.

[@solarcrystal5494]

So according to "How to Naturally Reduce Wrinkles with Food" Dr Gregor doesn't care when the industry funds a study as long as it's the nut industry.

[@carinaekstrom1]

He also looks at how the studies are done.

[@Alex-ky4cd]

it's all about the SCIENCE

[@steve-adams]

It’s worth highlighting at any time, as he does with the nut industry, but studies funded by the dairy industry are farcical at this point. The study designs are typically awful and it’s quite clear that the means are intended to justify ends.

[@alegro4046]

Here in germany we have still weird cheese called "harzer käse", it has 0,5% fat and 29% protein and is nearly lactose free. Its the only cheese i eat cuz i do alot of sports and dont eat meat. I thought i could get away with having a high quality protein dairy product wihout the negativ aspects. If anyone knows more about "skimm-milk cheese" ( no idea how to call this in english sry) pls lemme know id be very grateful.

[@carinaekstrom1]

I'm just wondering why you would need animal protein to do a lot of sports?

[@alegro4046]

@@carinaekstrom1 u dont, but its easier to absorb, i dont have to cook it, and eating tons of legumes n buckwheat everyday can get boring really quick. The more muscle mass u have the the higher the protein requirement. Edit: also the combination of nearly 0% carbs n fat with 30% protein is unique, i dont know of anything similar.

[@carinaekstrom1]

@@alegro4046 Your choice of course but I would rather use a vegan protein powder.

[@zilaz]

@@alegro4046 digga mach vegan + camemembert mit kreuzblütlern(rotkohl zbsp.) Und räuchermakrele mit grühnkohl zwischendurch. Gibt mir die besten blutwerte + darmflora diversität. Ohne Supplements oder das ich zu voll bin von zu vielen ballastoffen bis ich auf meine kalorien komme.

[@alegro4046]

@@zilaz hört sich alles gar nicht so unlecker an :D Was is an Rotkohl besonders? Oder schmeckts dir einfach. Die anderen Sachen kenn und esse ich öfters (ausser camembert). Vorallem Kohl ist👌.

[@Anon.5216]

Did u say coconut oil? I thought it was healthy?

[@valerietomsic8454]

NO....loaded with SAT FAT! Just saying!

[@VeerleSaelens]

No oil is healthy, but the least harmful ones are extra virigin olive oil and oils high in ALA (which turns into omega 3), like flax seed oil, chia seed oil, etc. Coconut oil gave me killer headaches and pain all over my body when I used to consume it in moderate quantities.

[@Robert_St-Preux]

Vegan cheeses are outrageously high in sodium. They are not an option, either. Not for me, anyway.

[@notrueflagshere198]

But those lovely casomorphins really blow away the anxiety of inescapable mortality.

[@safffff1000]

I eat 8 oz of cheese a day and 1lb beef, 8 oz cream, 6 eggs but not the perverted stuff used in your studies, but organic

[@carinaekstrom1]

And how are your cholesterol numbers looking?

[@safffff1000]

@@carinaekstrom1 Haven't check yet, not worried about cholesterol. Cholesterol is needed by the brains and hormone production. The plague build in the blood system is not from eating fat but a defensive action by the body which produces that cholesterol in reactions to the grains and sugars.Will get it check if I can find a non hospital MD, just moved to rural area.

[@carinaekstrom1]

​@@safffff1000 Do you know that wild primates and newborn babies have a cholesterol under 70? The body makes what you need. If you don't eat excessive saturated fat and cholesterol the body wont be able to make plaques, regardless of inflammation. People need more fiber, not cholesterol.

[@safffff1000]

@@carinaekstrom1 Grains, vegetables and fruit as vegans eat today did not exist over 10,000yr ago they are all hybrids from from breeding new strains. Man existed mainly on meat for over 1 million yrs. There are not enough calories in vegan diets back 100,000's yrs ago

[@carinaekstrom1]

@@safffff1000 So hybrid meat is fine, but hybrid plants are not? And no, humans existed mainly on plants for 2 million years and their ancestors before them. We have been fundamental plant eaters for all the time our digestive system developed. Calorie rich fruits and nuts/seeds have always existed. How do you think other plant eaters survived if they could not find enough calories from plants? Anyway, as soon we learned to cook we could get more calories out of hundreds of plants, and of course if we could cook some meat, that would also help. But plants are still the best choice for health, not just calories.

[@supernova1976]

Why are we still talking about cholestrol and saturated fat ? Our body is made of it every cell in your body needs it . Stop this nonesense

[@adiohead]

Because too much is bad for you. Your body makes all the cholesterol you require. Keep saturated fat low and only consume plant sources, and avoid trans fats totally.

[@supernova1976]

@@adiohead our body makes 3000mg of it a day , what makes 3300mg worse than 3000mg? How do you explain zero corlation in heart attack and stroke cases and cholestrol levels ? 50% have high cholesterol .

[@supernova1976]

@@JasonJrake thanks for being polite and helpful

[@heleen313]

@supernova1976 the fact that your body consist of something does not necessarily mean you have to eat it. Your body makes it out of other things. Cows and elephants are made of saturated fat and cholesterol as well but don’t eat it either 🙂

[@Madasin_Paine]

Your body is comprised of a majority of water so why don't you soak in it for 4 hours and see what it does to your skin. Your body depends on iron but like all essential things there is a very narrow range of what is normal.

[@codcrashx]

😆😆

[@Auguur]

Imagine, Tax dollars goring towards the promotion of healthy citizens rather than subsidizing the industry that is making us all fat.