How Cheese Could Be Sabotaging Your Diet and Your Health

Feeling all witty this week I updated my Facebook status with the following:

“Did you know it is possible to stab yourself with cheese and bleed?  It is!  I spotted a hard piece of grated cheese on my counter I must have missed last night while cleaning up so I grabbed a wipe and tried to clean it, it was being stubborn so I used my fingernail. The cheese fought back!

The feedback to this post ranged from, “if anyone could prove this theory you could” to sympathy and understanding (or more likely pity) for my strange accident.

I got to thinking after this traumatizing incident, that maybe cheese could be more lethal than any of us imagined.  Okay, I will pause momentarily for you to gasp and try to grasp the self-proclaimed cheese news I am about to bring you. . .

Cheese is a hardened criminal. 

Wait, what?  Did I just accuse such a fantastic tasting, food transforming piece of dairy of a terrible felony against man?  Yes, I believe I did. I must tell you I do it with great sadness.

But …!

Think about it, at least for a moment, if this lovely food after being left alone for too long becomes cold and decides to harden because of lack of attention, it can threaten a volatile relationship.

Now, all of this may sound a little silly but I assure you I have given it much thought, as the yellow brick of love has become a part of my daily life and meal planning for my family.  I did, however, for some strange reason have an epiphany when I stabbed myself with this soft friend that became hard as steel this particular day.

Cheese is a dairy product and it is a well known fact that dairy products are rich in fats and cholesterol,  two components which alone could very well lead you to an early grave.

The cholesterol in the cheese could lead to high cholesterol levels in the blood which could further lead to several heart conditions.  When the cholesterol levels are increased, it has the tendency to stick to the walls of the arteries. Hence, my coralition between the blood drawing cheese on the counter and the blood curdling cheese effects in your body.

Now, I could go on about the dangers of cheese but kept in moderation cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus, so it’s not all bad.

Its time to change our relationship with cheese, and following are a few ways to do so:

• Instead of using cheese as a central ingredient, use it to accent your meals. Aged cheese is great for this, it tends to be more flavorful so you actually don’t need to use very much of it. Such cheeses include extra-sharp or sharp cheddar, Gorgonzola, Parmesan, and Asiago.

• There are many cheeses that are naturally lower in fat, including part-skim mozzarella, string cheeses, farmers cheese, and cream cheese.  Also, goat cheese is lower in fat and has fewer calories than cow’s milk cheese.

• You can also try a reduced fat cheese, which are now widely available and actually very comparable, this coming from a serious cheese addict. Reduced-fat cheeses have about 6 grams of fat, with 4 grams of saturated fat, which makes using these cheeses in sandwiches and salads as well as pizzas very easy.

Now that I have tried to state the facts, according to the cheese police, I will say that cheese is still my “bad boy” boyfriend and I am reluctant to give him up, so I suppose the moral of my story is, go ahead and eat some cheese, but use it less often and more sparingly.

You just may find yourself a few pounds lighter and more capable of keeping up a regular exercise routine.  Exercise may even buy you a ticket to eat that extra piece of pizza with cheese, but don’t take advantage, a great body and great health don’t come easy.

Ready for a challenge?

Check out Physzique in Spokane, the trainers here will kick your cheese loving toosh so fast you will never know what hit you.  Get fit and learn not to care about the cheddar on your tacos from this comprehensive workout regime and Boot Camp style workout.

With the Spokane holidays fast approaching, you may be wondering just how you can enjoy the Thanksgiving banquet but not suffer a bigger waist line later? Surprisingly, many of our favorite holiday foods really aren’t all that pad for us … in proper moderation! Check out the following Spokane Super Foods.

Stuffing

Talk about a healthy food in need of a name change. This fluffy side is often regarded as one of the most fattening holiday dishes, but with only a few minor adjustments it can actually be a healthy standout. Pack it with nuts, dried fruits, carrots, and celery, and you’ll benefit from fiber and a range of vitamins, recommends Krieger. Also, and this is crucial: Use low sodium chicken broth instead of butter to keep the dish moist and low in fat.

Pumpkin

If it’s not Thanksgiving without a slice of pumpkin pie, we’ve got good news for you. This veggie is packed with heart-healthy fiber and vitamin A. Plus, says Krieger, because pumpkin is very moist, you don’t have to add lots of unhealthy ingredients to make it taste flavorful yet still be low-fat (sub in skim and egg substitutes to make any recipe healthier). A guaranteed way to avoid accidentally gorging on a high-fat dessert? Bring your own pie, so you know what’s in it.

Pecans

Prefer pecans to pumpkin? Instead of plunging into a heap of high-fat pie, try sprinkling this star nut over salads, add it to your stuffing, or snack on a few as a precursor to the meal. Pecans are a great source of vitamin E and magnesium, which supports muscle strength. Plus, they’re packed with protein, fiber, and the same “good” fats as olive oil.

Collard Greens

Collards are ultra-healthy — except when sabotaged by greasy fat sources like pork, a popular additive in many holiday recipes. By preparing these leafy greens in a steamer, you’ll leave out the unnecessary calories and gain a ton of vitamins and antioxidants. If you just can’t give up flavoring your greens, use turkey bacon or saute the veggie in olive oil, suggests Krieger.

Nutmeg and Cinnamon

More and more research is being conducted on the health benefits of spices, says Krieger. Nutmeg, with its nutty, earthy flavor, and cinnamon, which shines with its sweetness, can do a whole lot more than garnish eggnog. Mixing these spices into fruit or vegetable sides can help you lower your cholesterol and maintain insulin levels in the blood.

Red Wine

While wine and cocktails can add needless calories to an already over-the-top meal, wine delivers heart-healthy properties in exchange for its calorie count (about 100 calories per 5-ounce serving). All wine is naturally heart-healthy, but red wines will provide the most antioxidant bang for your calorie buck. And take note: the dryer the wine, the higher the concentration of those disease-fighting properties.

To keep your calorie count to a minimum, ask your host for a spritzer — half wine, half calorie-free seltzer water.

And of course the absolute best way to battle the holiday bulge is to work with a personal trainer like Zach Hunt from Physzique Personal Fitness!

With the Spokane holidays fast approaching, you may be wondering just how you can enjoy the banquet but not suffer a bigger waist line later? Surprisingly, many of our favorite holiday foods really aren’t all that pad for us … in proper moderation! Check out the following Spokane Super Foods.

Turkey

Turkey is a dynamite healthy protein source — unless it’s deep fried and slathered with gravy. Sarah Krieger, RD, National Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, points out that a serving of turkey provides almost half of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid and is a good source of vitamin B, zinc, and potassium. These nutrients have been found to keep blood cholesterol down, protect against cancer and heart disease, and boost the immune system. A normal portion size is usually 3 to 4 ounces — and if you stick to white meat and peel the skin off, you’ll literally save hundreds of calories at the Thanksgiving table. Fortunately, turkey is one of those dieter’s dream foods that will fill you up when you eat just a little.

Sweet Potatos

Sweet potatoes are among the healthiest vegetables around — so long as they don’t get doused with butter, marshmallows, or some other high-calorie holiday sabotage. If roasted — which keeps the flavor very intense without adding fat — sweet potatoes burst with fiber, vitamin A, potassium, and phytochemicals, which stave off aging, cancer, and arthritis. Plus, they’re very filling, so you don’t have to overload your plate with them.

Cranberries

As millions of us reach for pretty-in-pink cranberry sauce to garnish our turkey and stuffing, few realize we’re getting much more than a sweet-tasting accoutrement. Krieger points out that cranberries are loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants and their fiber content helps to lower “bad” cholesterol levels. However, because these beautiful berries are naturally low in sugar, many recipes call for large doses of added sweetener. Steer clear of all that sugar and, instead, try adding a sugar substitute like Splenda to keep this side dish healthy, suggests Krieger.

Pomegranates

Power to the pomegranate! This gorgeous fruit is proving its worth as one of the richest sources of antioxidants around, and it’s popping up more and more in holiday dishes. You can indulge in the pomegranate’s benefits by simply buying a bottle of its juice to add to your favorite recipe, or sprinkling the pretty seeds over a salad.

And of course the absolute best way to battle the holiday bulge is to work with a personal trainer like Zach Hunt from Physzique Personal Fitness!Continued in Part Two!