Dieting Secret to Healthy Argentine Cheese
- 14 years ago
Cheese is not usually high on the list of foods for a healthy heart, but one Argentine dairy farm hopes to make cheese that prevents heart disease and cancer.
In this facility, cheese with high levels of conjugated linolec acids is produced. CLA, as it’s called, is an anti-carcinogen that helps fights heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. These properties are achieved without compromising the nutritional value.
[Paula Bertone, Quality Control Head]:
"We get fortified milk where the normal fat is replaced by fatty acids. We are making a product with special features, a low-fat milk that is healthy for the cardiovascular system and has nutritional value."
The cheese is developed at this state-run dairy farm in Chivilcoy, where rounds of cheese are put on large shelves to age and researchers track CLA levels.
[Valeria Cejas, INTI]:
“We evaluate the CLA content in the cheese through chromatic techniques. The bioactive molecules have certain beneficial properties for humans, like the lowering of heart or arterial disease. There are also studies evaluating the probable lowering of cancer cells in prenatal tumors.”
Scientists have lowered fat content with selective breeding and genetic modification in the past, but here Argentine researchers produce their "super milk" by altering the cows’ diet. The animals are fattened on soy feed mixed with sunflower oil before it arrives at the troughs.
The Soy is a by-product of soy production, a slurry that is often thrown away.
[Matias Balan, Project Technical Director]:
"We were able to reduce the saturated fat with high cholesterol and raise the unsaturated fat."
The project is part of a plan to improve the health of Argentines.
[Gerardo Gagliostro, Researcher]:
"It's cheaper to prevent than to cure."
The next step is getting the cheese out on shelves. Project directors hope Argentina will soon be known for its healthy cheese.
In this facility, cheese with high levels of conjugated linolec acids is produced. CLA, as it’s called, is an anti-carcinogen that helps fights heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. These properties are achieved without compromising the nutritional value.
[Paula Bertone, Quality Control Head]:
"We get fortified milk where the normal fat is replaced by fatty acids. We are making a product with special features, a low-fat milk that is healthy for the cardiovascular system and has nutritional value."
The cheese is developed at this state-run dairy farm in Chivilcoy, where rounds of cheese are put on large shelves to age and researchers track CLA levels.
[Valeria Cejas, INTI]:
“We evaluate the CLA content in the cheese through chromatic techniques. The bioactive molecules have certain beneficial properties for humans, like the lowering of heart or arterial disease. There are also studies evaluating the probable lowering of cancer cells in prenatal tumors.”
Scientists have lowered fat content with selective breeding and genetic modification in the past, but here Argentine researchers produce their "super milk" by altering the cows’ diet. The animals are fattened on soy feed mixed with sunflower oil before it arrives at the troughs.
The Soy is a by-product of soy production, a slurry that is often thrown away.
[Matias Balan, Project Technical Director]:
"We were able to reduce the saturated fat with high cholesterol and raise the unsaturated fat."
The project is part of a plan to improve the health of Argentines.
[Gerardo Gagliostro, Researcher]:
"It's cheaper to prevent than to cure."
The next step is getting the cheese out on shelves. Project directors hope Argentina will soon be known for its healthy cheese.