Raw Milk Cheese is Good for You

Raw milk cheese has always been a favorite in Europe, where its stronger flavor and healthy enzymes is truly appreciated. Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided that most kinds of raw milk cheese are not safe for human consumption, despite centuries of use in Europe and Asia. There are some loopholes, however. Raw milk cheeses can be sold if they are aged for 60 days and while you won't find them in most major supermarkets, smaller organic food stores and dairy stores carry a wide variety. Despite being a little harder to find, raw milk cheese is worth the extra effort.

Most cheese in the U.S. is made from pasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a way of heat treating milk to kill dangerous bacteria, but it kills all bacteria- both good and bad, destroys vitamins and enzymes that are beneficial to human digestion. Enzymes and good bacteria make raw milk cheese more complex and flavorful than cheese made from heat treated milk. English Cheddar and Swiss Guyere cheeses are both examples of well-loved aged raw milk cheese. Anyone that has tasted real English Cheddar after being raised on waxy American versions can immediately taste the difference that raw milk makes in cheese. Cheddar made from raw milk is creamy and smooth with a distinctive nutty flavor that is missing from mass produced pasteurized cheese.

Many dairies that make raw milk cheese also pasture the cows all year. Milk from grass fed cows contains as much as six times the amount of conjugated linoleic acid and Omega 3's than milk from grain fed cows. CLA is a fatty acid that has been shown to reduce fat and preserve muscle tissue in obese people. It has also been shown to stabilize insulin levels in diabetic patients and reduce blood glucose level. Conjugated linoleic acid is available as an expensive dietary supplement, but you can receive the benefits of CLA for free by consuming dairy and beef products that have been pasture year round.

Raw milk cheese can be found in small organic food stores, or if you are fortunate enough to live near a dairy, many will sell cheese directly to consumers. Contact your state dairy board for a list of dairies that make raw milk cheese. If you can't find raw milk cheese in your area, Internet retailers will ship raw milk cheese to your door. Grass Fed Traditions offers not only raw milk cheese, but grass fed bison, beef and butter as well. IGourmet sells a large variety of raw milk cheese from pastured cows.