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.

🧀 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.

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.

📚 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