Cheese has been a staple in human diets for millennia. Nevertheless, the appearance of business cheese manufacturing has dramatically altered its high quality, making actual, conventional cheese more and more onerous to seek out within the U.S. As an alternative, the market is now flooded with cheese made utilizing artificial, lab-produced rennet, which alters its dietary profile and fails to match the standard and advantages of historically made cheese.
Luckily, thrilling developments are underway to make high-quality cheese extra accessible to a broader viewers. This initiative is spearheaded by Ashley Armstrong, cofounder of Angel Acres Egg Co., which focuses on low-PUFA (polyunsaturated fats) eggs, and the Nourish Cooperative, which offers among the healthiest meals in the US. Ashley can be an knowledgeable on the late Dr. Ray Peat’s ideas of bioenergetic medication.
In our interview above, Ashley and I focus on the essential variations between historically made cheese and its industrial counterparts, and the way their efforts to broaden the manufacturing and distribution of high-quality, artisanal cheese can permit extra individuals to get entry to this superfood and assist shift client preferences towards more healthy, extra sustainable choices.
The Emergence of Artificial Cheese Rennet
Cheese is usually stated to be pretty much as good because the milk it’s constructed from, however an equally essential issue is the rennet utilized in its manufacturing. Rennet is an enzyme complicated answerable for coagulating milk. It is available in 4 sorts — animal rennet, vegetable rennet, microbial rennet and fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC), a rennet constructed from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that’s usually misleadingly labeled as “plant-based” for greenwashing functions. Ashley explains:
“Within the early Nineteen Nineties, Pfizer generated FPC … It’s produced in a lab from a genetically modified enzyme, so it is not pure. They take a gene out of an animal cell’s DNA string and insert it right into a micro organism, generally a yeast or a mould.
They take that DNA, put it into the yeast or mould DNA string, after which that can provoke the manufacturing of the chymosin enzyme, [which is] what coagulates the milk. That’s what’s naturally occurring contained in the abdomen chamber of a cow. The host tradition is then cultivated and fermented.”
In a earlier article, Ashley detailed how cheese was historically made with animal rennet, which is discovered naturally within the abdomen lining of ruminant animals and is understood to supply superior taste. True vegetable rennet, however, usually compromises the flavour of cheese. Because of this most cheeses labeled as “vegetable rennet” right this moment will not be made with actual vegetable rennet.
There’s no regulation on the phrases used for rennet in cheese labeling, so most are literally made with both microbial rennet constructed from mould or FPC. These days, producers primarily use FPC as a result of it’s cheaper, extra secure, and meets the rising demand for vegetarian-friendly cheese. Actually, 90% of cheese produced within the U.S. makes use of artificial rennet.1
How GMO Rennet Can Influence Your Well being
Whereas “plant-based” GMO rennet might sound like a superb possibility, it will possibly truly compromise your well being. Ashley asserts:
“The most important drawback right here is that that is made in a lab. Hint quantities of mould and fungus have been present in these enzymes, that are then used to make the cheese. [For] people who find themselves allergic to mould or fungus, it will possibly trigger toxicity or allergenic responses …
It is also been proven to disrupt intestine well being, possible since you’re inserting unusual microbial populations into your intestine. So, there are toxicity, allergenic and intestine well being considerations about FPC.”
Regardless of the protection of GMO rennet being evaluated solely by a 90-day trial in rats,2 the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized its use in meals. It was additionally given Usually Acknowledged as Secure (GRAS) standing, exempting Pfizer from the stringent pre-approval necessities for brand spanking new meals components.
Nevertheless, Ashley clarifies that its GRAS standing is actually meaningless, because it merely locations all of the accountability on the producer to guage its effectiveness. This implies we do not actually know the long-term repercussions of consuming GMO rennet.
Even while you begin with the best uncooked milk to make cheese, the usage of GMO rennet can compromise the ultimate product’s high quality and dietary worth. Actually, I consider that many of the cheese consumed on this nation needs to be prevented as a result of it comprises this ingredient, which is what makes most cheeses right this moment so onerous to digest.
How Dairy Misconceptions Contribute to Calcium-to-Phosphorus Imbalance
Ashley emphasizes that one of many key advantages of consuming cheese is its wealthy calcium content material:
“Consuming satisfactory calcium goes to be essential for bone well being and dental well being, however there’s so many different advantages. One of many major issues is sustaining that correct cell construction, which might result in improved power manufacturing, improved metabolism and make it simpler to drop extra pounds.
[Eating adequate calcium is] additionally going to result in higher blood strain regulation, since low dietary calcium has been proven to extend blood strain. It is also going to decrease oxalate absorption … [T]he extra calcium devour, the much less oxalates you soak up by your intestines, so it helps scale back the possibilities of oxalate toxicity.”
Sadly, the vilification of dairy merchandise by the mainstream media has led many to keep away from cheese, or to decide on plant-based alternate options. This shift, pushed by misconceptions that dairy causes digestive issues and calcification, results in a cascade of well being points. As Ashley explains:
“When your calcium consumption is low, it causes the parathyroid hormone (PTH) to rise, and that results in an inflow of calcium into the cells. In the meantime, phosphorus, which is extra available in our weight loss program, stays in abundance, creating an imbalance within the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio …
The most important factor that PTH does is it is one of many major bone regulators, so when PTH is elevated, that causes a rise in bone resorption and a lower in bone formation. It is rising the physique’s necessities to go mine for calcium in your bones since you’re not consuming sufficient dietarily.”
Ashley additionally reveals that producers add phosphate to business cheese as a preservative and to enhance melting capabilities, which additional exacerbates the imbalance between calcium and phosphorus.
“It is changing into more and more difficult to get [adequate] calcium consumption,” Ashley notes. “We wish our calcium-to-phosphorus ratio to be as near 1-1 as potential.” This underscores the necessity to incorporate historically made cheeses into your weight loss program, not simply as a “responsible pleasure” however as a staple, health-supporting meals selection.
Historically Made Cheese Is a Superfood
Along with having spectacular calcium content material, high-quality artisanal cheese can be a superb supply of the next vitamins:
• Lactoferrin — Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein with a spread of pharmacological advantages for each infants and adults, together with immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial properties.3
It additionally performs a job in enhancing iron absorption and regulating mobile capabilities akin to activation, differentiation and proliferation.4 Lactoferrin is considerably lowered throughout pasteurization,5 therefore the significance of selecting uncooked milk cheese.
• Saturated fat — One of many standout elements in cheese is the odd-chain fats C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid). This important fats, which is extra ample in milk from grass fed cows, has been related to an array of well being advantages, together with improved metabolic well being.
In accordance with a 2023 examine revealed within the journal Vitamins,6 low ranges of C15:0 are linked to an elevated threat of creating Sort 2 diabetes, coronary heart illness, nonalcoholic fatty liver illness, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and sure cancers.
The authors concluded there’s sturdy proof that this important nutrient helps wholesome getting older and longevity in people, with cell-based actions which are pretty much as good as, or higher than, main longevity-enhancing prescription therapeutics.7
• Vitamin K2 — This type of vitamin Ok performs a job in calcium metabolism, serving to direct calcium to the bones the place it is wanted. By doing so, it helps help each bone and cardiovascular well being.8
• Tyrosine — An amino acid that’s present in larger quantities in uncooked milk cheese than closely processed ones,9 tyrosine influences your physique’s manufacturing of essential neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, that are very important for temper regulation, cognitive operate and stress response.10 Tyrosine additionally contributes to thyroid hormone manufacturing, which is important for regulating your metabolism.11
• Helpful micro organism — Uncooked milk cheeses comprise reside lactic acid micro organism that may act as probiotics. The consumption of uncooked cheese has been documented to enhance microbiome stability on account of these useful micro organism, that are sometimes killed in pasteurized cheeses.12 In accordance with a examine revealed within the journal Meals:13
“Present scientific proof means that LAB [lactic acid bacteria], primarily Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are useful to the host in correcting imbalances within the intestinal microbiota, and consequently in sustaining and regulating well being. These micro organism are historically related to fermented meals and are probably the most studied probiotic organisms.
Probiotic organisms can shield the host from intestinal illness by inhibiting toxin manufacturing, producing antibacterial compounds, blocking pathogen adhesion websites, competing for vitamins and stimulating immunity.
Along with pathogen exclusion, probiotics might supply different useful properties to the host’s well being, together with nutrient synthesis (sure nutritional vitamins), discount in lactose intolerance and manufacturing of bioactive compounds akin to CLA [conjugated linoleic acid], SCFA [short-chain fatty acids] and EPS [exopolysaccharides].”
The Traits of a Excessive-High quality Cheese
Excessive-quality, historically made cheese, just like the one Ashley goals to supply, is characterised by a number of key components:
• Comprised of A2/A2 milk — Uncooked milk (not pasteurized) with the A2/A2 beta-casein protein will be simpler to digest in case you’re experiencing digestive points with standard A1 milk.
• Sourced from 100% grass fed cows — Cheese constructed from the milk of vaccine-free cows which are completely grass consumed various pastures comprises larger ranges of useful vitamins in comparison with conventionally made cheese, which usually comes from cows fed genetically modified feeds and raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
• Animal rennet — Conventional animal rennet is used as an alternative of artificial or microbial alternate options, which might result in higher style, texture and digestibility.
• Handcrafted utilizing conventional strategies — The cheese is made in small batches utilizing conventional strategies by expert cheesemakers to keep away from compromising the standard.
Artisanal Cheese Packing containers Now Extra Accessible
Ashley and I additionally mentioned her thrilling plans to handle the rising demand for high-quality, historically made cheese. She reveals that as of right this moment, they’re providing scrumptious cheese containers sourced from small-scale Amish farmers, now completely obtainable to the Mercola viewers.
These cheeses are made in line with the requirements talked about above, preserving the standard cheesemaking strategies that guarantee useful enzymes and vitamins stay intact. This strategy contrasts sharply with industrial cheese manufacturing, which regularly sacrifices high quality and dietary worth for mass manufacturing.
Whereas the preliminary provide is restricted to between 1,000 to 1,500 containers per thirty days, Ashley shares they’ve plans to regularly improve manufacturing. Nevertheless, she emphasizes that this growth is not going to compromise high quality. As an alternative of pushing farms to develop into industrial complexes, the aim is to extend the variety of small-scale producers concerned within the undertaking.
Eggshell Powder — An Different Supply of Calcium
In our interview, Ashley additionally highlighted one other good supply of calcium for individuals who can not devour dairy merchandise — eggshell powder. Eggshells are primarily composed of calcium carbonate and in addition comprise a wide range of hint minerals,14 making them a nutrient-dense complement. This often-discarded a part of the egg can simply be repurposed right into a precious dietary useful resource. Ashley explains:
“[I]t’s really easy to make your self. Save your eggshells in a bag, put it within the freezer. When you will have sufficient of it, you’ll be able to both boil or flippantly bake to sterilize or eliminate any impurities. Grind them in a bit espresso grinder, and then you definately’ve bought your eggshell powder.”
This powder will be added to varied meals or used as a pure toothpaste when blended with coconut or MCT oil. It’s been proven to have remineralizing results on enamel. I personally take a teaspoon of eggshell powder twice a day.
For these elevating chickens, Ashley factors out that feeding crushed eggshells again to the hens may also help guarantee they’ve sufficient calcium to supply sturdy eggshells, making a sustainable cycle that adheres with the ideas of regenerative agriculture.
About Angel Acres Egg Co. and the Nourish Cooperative
What your meals eats, issues — as pigs and chickens are autos for health-harming polyunsaturated fat (PUFAs). If their weight loss program is excessive in PUFAs, the ultimate product will comprise extra PUFAs. With the present agriculture system, figuring out the place your meals comes from is important. Angel Acres Egg Co. focuses on low-PUFA eggs. We mentioned the significance of low-PUFA eggs in a earlier interview, embedded above in your comfort.
Angel Acres Egg Co. ships low-PUFA eggs to all 50 states — however there’s at present a ready listing as she slowly will increase the variety of chickens inside the community to satisfy the demand. Be part of the waitlist for low-PUFA egg containers right here.
Armstrong additionally cofounded Nourish Cooperative, which ships the very best low-PUFA pork, beef, cheese and A2 dairy, and conventional sourdough to all 50 states. They’re additionally near accepting new members to the farm cooperative — be part of the waitlist right here: nourishcooperative.com.
Within the video section above, Ashley displays on the timeline of her determination to take a position her free time into regenerative farming, contemplating how only a few years in the past, her well being was removed from preferrred. She struggled with mitochondrial power manufacturing and her physique was in a low thyroid state. Your physique prioritizes power for important duties, and decision-making requires important power.
Your mind consumes about 20% of your physique’s power regardless of being solely 2% of its weight. Ashley merely wouldn’t have had sufficient mobile power to provide her mind to decide like she did until she improved her well being. Elements like extra linoleic acid, estrogen and endotoxins have been depleting her mobile power, which is essential for making energy-intensive selections.
Her transformation underscores the ability of nurturing your well being to achieve the power mandatory for making important life modifications. Avoiding dietary pitfalls like seed oils performed a key position on this journey, enabling her to faucet right into a newfound capability for courageous selections — a testomony to the profound influence of regaining mobile power on her means to navigate life’s decisions.
It’s my honest want and hope that you simply contemplate her journey to encourage and empower you to make related decisions in your individual life and reclaim the Pleasure that you simply deserve. Think about experiencing the almost limitless Pleasure that Ashley has together with her 1,000 chickens and 4 livestock guard canine under.
