![]() Raw foods like fresh-pressed juices, sauerkraut, kombucha, and vegan cheese labeled "raw" are unpasteurized, meaning they haven't undergone a heating process to destroy any bacteria, good or bad. I might be dating myself, but you may remember learning about pasteurization when you learned about Louis Pasteur in school, a French-born chemist who discovered pasteurization - pasteurizing foods or beverages destroys harmful bacteria by applying heat. Given the lack of reliable evidence around foods safety, to be on the safe side, avoid homemade, farmer’s market, and small-batch artisan fermented vegan cheeses to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. While fermented foods are excellent as they contain good gut-friendly bacteria, some are also at risk for carrying harmful bacteria due to processing. ![]() First, let’s break these two down.Īccording to, "Fermentation is a chemical process that breaks down carbohydrates.This process is carried out by microorganisms such as bacteria, molds, and fungi." Fermented foods you might be familiar with include kimchi, tempeh, kombucha, and some vegan cheeses. This issue with vegan cheese for pregnancy surrounds food safety, specifically around fermentation and pasteurization. You can find these cheeses at your local farmers' market (if you're in a vegan-friendly area!) or via online order. Also, cheeseboard-worthy cheese, you typically won't find these brands at your local Whole Foods. Small-batch craft vegan cheese: Also fermented, the cheese undergoes a similar processing path to dairy cheese. Think cheese destined for an Insta-worthy vegan cheeseboard to share with family and friends, making them go, "who knew vegan cheese tasted so good?" Think pizza shreds and sandwich slices that you can find at most grocery stores.Ĭultured vegan cheese: fermented cheeses made by including certain strains of probiotics and enzymes during processing. What are the different types of vegan cheese?īased on some light Googling, there are three different "tiers" of vegan cheese.īasic vegan cheese: nonfermented shreds and slices. So despite being dairy-free and promoting a better planet, they’re great to enjoy in moderation as part of a varied vegan prenatal diet. Saturated fat is the type of artery-clogging fat that, as a Registered Dietitian, I will tell you, pregnant or not, to limit.įinally, like regular cheese, vegan cheese is high in sodium, which is part of what makes it so delicious! Like cholesterol, while you need a certain amount of sodium in the body, too much isn’t good either as it may raise your blood pressure. The other downside to vegan cheese is saturated fat, primarily found in high concentrations in coconut oil-based varieties. And while your body needs some cholesterol to support essential functions like making hormones, too much cholesterol in your blood may increase your risk of developing heart disease. Only animal-based products contain cholesterol. Outside of not harming animals during manufacturing, the primary benefit is that all vegan cheese is cholesterol-free. As a result, using vegan cheese to make sure you're meeting your calcium needs for pregnancy isn't a solid strategy either. Some offer 0% calcium per serving, while others offer 15% of calcium per serving. In a similar vein, calcium content ranges widely. Generally speaking, relying on vegan cheese to boost your protein isn't a good strategy. Some products are higher in protein, while others have virtually zero protein. What are the nutrient benefits of vegan cheese?Īs you might suspect, nutrient quality varies depending on the type of ingredients the food manufacturer uses. Look for the word “vegan” on the product. While all products labeled “vegan” are “dairy-free,” the opposite isn’t necessarily true. However, other animal-based products may be involved at any stage of processing. "Dairy-free" means free of all animal products such as whey. Is “dairy-free cheese ” the same as “vegan cheese”? And not only do ingredients vary, but processing also varies to produce from, soft “aged” and ricotta-like types. Different plant foods, including almonds, soy, cashews, coconut, plant-based blends, and more, make vegan cheese varieties.
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