Select Page

Short Answer:

No, Cheese is not Paleo!
is cheese paleo

Say No to Cheese!

Cheese is a dairy product derived from milk that has wide range of flavors and textures. It is formed by the coagulation of casein, a milk protein. Cheese may come from cow, goat, sheep or buffalo’s milk. Most cheeses are acidified by adding enzyme rennet which comes from the stomach linings of calves, that causes coagulation. Some cheeses can have mold contents to encourage growth for white rinds.

Unlike milk, during the process of cheese making, most of the lactose present in cheese is removed during curdling. But one should not use it as a reason to eat cheese. Sometimes, even the smallest amount of lactose consumption can trigger sensitive people.

We mentioned on our previous post that casein cannot be easily digested. For people who are allergic to casein, cheese should be avoided because it can result to tearing of gut lining, skin rashes, breathing problems and hives.

Cheese as with any other dairy can cause diabetes and heart disease.

Cheese is nutritious and it contains fat soluble Vitamin K and protein. It also has conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fat that has anti-cancer properties and heart protective effects. But because cheese is dairy, therefore it is not Paleo.

But Raw, Grass-Fed Cheese Can Be Okay..

Most cheeses available are ultra-processed and they come in plastic sleeves. These are the ones to be fully avoided because they are loaded with preservatives and emulsifiers.

As what Mark Sisson said, we don’t need cheese but if you must add it to your diet, you can have it in organic form such as raw, grass-fed cheese in very limited amount. Raw, grass-fed cheese contains high levels of CLA and may act as counterbalance to the negative effects of betacellulin present in cheese. Betacellulin is an epidermal growth factor linked to cancer. Aged cheese is also preferred as the longer the cheese is aged, the lesser the lactose it contains.

Other Cheese Substitutes

If you are following the Paleo diet and could not fathom saying goodbye to cheese, there are some alternatives you can try.

Cheese made from almond, cashew, macadamia and other nuts can be a good option. You can also create your own cheese using zucchini and coconut.

What Experts Say About Cheese… Is It Paleo?

“You don’t “need” cheese. Remember, bone health is about so much more than calcium. You need a whole host of vital minerals, some of which Americans are shockingly deficient in. Moreover, reasonable sun exposure and frequent weight-bearing activity are just as important to bone health as calcium”. – Mark Sisson

All you ever wanted to know about Cheese and Paleo

Mark’s Daily Apple. Is All Cheese Created Equal?
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/cheese-unhealthy/#axzz3cWmCL5dh

Mark’s Daily Apple. Would Grok Chow the Cheese Plate?
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/is-cheese-healthy/#axzz3cWmCL5dh

The Paleo Diet. DAIRY: MILKING IT FOR ALL IT’S WORTH
http://thepaleodiet.com/dairy-milking-worth/

Paleo Leap. The Place of Dairy on a Paleo Diet
http://paleoleap.com/place-of-dairy-on-paleo-diet/

Paleo Leap. 15 DAIRY-FREE PALEO CHEESE SUBSTITUTES YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME
http://paleoleap.com/dairy-free-paleo-cheese-substitutes/

The Ultimate Paleo Guide. Dairy: The Bad, The Ugly & The Slightly Better
http://ultimatepaleoguide.com/dairy/

Stupid Easy Paleo. CHEESE: WHY YOU CAN’T QUIT IT
http://stupideasypaleo.com/2013/10/28/cheese-why-you-cant-quit-it/

Paleo Grubs. What You Can’t Eat on the Paleo Diet
http://paleogrubs.com/foods-to-avoid

Paleo Porn. Is Cheese Paleo?
http://paleoporn.net/q/is-cheese-paleo/

Paleo Magazine. Is Cheese Off-Limits on a Paleo Diet? – Is Cheese Paleo?
http://paleomagazine.com/is-cheese-paleo

Did we miss anything?

Comment below and let us know what you think. Do you agree with our conclusion?

photo credit: Feta