Gourmet products for our health: what you need to know about the benefits and harms of blue cheese. Blue cheese - names, benefits and harms

It is not difficult to recognize cheese with white mold on the counter - it has a smooth, milky-colored surface covered with light fluff. In Russia, such cheese is practically not produced. But in Italy and France they have been successfully doing this for several centuries. The most popular varieties are: Normandy Camembert, Brie and Boulet-daven - the most odorous French cheese.

Many Russians have heard about this delicacy product, but not everyone has tried it. Many do not know how to use it correctly, others fear that it is harmful, as it is covered with mold. Yes, and the cost of the delicacy is quite high. However, it is possible and necessary to buy and eat a piece of cheese, as it is not only tasty, safe, but also a very healthy product.

About the benefits of blue cheese and the harm, how it is eaten, we will talk today on the pages of the Popular Health website. Let's start our conversation with its useful properties:

What is the use of cheese with white mold for the human body?

This product is valued for its pleasant creamy taste, unusual smell, and also for a lot of useful properties. It contains substances that are useful and important for maintaining human health. In particular, it contains a large number of trace elements, including calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. There are B vitamins, vitamins A, C and D.

Regular consumption of such cheese in a small amount helps to strengthen bone tissue, actively cleanses the body of toxins, and helps the nervous system to better cope with stress.

In addition, the product prevents premature aging. Lovers of cheese with mold look young, the number of wrinkles decreases, the condition of the skin with increased fat content improves.

Even a small piece eaten restores the acid-base balance of the oral cavity, which significantly reduces bad breath.

How to eat white mold cheeses?

Soft moldy cheeses have a unique smell. This is a delicate aroma of the coming autumn - a mixture of the smells of withering greenery, forest mushrooms and the earth damp after rain.

The rind is not trimmed before use. It is she who contains most of the taste - spicy, with a dense oily consistency.

The taste and aroma of the cheese is quite pronounced, which affects the way it is consumed. In particular, it is served with vegetables, fruits, crispy croutons and crackers. In this case, it is better that it warms up to room temperature.

Many prefer soft, moldy cheese with white grape wines. However, not all experts share this point of view.

Among other things, various snacks, salads and festive canapes are prepared on its basis, mixed with greens, eggs, combined with salted fish, salami sausage, etc. However, this does not apply to Roquefort. It is better to eat it as an independent snack.

The British eat blue cheese with greens, the Italians, of course, add them to pizza and pasta, and the Danes simply eat them with white toasted bread.

How to choose quality cheese?

When choosing cheese of a quality product, pay attention to the crust. It should be light, milky in color, covered with white soft fluff. Traces of the grate on which it was kept should be visible on it.

Also read the ingredients carefully. This product does not contain any dyes, preservatives or other additives. It should contain only milk, penicillin and salt, as well as the enzymes necessary for its maturation. If a dryish layer is noticeable along the crust, it means that the product has been stored for a long time.

The consistency of high-quality cheese resembles fresh butter, it melts in the mouth, and its taste is creamy, slightly spicy, with a slight sourness or bitterness.

Blue cheese - possible harm from consumption

If you eat it infrequently and little by little, there will be no harm from cheese. However, daily consumption in large quantities can change the intestinal microflora and cause dysbacteriosis. This is especially true for people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.

In addition, the product is quite high in calories, so a passion for it can contribute to weight gain. High fat and protein content can be harmful for people with endocrine diseases and obesity.

Any varieties of cheese, including moldy ones, are valuable human food products. Well-made and fresh, they contain a lot of useful substances that help maintain our health. In addition, they are very tasty.

However, when using them, it is necessary to observe the measure. For an adult, a small piece per day is enough, approximately 20-30 g. In this case, you will only benefit and will not harm your body. Be healthy!

Cheeses with noble mold, perhaps the most exquisite of all types of cheese, cause conflicting emotions in people. For the first time, it is really very difficult to force yourself to try this shriveled piece covered with mold, smelling of ammonia, rotten socks and even worse, but courage is rewarded with the magnificent and indescribable taste of such cheeses. Once you have tried mold cheese, you will not remain indifferent and will probably become a fan of this amazing delicacy. Perhaps even learn how to make blue cheeses with your own hands so that you always have access to their fantastic taste without emptying your pockets (such cheeses in stores are several times more expensive than others) ... and then you ask yourself - is it safe? Can moldy cheeses harm the body?

Let's take a closer look at the beneficial and harmful properties of mold cheeses for the human body in order to dispel all possible doubts and fears about this product:

The benefits of blue cheese

Improving the functioning of the digestive system. Molded cheeses contain many bacteria and amino acids that are beneficial for the intestines.

Beautiful hair, strong teeth and bones. The protein contained in cheese is easily soluble, it is perfectly absorbed by the body. Cheese also contains calcium and phosphorus. This combination is very beneficial for bones, teeth and hair.

sunburn protection. Cheese mold contains substances that produce melanin, which can reduce the risk of sunburn.

Healthy sleep and strong nerves. Mold cheeses contain the amino acid tryptophan, which helps relieve stress, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, which improves the quality of sleep.

Good eyesight and young skin. Blue cheeses are high in vitamins A and E, which are considered vitamins of youth: they have a beneficial effect on the appearance, elasticity and health of the skin, as well as improve vision.

Harm of moldy cheeses

Dysbacteriosis. Blue and white molds in cheeses are fungi of the genus Penicillium (roqueforti and candidum, respectively). These fungi secrete antibiotics in the course of their lives, which help them prevent and inhibit the growth of all other bacteria nearby. As you know, antibiotics in large quantities can also disrupt the human intestinal microflora, which can lead to dysbacteriosis, if moderation is not observed in the use of blue cheeses. However, 50 g of blue cheese a day will not harm your intestines in any way, but, on the contrary, will improve its condition.

Allergy. Mold fungi contained in such cheeses are quite a strong allergen. Excessive use of them can lead to an allergic rash, hives.

Danger of listeriosis [indirectly]. Listeriosis - extremely rare for humans, but a very dangerous disease. In total, 40 cases of listeriosis are recorded in Russia annually (mainly due to the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products). At risk are people with weakened immune systems, children, pregnant and lactating women. Listeriosis sticks may be found in raw milk, however perish at temperatures above 62C for a minimum of 35-40 minutes(pasteurization milk is carried out even at higher temperatures). Unfortunately, original blue cheeses are often made from raw milk, which makes them a possible source of this disease. However, if you make your own cheese and from pasteurized milk, this danger can be completely eliminated(another argument in favor of making cheeses with your own hands). Listeriosis is not affected by the mold on the cheese itself, but by the use of raw contaminated milk in its preparation.

the maximum amount of blue cheese safe for digestion for an adult is not more than 50 g per day

choose moldy cheese made from pasteurized milk to prevent listeriosis infection

do not eat moldy cheeses daily so as not to cause intestinal problems and dysbacteriosis

refrain from or reduce to a minimum the consumption of blue cheeses during pregnancy and lactation, as well as if you have gastritis, hypertension or a weakened immune system

do not give moldy cheeses to children under two years of age

Store moldy cheeses in the refrigerator, wrapped tightly in wax paper. Do not eat expired moldy cheeses.

open cheese (with a broken rind) should be consumed within a maximum of two weeks

on cheese with mold, only the mold intended by the manufacturer should be present (white fluffy Penicillium candidum, blue or gray-green Penicillium roqueforti, or red surface slime Brevibacterium linens (as on Limburger, Munster, Reblochon)). If you notice that a cultural mold has a wild neighbor - throw out such cheese, away from sin.

Thus, blue cheeses are very good for the body and will not harm you if you do not abuse them. If you eat a lot of tangerines for the New Year, you can get covered with allergy spots, but we don’t start to be afraid of eating tangerines because of this?) As you know, even the most useful medicine can become poison if you overdo it. In addition, do not forget that Europeans (the inventors and main consumers of blue cheeses) have been eating such cheeses for thousands of years and receive only health benefits from them. Europe has the lowest rate in the world in terms of the number of people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases. So, eat your favorite moldy cheeses a little bit, and you will be fine =) Better yet, if these cheeses are your own, then you can be completely sure of their safety, and their tasting will bring you a special pleasure!

The appearance on the shelves of our country of such a delicacy, the appearance of which cannot be called familiar, happened relatively recently. However, despite this, it has already become a favorite product of many people, although it also has staunch opponents. Some believe that blue cheese is very useful, others, on the contrary, are convinced that it is harmful to use it, supposedly it can provoke an exacerbation of certain diseases. What does this product bring - harm or benefit? Let's try to find the answer to this question.

What is useful blue cheese

Not all molds that cover cheese are suitable for inclusion in the diet. Of course, the elite Roquefort cannot be compared with cheese that has developed mold due to long storage in the refrigerator. The latter will definitely not be useful. To create a delicacy, special varieties of mold are used, which differ from poisonous in aroma, quality and appearance.

To create a unique product, the cheese substrate is combined with blue mold spores or Roquefort penicilla. The surface of such cheese is covered with the most delicate fluff of fungi or molds that are not found in the natural environment and appeared only in the course of human activity, thanks to repeated artificial selection.

It is impossible to create blue or white cheese naturally without deliberately introducing fungal spores. The product is prepared only from domesticated spores, which have been carefully selected.

Cheese is a product that in itself brings great benefits due to the presence in its composition of many microelements necessary for the human body. But, when it germinates with fungal spores, it is additionally enriched with useful properties. Among the similar qualities of blue cheese, the following can be noted:

1. Improved absorption of calcium. As with any other product made from milk, cheese contains a lot of calcium. But in order for the body to receive the required amount of this trace element, it is not enough to consume cheese, cottage cheese and other dairy products. The calcium they contain is not always absorbed. For a productive calcium metabolism, you should include in your menu products that promote the absorption of this substance. These include blue cheese. Thus, more calcium will enter the body than from a simple cheese consumed in a similar amount.
2. Reducing the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. This delicacy contains elements that lead to the fact that melanin begins to be intensively produced in human skin. This substance prevents the penetration of ultraviolet rays into the epidermis, preventing the formation of sunburn.
3. Prevention of dysbacteriosis and increased gas formation. Artificially introduced fungal spores, when they enter the intestines, contribute to the creation of favorable conditions for the growth and development of beneficial bacteria. They inhibit the processes in which undigested foods begin to break down, ferment and decompose.
4. Enrichment of the body with proteins. A small slice of cheese with a noble mold will deliver more protein to the body when compared with a piece of a similar-sized fish or meat. The substance takes part in the formation of muscle tissue.
5. Favorable effect on the heart and blood vessels. People who often eat elite varieties of moldy cheeses are less likely to have strokes or heart attacks. In addition, fungal spores help thin the blood, which reduces the risk of clots and improves blood flow.
6. Normalization of hormone levels and stress relief. Noble mold contains a large amount of vitamin B5, which is responsible for the production of glucocorticoid hormones produced in the adrenal glands. With a deficiency of this substance, a person quickly gets tired, suffers from insomnia, and becomes depressed.

Although the product has many useful properties, there is also a downside in this case. The product will be harmful to health if consumed in excess of 50 g per day. Otherwise, the natural microflora will be suppressed by fungal spores - there will be a malfunction in the functioning of the intestine, dysbacteriosis.

Mold contains elements that cause an allergic reaction. With increased sensitivity to penicillin and fungal infections, the product must be removed from the diet.

During childbearing and breastfeeding, blue cheese should be avoided, as Listeria lives in it. Such bacteria can lead to the development of infectious diseases. If a person with strong immunity passes listeriosis without vivid clinical manifestations, then the expectant mother may experience symptoms such as vomiting, fever, and fever. Such a load on the immune system can lead to extremely adverse consequences: spontaneous abortion, defects in the formation of the fetus, premature delivery.

How to use

To prepare real blue cheese, it will take a lot of time and following some rules. This and a complex recipe is the reason for the high cost of the product, as well as the fact that it is quite rare on store shelves.

In order for the exquisite taste of blue cheese to be fully revealed, you need to know how to properly use this delicacy:

1. Camembert, the taste of which is piquant and spicy, will be fully revealed if you use this cheese with champagne, honey, fruits (especially grapes).
2. Gorgonzola is an Italian blue moldy cheese with a bright taste, best eaten with potatoes and bread. These neutral products will set off the pronounced taste of cheese. In addition, such a product will be an excellent snack for alcoholic beverages - beer, white and red wines.
3. Brie is a French soft cheese made from cow's milk. It is advisable to place almonds, pineapple or melon slices, as well as shrimp on a dish next to it. Gourmets prefer to dip cheese, which has the most delicate taste, in honey or apple jam. If you cut off the crust from the product, which is covered with mold, then it can become an ingredient for sauces or soups.
4. Dor Blue is a German-made soft blue cheese with mold that goes well with grapes, nuts, and dried fruits. It is included in the composition of pies, pizza. From alcohol to cheese, which has a slightly salty flavor, red wine is the most suitable option.
5. Roquefort is a French blue cheese. Sheep milk is used for production. Its salty taste is reminiscent of hazelnuts. The maximum disclosure of taste qualities will occur if you combine it with fruits, sweet desserts, honey, as well as vegetables and herbs. From alcohol, it is better to serve strong wines, Cahors or white wine with this cheese.

Video: 5 Reasons to Eat Blue Cheese!

With mold, just like bread and wine, is an indispensable attribute of a feast in these countries. But we have this product appeared not so long ago, but it is already very popular among gourmets.

The benefits and harms of this product have been discussed so far. But before understanding this issue, you should carefully study this exotic product for us. There are different types of such cheese, which contains different molds. The first variety includes a product covered with white bloom on top. This is the largest group. White mold forms when cheeses are placed in cellars. In them, the walls are covered with penicillin fungi.

The next variety is characterized by a greenish-blue mold contained inside the product. These are Fourmes-d-Amber and Roquefort cheeses. During the production of such a product, mold is added to the curd mass using special tubes.

There is another variety of these cheeses. It is similar to the first, but only differs in the color of the mold, which is not white, but red.

The benefits of which can be obtained by using it in an amount not exceeding fifty grams per day should not be included in your diet in large volumes. This is not recommended by nutritionists for those people who are prone to weight gain. In addition, eating mold may not be so harmless. In large quantities, it is not processed by the stomach, which contributes to the occurrence of unwanted problems associated with the microflora of the intestine.

Blue cheese, the benefits of which will certainly be obtained with its reasonable use, contains a large amount of calcium. This element in the composition of this product is maximally absorbed by the body due to the presence of a noble fungus.

Blue cheese, the benefits of which also lie in the content of the amount of phosphorus salts and many vitamins necessary for our body, helps to dissolve fats. The protein in this product is saturated with amino acids that build our muscles.

Cheese with mold, the benefit of which is also to promote the production of melanin, performs this important function due to trace elements that accumulate under the skin of a person. Such influence is necessary for normal human life.

Mold serves as a natural source of the antibiotic penicillin. In our body, this substance destroys staphylococci and bacteria, streptococci, as well as pathogens and diphtheria. Blue cheese normalizes the functioning of the intestines, since penicillin has a beneficial effect on the microflora.

The use of blue cheese helps to raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood. This is possible due to the presence in the product of an essential amino acid - histidine. It is important for the synthesis of white and red blood cells. Histidine improves the secretion of gastric juice and produces a vasodilating effect. Blue cheese contains a large amount of phosphorus. Many varieties of fish cannot boast of such a volume of this element. Phosphorus is essential for bones and nails, as well as teeth. It serves as a prophylactic to prevent development, improves metabolism, the functioning of the heart and nervous system.

This type of cheese has appeared on the shelves of our stores relatively recently. Nevertheless, blue cheese has already managed to acquire passionate fans and ardent critics. In this article, we will talk about the benefits and possible negative effects of this product.

But before joining gourmets and acquiring a piece of delicacy for tasting, you need to responsibly approach the issue and figure out: what kind of cheeses with mold are, what variety to start getting acquainted with them, what to use and even how to store them correctly. Otherwise, the product can not only cause antipathy, but also provoke health problems.

Let's try to answer these questions, as well as understand the benefits and harms of an overseas delicacy.

A plate of blue cheese

It is possible that on even the largest plate all varieties of this cheese will not fit, so let's go through the most famous varieties.

White mold. This is the smallest group, but it is in it that the famous Brie and Camembert are present. These varieties are covered with a characteristic white coating, which is formed in special cellars, the walls of which are covered with fungi from the genus Penicillum.

Red mold. These varieties, which include Livaro and Münster, are covered with red mold that appears on the product during the ripening process, when it is treated with special bacteria.

Greenish-blue mold. Unlike the first two groups of moldy cheeses, this third group contains mold inside the product rather than covering its surface. This state of cheese is achieved through the use of a special cooking technology. Mold is added to the curd mass with the help of special tubes, where it safely brings the cheese to the desired condition. The most famous cheese in this group is Roquefort. Experts say that this cheese can only be real if it has a true French origin, any analogue of domestic production is a shameless fake at a fabulous price.

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How to use

The question is not really idle, because having started acquaintance with the delicacy from the wrong variety, you can easily become disappointed in it. Gourmets recommend starting with Brie, and getting used to its specific taste, start tasting "blue cheeses" without a sharp taste. And last but not least, try Roquefort and Camembert.

You should treat these types of cheese with respect and do not turn them into an everyday food product, all the more you should not indulge children with moldy cheeses. Such cheeses are strictly prohibited for pregnant women. The product is really specific and its abuse can only do harm. By the way, the amount of cheese that you can afford to eat at a time should not exceed 50 grams. A glass of wine with a rich taste and fruits harmonize very well with such cheese.

But before you can use it correctly, you need to choose the right one. Of course, pay attention to the release date and expiration date of the product. When choosing cheese with white mold, smell it: the right cheese smells like penicillin, and it will probably cause you hospital associations (at the level of smell).

If you choose the noble blue cheese, consider it carefully. In the section, mold streaks should be visible, but the channels through which it was introduced should not be evident. The cheese should be loose and soft, but not falling apart.

Storage

In order for cheese to retain its usefulness, it must be stored properly. Moreover, the refrigerator is not suitable for this. In the homeland of these cheeses, they even produce special cabinets for storing them. In our case, it is advisable to buy a small amount of cheese "at a time", it is not recommended to buy this product, as they say, for the future. But if you still haven’t finished eating, then in no case do not transfer the blue cheese to polyethylene. Let it be stored in the "native" shell, and cover the cut with paper.

The benefits of blue cheese

Is there any benefit to blue cheese? It is this question that causes a lot of discussion among newcomers. Of course, such cheeses, like any other, are very healthy due to their high calcium content. Moreover, this important element is absorbed in the best way due to the presence of mold. Noble blue cheeses are rich in protein, even eggs and fish are not competitors in this matter.

In addition, these cheeses are rich in amino acids, which are necessary for the formation and strengthening of muscles. An important plus is that the delicacy is rich in vitamins and phosphorus salts. And recent studies have shown that with the regular use of cheeses with mold, the formation of melanin improves, which protects the skin from exposure to sunlight.

What can harm

If you adhere to the recommended norm - no more than 50 grams, then such cheese will not harm a healthy person in any way. But do not forget that useful mold in small doses in large quantities can harm, because it will be difficult for the stomach to process it. This means that with abuse, even the most healthy person may have problems associated with a violation of the normal intestinal microflora.

Those people who have chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should be careful and it is better to abandon the delicacy. It is worth knowing that the fungus contained in the mold produces an antibiotic that destroys beneficial bacteria in the intestines. The result is dysbacteriosis or, at least, intestinal upset.

As you can see, there are about as many arguments “for” blue cheese as there are “against”. Therefore, focus not only on the volume of your wallet, but also on the state of health. "Gourmet" on health, but wisely!