Cheese and Health FAQ

Cheese & Health

Lactose Intolerant
Cheese Nutrition
Gluten free blue

My wife and I are both lactose intolerant- can't eat dairy- but we can eat a drained yogurt cheese. Our doctor says that this yogurt process takes the lactose out of the yogurt, so we need that process as part of a recipe

You can make yogurt cheese simply by draining homemade or store yogurt
Most of the lactose found in cheese is removed with the whey during the manufacturing process. Most ripened cheeses, such as Cheddar and Swiss, contain about 95% less lactose than whole milk. Aged cheeses contain almost no lactose - only 0.4-1 gram of lactose per ounce. Processed cheeses contain about 0.5-4 grams per ounce.

When shopping for cheese, look at the Nutrition Facts panel on the labels. If the amount of sugars listed is 0 grams, it does not contain lactose. You can always call the manufacturer if you are still unsure.

In addition to its low lactose content, cheese is nutrient dense. The milk curds, which form cheese, retain almost all of the milk's protein,and important vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, riboflavin, and vitamin A.

look at this site..... http://www.milkpail.com/lactose.htm

Could you please tell me if the calorie content, fat, nutrients etc listed on the milk carton would be the same once the milk has been turned into cheese?

Most of the fat remains but the carbohydrates(lactose) are either converted to acid or leave when the whey is removed... depending on how the cheese has been made.

Vitamins and nutrients remain in varying amounts depending on the process(fresh and lactic cheese contain less calcium)

Fat is a concern for most people but in a properly made and aged cheese (not american style) the fat undergoes a breakdown (lypolysis) to compounds that are more useful for health..

The proteins undergo a similar process called (protelysis) through which they are converted to amino acids readily useable by your system.

The best cheese you can buy is farmstead.. made from the animals maintained by the cheesemaker and some using raw milk.. this cheese is more expensive due to the small scale and intensive labor involved but ifyou value your health it is a wise investment

Is there such a thing as gluten free blue cheese (no wheat or barley included)?
I am on a totally gluten free diet and have stopped eating blue cheese because I was told the blue vein is made from breadmold. Please let me know.

Traditionally the blue mold is grown on a special baked bread but then the mold is extracted.. in some instances it is grown up on lab media..
I can not imagine much glutten to be involved at the point that you would taste the cheese.