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Cheese and its many varieties are celebrated in the United States every June 4, on National Cheese Day. Cheese is not only creamy, tasty and filling, it is also rich in nutrients such as protein and calcium. While has some positive qualities, there are also some facts about this age-old staple that might be off putting.
According to National Today, cheese making started around the year 8000 a. C. shortly after the domestication of animals such as sheep and goats. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that cheese was discovered by accident in ancient civilizations.
When the milk was left to stand in the sun for hours it turned sour and the protein components curdled. “When the whey was removed, farmers found this curd had a pleasant taste,” Harvard explained.
6 unpleasant facts about cheeses
1. You can get addicted to cheese
Peta describes cheese as a “dairy crack” that you can get addicted to. A food that during digestion releases chemicals called casomorphins, which can enter the brain and bind to the same opioid receptors that heroin and some other narcotics bind to.
two. It is rich in saturated fat
Cheese, like milk, has a high content of saturated fat . Mayo Clinic notes that saturated fats raise levels of good and bad cholesterol (HDL and LDL), which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Although Harvard notes that there is a debate about the effects of the saturated fat types in cheese on heart health and that they may be different than those caused by the types in red meat.
3. The smell of stinky cheese and feet are produced by the same bacteria
Cheeses have their own microbiome made up of bacteria, yeast and fungi. These microorganisms contribute to the flavor and aroma of the cheese.
In the case of some cheeses like Limburger and Muenster that have a strong smell like feet, this is no coincidence. Bacteria Brevibacterium used in fermentation also causes foot odor in humans.
4. They can increase your blood pressure
Cheeses can be high in sodium, which can raise your blood pressure . Among the cheeses that Cleveland Clinic recommends avoiding are processed and hard cheeses such as American, cheddar and muenster cheese; cheese spreads; cottage cheese and buttermilk.
To keep blood pressure levels under control you can opt for naturally low sodium cheeses.
5. Cheese contains estrogen
Dr. Neal Barnard explains in The Beet that cheese contains traces of estrogen and other chemicals that are administered to pregnant cows and they pass us through milk. Estrogen is more condensed in cheese.
“When you introduce even small amounts of estrogen into your body, you increase the risk of cancers related to hormones, such as breast, uterine and prostate cancer, ”says Barnard.
6. Some cheeses are full of worms
In the islands Sardinia (Italy) and Corsica (France), flies can lay eggs on pecorino sheep cheese . Then the rotten cheese, called casu marzu, is eaten with all the worms.
In moderation and on a healthy diet
Harvard notes that a modest amount of cheese can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet and that the way you eat is key. “Eating cheese with foods such as refined cereals (pasta white meat, bread, crackers, etc.) and processed meats can cancel out their health benefits. ”
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