Scientists have known for 10 years that full dairy fat cheese is associated with lower cardiovascular risk, a fact that mainstream nutritional guidelines continue to ignore
The WHO (not Pete Townsend' band) have declared bacon and red meat in general a carcinogen. They just put aspartame on the possible carcinogen list.
The evidence for these things causing cancer is weak. Very weak.
AP
My wife is familiar with wit Whiz and describes it as "disgusting." She , of course, claims the south Jersey version of the Philly Cheesesteak are much better,
Love that! She probably knows the big names like Jim’s, Pat’s, and Geno’s 😋
Once again, SORT level C- advice from me, but I do consider olives, grilled marinated artichokes, hard cheese, roasted red peppers, etc quite delicious and healthy... with the charcuterie part of the board (cured/prepared meats) neutral to net unhealthy. Eaten in small portions with the above maybe net positive?
Yours is the common experience. The DASH diet did show effectiveness in BP lowering but this was likely mostly due to increased fresh fruit and vegetable consumption (lower sodium, higher potassium.) It has never been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk in general. It was also developed during a time when there was a misguided focus on skim or low fat dairy products so the recommendation for low fat dairy was included but if anything reduced the overall effectiveness of the diet.
Dietary calcium that we eat in an overall healthy food pattern does not cause calcium build up in the arteries. There is some association of dietary calcium supplements with coronary calcium so I recommend against them.
Almost all studies looking at dairy fat or full fat cheese show they are beneficial for patients with heart disease. They lower the risk of heart attack and of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Despite this, most Americans have it in their heads that they must avoid full fat cheese, yogurt and milk.\
I got a book for my Dad that’s about the DASH/Mediterranean diet, and in that, low-fat (skimmed milk products) are highly recommended for blood pressure reduction and management, based on the DASH research that was done many years ago. The impression I get from advice for patients with heart disease, is that saturated fats are still viewed warily. People with heart disease probably worry about saturated fats and try to adhere to any medical advice they get. Also, my Dad thinks that calcium in his heart vessels comes from calcium he’s eaten in dairy foods (cheese etc). I told him it was safe to eat a little cheese, but really I don’t know if it is safe for someone with heart health issues. I still eat as much cheese as I like, including Wensleydale, especially sheeps’ milk versions (for the flavour). There’s only so much cheese I fancy eating at a time anyway. I recently had a CT scan, and my gall bladder and pancreas were okay (‘normal’) so I assume that the cheese isn’t doing me any harm. I tried ‘low-fat’ (skimmed dairy) and can honestly say that I found it unpalatable in its plain form, and difficult to eat.
I am very interested to know how doctors such as Fuhrman, Esselstyn, and Greger, who are strong opponents of dairy products, respond to this article. Would be a fascinating panel discussion between Dr. Pearson and the others. If it gets organized, please invite me to listen in!
i love it. great skit. i love cheese and i have some milk product every day as i have for the last 78 yrs. my blood pressure readings are great. a day without cheese is like a day without sunrays.
I like and eat cheese. NOT as much as is ordered with everything today...at a Hotel/Golf Club in Naples, FL I was ordering Room Service breakfast and my usual grapefruit juice, fruit cup, Whole Wheat Toast, Skim Milk and Oatmeal, I mention the oatmeal last because I was asked if I wanted a scoop of Cheddar Cheese with that...OMG...I lost my gall bladder in 1984 and FAT must be in moderation, of course I said NO. In conversation I was told this was a requested item...and all that much cheese would do for me is give me a case of constipation. Otherwise I will have cheese, even cheese salad dressing, but in very moderate amounts. And so it goes.
Great info and keep fighting the good fight! I wish you could put together “TSC’s Unofficial List of Recommended Foods” as sort of a response to the tainted FDA recommendations. As if you have any free time to do something like that. Big bonus points for the Monty Python reference, especially since it’s one of my favorite Python sketches.
Agree!
I have defended Jamon Iberico (https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/2015/08/16/jamon-iberico-and-the-mediterranean-diet/)
and bacon (https://theskepticalcardiologist.com/2015/10/26/is-bacon-a-carcinogen-like-cigarette-smoking/)
The WHO (not Pete Townsend' band) have declared bacon and red meat in general a carcinogen. They just put aspartame on the possible carcinogen list.
The evidence for these things causing cancer is weak. Very weak.
AP
My wife is familiar with wit Whiz and describes it as "disgusting." She , of course, claims the south Jersey version of the Philly Cheesesteak are much better,
Great to hear this from a cardiologist, too!
Without citing specific studies and references, I try to follow these ideas personally:
Small servings
Savor it
Cheese on pizza, with pasta, or with fries is no longer net healthy
Pair with a little wine, fruit, vegetables, olives
Eat socially with friends for added vasodilation and reduced CV risk
Sound about right?
And when in Philly, order “Whiz wit.”
That’s short for: “May I please have a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and fried onions.”
And eat one cheesesteak every 5 years or so.
Ryan,
Excellent advice! I shall ask my wife (grew up in south Jersey) if she is familiar with the Whiz wit.
You mentioned pairings. How do you feel about charcuterie boards?
Dr P
Love that! She probably knows the big names like Jim’s, Pat’s, and Geno’s 😋
Once again, SORT level C- advice from me, but I do consider olives, grilled marinated artichokes, hard cheese, roasted red peppers, etc quite delicious and healthy... with the charcuterie part of the board (cured/prepared meats) neutral to net unhealthy. Eaten in small portions with the above maybe net positive?
Let us know if you’ve done a post on this!
Alice,
Yours is the common experience. The DASH diet did show effectiveness in BP lowering but this was likely mostly due to increased fresh fruit and vegetable consumption (lower sodium, higher potassium.) It has never been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk in general. It was also developed during a time when there was a misguided focus on skim or low fat dairy products so the recommendation for low fat dairy was included but if anything reduced the overall effectiveness of the diet.
Dietary calcium that we eat in an overall healthy food pattern does not cause calcium build up in the arteries. There is some association of dietary calcium supplements with coronary calcium so I recommend against them.
Almost all studies looking at dairy fat or full fat cheese show they are beneficial for patients with heart disease. They lower the risk of heart attack and of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Despite this, most Americans have it in their heads that they must avoid full fat cheese, yogurt and milk.\
Dr. P
Thanks very much for this Dr. P, I’ll tell my Dad that he can eat some good dairy foods, but avoid un-necessary calcium supplements, Alice.
I got a book for my Dad that’s about the DASH/Mediterranean diet, and in that, low-fat (skimmed milk products) are highly recommended for blood pressure reduction and management, based on the DASH research that was done many years ago. The impression I get from advice for patients with heart disease, is that saturated fats are still viewed warily. People with heart disease probably worry about saturated fats and try to adhere to any medical advice they get. Also, my Dad thinks that calcium in his heart vessels comes from calcium he’s eaten in dairy foods (cheese etc). I told him it was safe to eat a little cheese, but really I don’t know if it is safe for someone with heart health issues. I still eat as much cheese as I like, including Wensleydale, especially sheeps’ milk versions (for the flavour). There’s only so much cheese I fancy eating at a time anyway. I recently had a CT scan, and my gall bladder and pancreas were okay (‘normal’) so I assume that the cheese isn’t doing me any harm. I tried ‘low-fat’ (skimmed dairy) and can honestly say that I found it unpalatable in its plain form, and difficult to eat.
Would it be too much to ask The skeptical cardiologist for a list of his top 10 favorite cheeses available here in the United States?
I am very interested to know how doctors such as Fuhrman, Esselstyn, and Greger, who are strong opponents of dairy products, respond to this article. Would be a fascinating panel discussion between Dr. Pearson and the others. If it gets organized, please invite me to listen in!
i love it. great skit. i love cheese and i have some milk product every day as i have for the last 78 yrs. my blood pressure readings are great. a day without cheese is like a day without sunrays.
I LOVE cheese....
I'm 70 and never fell for the 'eat low fat cheese'...
I eat it almost every day and have a great heart!
I even put it in my salads...
I like and eat cheese. NOT as much as is ordered with everything today...at a Hotel/Golf Club in Naples, FL I was ordering Room Service breakfast and my usual grapefruit juice, fruit cup, Whole Wheat Toast, Skim Milk and Oatmeal, I mention the oatmeal last because I was asked if I wanted a scoop of Cheddar Cheese with that...OMG...I lost my gall bladder in 1984 and FAT must be in moderation, of course I said NO. In conversation I was told this was a requested item...and all that much cheese would do for me is give me a case of constipation. Otherwise I will have cheese, even cheese salad dressing, but in very moderate amounts. And so it goes.
Great info and keep fighting the good fight! I wish you could put together “TSC’s Unofficial List of Recommended Foods” as sort of a response to the tainted FDA recommendations. As if you have any free time to do something like that. Big bonus points for the Monty Python reference, especially since it’s one of my favorite Python sketches.