Is Dairy-Free Vegan Cheese Healthy?

Is Dairy-Free Vegan Cheese Healthy?

The widely consumed Vegan Cheese... What are the characteristics of vegan cheeses produced for vegans?

In fact, fermented tofu has been consumed by the Chinese for about 1500 years, although it has become more popular and heard in recent years. Tofu can be expressed as a fermented product made from soy milk. With the popular consumption of tofu and the adoption of veganism as a lifestyle, many products similar to cheese began to be produced as cheese alternatives.

Plant-based cheese-like products that started with tofu became a market with various flavors and diversifications over time. Vegan cheeses are solid at room temperature and melt at high temperatures.

When the contributions of vegan cheeses to human health are questioned, vegan cheese produced based on cashew nut can be given as an example. 100 g of vegan cheese contains 12-13 g of protein. This is equivalent to the protein in an egg or shrimp. Vegan cheeses tend to have less saturated fat, so they may be healthier than dairy-based cheeses.

A known plus of vegan cheeses is that they are ideal for individuals with lactose intolerance health problems. The enzyme lactase is necessary for the absorption of lactose, also known as milk sugar, found in milk and dairy products in the intestines. In some people, lactase is not produced in the small intestine for lactose absorption, and consumption of dairy products causes health problems. People who have lactose digestion problems can easily consume vegan cheeses.

In the production of vegan cheese; It can be made with ingredients from vegetables, such as proteins, oils, and milks (plant milks). It can also be made from seeds such as sesame, sunflower, nuts (cashew, pine nuts, peanuts, almonds) and soybeans; other ingredients are coconut oil, nutritional yeast, tapioca, rice, potatoes and spices.