The Hidden Truth About Cheese That’s Wrecking Women’s Hormones 😳

In this eye-opening episode, Ali uncovers what’s really hiding behind our favorite comfort food—cheese. From the day her husband suffered a stroke to the moment she realized how dairy affects our hormones, this story is part personal transformation and part health revelation.

You’ll learn why cheese is the #1 source of saturated fat in the American diet, how it influences your hormones, cancer risk, and menopause symptoms, and the science-backed reasons why swapping cheese for plants can dramatically change your health.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• 🧀 Why cheese feels so addictive (and how the dairy industry capitalized on that craving).

• 💔 What happened the day of Ali’s husband’s stroke and how it changed everything.

• 🩺 The surprising link between cheese, saturated fat, and heart disease.

• 🔥 How dairy hormones (estrogen, progesterone, IGF-1) affect breast and prostate cancer risk.

• 🌿 The truth about soy vs. dairy hormones—and why soy actually helps balance estrogen.

• ⚖️ Cheese and perimenopause: why cutting it out may reduce hot flashes, mood swings, and midsection weight gain.

• 🧘‍♀️ How to replace cheese in your favorite recipes (and still love your food).

• 🚫 The least healthy cheeses to ditch first—cream cheese, processed cheese, and spreads—and what’s safer if you’re not ready to go fully dairy-free.

Key Takeaways

• Not all fat is created equal: saturated fat fuels disease, while plant fats protect you.

• Cheese isn’t a “whole food”—it’s ultra-processed and calorie-dense with little nutrition.

• Dairy hormones are bioidentical to human hormones, meaning your body reacts as if they were your own.

• Cutting out cheese helps balance hormones naturally, reduces inflammation, and can make menopause easier.

• Soy is not the enemy. It contains phytoestrogens—gentle, plant-based compounds that protect against hormone-related cancers.

Resources & Links

• 📚 How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Greger

• 📚 Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman

• 📚 The Cheese Trap by Dr. Neal Barnard

• 🛳️ Holistic Holiday at Sea Vegan Cruise –tell them PLANTWHYS sent you for a $50 onboard credit: https://holisticholidayatsea.com/a/plantwhys/

• 🌿 Join the PlantWhys Membership: www.plantwhys.com 

• 🍽️ Watch easy plant-based recipes on YouTube: PlantWhys

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:57 Personal Story: A Stroke and a Sandwich

02:02 Transition to Plant-Based Diet

03:18 The Cheese Dilemma

05:32 Health Risks of Cheese

07:21 Healthier Cheese Alternatives

17:28 Hormones and Cheese

25:47 Soy vs. Dairy: The Estrogen Debate

29:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts