Is this even real cheese? It's up to the experts to say what they think.
Nothing beats a slice or two of American cheese when it comes to topping a burger or creating the ideal grilled cheese. For decades, this popular sandwich essential has graced cookouts, family meals, and quick snacks, but it has also earned lots of criticism due to fewer ingredients.
According to Jay Cowin, ASYSTEM's registered nutritionist and director of formulations, "American 'cheese' isn't truly cheese." "It is recognized as a 'cheese product' because it includes fewer than 51% cheese curds. The remaining ingredients, including preservatives, whey, and other additives, give the product unnaturally long shelf life."
Because of the added salt, the product is certain to raise blood pressure, making it an especially dangerous dairy product to consume in excess.
Cowin stated, "The substance that makes up this cheese product has been demonstrated to be hazardous to your health." "Aside from being roughly 60 calories per slice, they're also heavy in sodium. High blood pressure, hypertension, and heart disease can result from all of this. The danger is that you believe you're eating something healthy when, in reality, you're doing more harm to your body. Processed foods should be avoided. If anything appears to be too good to be true, it almost certainly is."
According to Diana Gariglio-Clelland, Next Luxury's RD, the largest risk we face while eating American cheese is higher blood pressure due to the food's sodium content.
"[American cheese] is manufactured from real cheese that has been processed to give it a creamy texture and a lower melting point," Gariglio-Clelland explains. "Processed goods, including American cheese, are the most common causes of excess salt in the ordinary American diet. The salt content of one ounce of American cheese is 468 milligrams or around 19 percent of the recommended amount. In comparison, one ounce of cheddar cheese has only 174 milligrams of salt or about 7% of the daily recommended intake "Unbelievable."
"It's suggested that you don't consume more than 2,300 milligrams of salt per day," adds Gariglio-Clelland, "yet the average American consumes more than 3,400 milligrams per day." "High blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart disease can all be increased by too much sodium in the diet. When you eat too much salt, your body holds on to extra water, putting more strain on your heart and kidneys by raising your blood pressure."
When in doubt, choose all-natural cheese with no fillers. The next time you make the perfect cheeseburger or grilled cheese—your body will thank you.