Cheese has been a staple in human diets for millennia. Nevertheless, the appearance of commercial 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.
Thankfully, 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 a number of the healthiest meals in the USA. Ashley can also be an knowledgeable on the late Dr. Ray Peat’s rules of bioenergetic drugs.
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 develop the manufacturing and distribution of high-quality, artisanal cheese can permit extra individuals to get entry to this superfood and assist shift shopper preferences towards more healthy, extra sustainable choices.
The Emergence of Artificial Cheese Rennet
Cheese is commonly stated to be pretty much as good because the milk it’s constructed from, however an equally necessary issue is the rennet utilized in its manufacturing. Rennet is an enzyme complicated chargeable for coagulating milk. It is available in 4 varieties — 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 isn’t 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, alternatively, usually compromises the flavour of cheese. That is why most cheeses labeled as “vegetable rennet” as we speak 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 steady, and meets the rising demand for vegetarian-friendly cheese. In reality, 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 could sound like a superb choice, it could possibly really 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 could possibly trigger toxicity or allergenic responses …
It is also been proven to disrupt intestine well being, seemingly 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) accredited its use in meals. It was additionally given Usually Acknowledged as Secure (GRAS) standing, exempting Pfizer from the stringent pre-approval necessities for brand new meals components.
Nevertheless, Ashley clarifies that its GRAS standing is basically 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 if you begin with the best uncooked milk to make cheese, using GMO rennet can compromise the ultimate product’s high quality and dietary worth. In reality, I imagine that many of the cheese consumed on this nation ought to be averted as a result of it comprises this ingredient, which is what makes most cheeses as we speak 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 ample calcium goes to be necessary for bone well being and dental well being, however there’s so many different advantages. One of many principal issues is sustaining that correct cell construction, which might result in improved vitality manufacturing, improved metabolism and make it simpler to shed some 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 eat, the much less oxalates you soak up via 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 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 principal bone regulators, so when PTH is elevated, that causes a rise in bone resorption and a lower in bone formation. It is growing 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 industrial 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 would like 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 alternative.
Historically Made Cheese Is a Superfood
Along with having spectacular calcium content material, high-quality artisanal cheese can also be a superb supply of the next vitamins:
• Lactoferrin — Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein with a variety of pharmacological advantages for each infants and adults, together with immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial properties.3
It additionally performs a task in enhancing iron absorption and regulating mobile capabilities corresponding 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 considerable in milk from grass fed cows, has been related to an array of well being advantages, together with improved metabolic well being.
Based on a 2023 research 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 robust proof that this important nutrient helps wholesome growing older and longevity in people, with cell-based actions which can be pretty much as good as, or higher than, main longevity-enhancing prescription therapeutics.7
• Vitamin K2 — This type of vitamin Okay performs a task 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 necessary neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, that are very important for temper regulation, cognitive perform and stress response.10 Tyrosine additionally contributes to thyroid hormone manufacturing, which is crucial for regulating your metabolism.11
• Useful micro organism — Uncooked milk cheeses include dwell lactic acid micro organism that may act as probiotics. The consumption of uncooked cheese has been documented to enhance microbiome steadiness as a consequence of these useful micro organism, that are sometimes killed in pasteurized cheeses.12 Based on a research 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 essentially the most studied probiotic organisms.
Probiotic organisms can defend 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 could provide 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 corresponding 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 could be simpler to digest if you happen to’re experiencing digestive points with standard A1 milk.
• Sourced from 100% grass fed cows — Cheese constructed from the milk of vaccine-free cows which can be solely 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 a substitute of artificial or microbial 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 Bins Now Extra Accessible
Ashley and I additionally mentioned her thrilling plans to deal with the growing demand for high-quality, historically made cheese. She reveals that as of as we speak, they’re providing scrumptious cheese containers sourced from small-scale Amish farmers, now solely accessible to the Mercola viewers.
These cheeses are made in keeping with the requirements talked about above, preserving the normal 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 proscribed to between 1,000 to 1,500 containers monthly, Ashley shares they’ve plans to progressively improve manufacturing. Nevertheless, she emphasizes that this enlargement 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 mission.
Eggshell Powder — An Different Supply of Calcium
In our interview, Ashley additionally highlighted one other good supply of calcium for individuals who can’t eat dairy merchandise — eggshell powder. Eggshells are primarily composed of calcium carbonate and in addition include 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 helpful 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 have got sufficient of it, you’ll be able to both boil or calmly bake to sterilize or eliminate any impurities. Grind them in slightly espresso grinder, and then you definately’ve bought your eggshell powder.”
This powder could be added to numerous meals or used as a pure toothpaste when combined with coconut or MCT oil. It’s been proven to have remineralizing results on tooth. 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 help guarantee they’ve sufficient calcium to supply robust eggshells, making a sustainable cycle that adheres with the rules of regenerative agriculture.
About Angel Acres Egg Co. and the Nourish Cooperative
What your meals eats, issues — as pigs and chickens are automobiles for health-harming polyunsaturated fat (PUFAs). If their weight loss program is excessive in PUFAs, the ultimate product will include 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 may be presently a ready record as she slowly will increase the variety of chickens throughout the community to meet the demand. Be a part of the waitlist for low-PUFA egg containers right here.
Armstrong additionally cofounded Nourish Cooperative, which ships the perfect 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 choice to speculate her free time into regenerative farming, contemplating how just some years in the past, her well being was removed from ideally suited. She struggled with mitochondrial vitality manufacturing and her physique was in a low thyroid state. Your physique prioritizes vitality for important duties, and decision-making requires important vitality.
Your mind consumes about 20% of your physique’s vitality regardless of being solely 2% of its weight. Ashley merely wouldn’t have had sufficient mobile vitality to produce her mind to decide like she did except she improved her well being. Elements like extra linoleic acid, estrogen and endotoxins have been depleting her mobile vitality, which is essential for making energy-intensive choices.
Her transformation underscores the facility of nurturing your well being to achieve the vitality obligatory for making important life adjustments. Avoiding dietary pitfalls like seed oils performed a key position on this journey, enabling her to faucet right into a newfound capability for courageous choices — a testomony to the profound impression of regaining mobile vitality on her means to navigate life’s decisions.
It’s my honest need and hope that you just contemplate her journey to encourage and empower you to make related decisions in your individual life and reclaim the Pleasure that you just deserve. Think about experiencing the almost limitless Pleasure that Ashley has together with her 1,000 chickens and 4 livestock guard canines beneath.
