For those who are interested in cutting back on saturated fats and need a healthier alternative for cheese, maybe vegan cheese isn’t the way to go after all. Filled with saturated fats and oils make this cheese a not-so-healthy alternative after all!

Plant proteins are used to create thickness in the cheese and things like coconut oil and soy nuts are primary ingredients. Other ingredients include macadamia nuts, peas, arrowroot, and even agar!

The original objective was to get cheese made out of vegetables to look somewhat like cheese from a cow, however vegan cheesemakers realized very soon that this wouldn’t be easy…at all. Imitating the real deal cheesy texture and overall consistency was hard to mimic.

First, plant proteins are separated using bacteria. Then oils and thickeners are added to help create the cheese-like consistency.

The next big thing needed for vegan cheese is time. The vegetable protein and bacteria sit and break down further. Unlike the animal proteins in dairy cheeses, however, those in vegan cheeses don’t naturally bond to one another.

Is Vegan Cheese Healthy?

Yes and no. Recent studies have shown that vegan cheese may lower your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. However beacause vegan cheese is a processed food, its generally higher in sodium.

Vegan Cheese as we know it was primarily made for vegans who simply still want the luxury and happiness that non-vegan cheese creates! Not truly much of a difference in health, unfortunately.