How Is Cottage Cheese Good For You?
Cottage cheese is an excellent source of calcium, B complex vitamins, and vitamin A – all of these contribute to its goodness. The calcium in the cheese can build bone strength and prevent osteoporosis. The B vitamins give energy, and vitamin A does good to your eyes. Well, there’s more to cottage cheese that we need to know.
What Are The Benefits Of Cottage Cheese?
1. Helps Fight Cancer
Cottage cheese is used in the popular Budwig Diet, which is one of the best diets for cancer. The diet primarily includes cottage cheese and flaxseed oil and is known to aid cancer treatment. Cottage cheese is replete with sulfur protein, some healthy saturated fats, and other important nutrients like B vitamins, phosphorus, calcium, and selenium. Fermented products like cottage cheese also offer the beneficial probiotic bacteria, which are known to prevent digestive cancers. The Budwig diet has been found to counter breast cancer as well (1). Other studies also show how the diet had increased mortality among women already battling breast cancer.
2. Cottage Cheese Can Aid Diabetes Treatment
As per the American Diabetes Association, cottage cheese is the best cheese choice one can make. And low-fat cottage cheese is preferable. Cottage cheese is one good source of protein, a nutrient all the more essential for diabetics. It is also a brilliant source of calcium and vitamin D – which is a potent combination for treating diabetes. Studies have shown that women consuming adequate levels of calcium and vitamin D (1,200 mg and 800 IU respectively) daily were 33% less likely to suffer from diabetes.
3. Strengthens Bones
The abundance of calcium keeps cottage cheese quite high on the list of must-haves for bone health. This is another reason it can also aid osteoporosis treatment. And apart from calcium, the cheese also boosts your phosphorus intake. Both the minerals make up hydroxyapatite – which is a mineral that contributes to bone density. Several studies show how the lack of both calcium and phosphorus can be detrimental to the bones (2).
4. Might Boost Digestive Health
The calcium in cottage cheese, surprisingly, can reduce heartburn and prevent an upset stomach. And cottage cheese is one good source of probiotics – which is known to boost digestive health and prevent other related issues like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. But the digestive benefits of cottage cheese may not apply to people who are lactose intolerant. If you are lactose intolerant, we recommend you stay away from cottage cheese and consult your doctor.
5. Might Cut Risk Of Heart Disease
Cottage cheese contains vitamin B12, which is one nutrient known to reduce excess levels of homocysteine. Excessive homocysteine can cause heart problems and other neurological issues, which cottage cheese might prevent. Cottage cheese is also naturally low in fat, which is another reason it might be good for heart health (3). However, more studies are required in this regard. Please consult your doctor before using cottage cheese for this purpose.
6. Cottage Cheese Can Help In Bodybuilding
Cottage cheese is a steady source of muscle-building protein (one cup contains 27 grams of the nutrient). More importantly, the cheese contains casein protein – which gets digested slowly and offers your body a steady supply of important amino acids. And the riboflavin in the cheese helps metabolize protein. It boosts bone health, which is especially important for bodybuilders. Eating cottage cheese before going to bed is one good way to get the protein your muscles need. The cheese also helps prevent muscle cramps, thanks to its natural sodium content. Sodium helps maintain normal body-fluid balance and even works with other electrolytes to improve muscle contractions.
7. Can Aid Weight Loss
The protein in cottage cheese can keep you full, and this means you eat less, which means you have a chance of shedding some pounds in a healthy manner. Some research also suggests that calcium (which cottage cheese is rich in) from dairy foods can stimulate fat-burning and suppress fat accumulation – ultimately helping in weight loss. Cottage cheese is also known for its low calorie content. This is another plus if you want to lose weight.
8. Might Boost Immunity
Though there is very less research on this, some sources link the immune-boosting properties of cottage cheese to its magnesium content. Magnesium activates various bodily enzymes and supports immunity.
9. Can Aid Detoxification
The phosphorus in cottage cheese plays a role here. As per research, phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body, and it works great in eliminating waste. And the probiotics in the cheese repopulate the bowels with healthy bacteria, thereby aiding detoxification.
10. Helps Delay Aging
In some ways, cottage cheese can delay the signs of aging and boost skin and hair health. The cheese is a good source of selenium, which fights flaky skin and dandruff (4). Also, the vitamin E and other antioxidants in the cheese fight free radicals and give you healthier skin. Your skin also needs the amino acid proline to produce collagen. Cottage cheese is a good source of proline, and hence, it aids collagen production.
11. Might Improve Vision
Some research says that increasing our vitamin A and zinc intake can cut the risk of vision loss. Cottage cheese contains both these nutrients and can hence play an important role in protecting your vision. However, more studies are needed to substantiate this.
12. Cottage Cheese Is Beneficial For Pregnant Women
Cottage cheese is rich in protein, vitamin B12, dietary calcium, and phosphorus – all of which are required for pregnant women. But ensure the cheese is made of pasteurized milk as the unpasteurized version contains harmful bacteria that can cause miscarriage in pregnant women (5).
13. Is An Integral Part Of Keto Diet
If you are on a keto diet, full-fat dairy choices are a big YES. As the name suggests, the keto diet is all about achieving ketosis – which is the phenomenon where your body uses up fat for energy instead of glycogen or carbs. This process works great for weight loss and also cuts the risk of several diseases (6). We have seen the benefits of cottage cheese. These could have been quite unexpected, given the negative picture our societies have painted towards cheese and other dairy products. But cottage cheese does have its own benefits, and it’s time we started realizing them. Which takes us to the next section – the nutrients in cottage cheese that make it what it is.
What Is The Nutritional Profile Of Cottage Cheese?
And now, we get to an important debate – is Greek yogurt better than cottage cheese? Can it be a good substitute?
Cottage Cheese Vs. Greek Yogurt
Cottage cheese is higher in calories, but it also contains a higher amount of protein. And though low-fat Greek yogurt has less fat, it contains comparatively less protein. And talking about carbs, both fare the same. While cottage cheese contains a lot of sodium (around 800 milligrams per cup), Greek yogurt contains just about 65. Coming to sugar, Greek yogurt has more of it – so cottage cheese could be a better option for someone trying to avoid sugar. But talking about probiotics, Greek yogurt enjoys the upper hand. And this makes Greek yogurt far easier to be digested as compared to cottage cheese. And in case you are wondering if you should always purchase cottage cheese from the market, we have good news for you.
How To Make Cottage Cheese At Home
A simple process. And all you need is raw milk. You can take half a gallon of raw milk and some salt (for taste). Here’s what you need to do: What are some healthy ways to eat cottage cheese? The following infographic elucidates the major benefits of cottage cheese. Check it out! There are several ways you can incorporate cottage cheese into your diet in a healthy manner:
Have it with your fruit salad. Add it to smoothies. Add it to pancake batter to make cottage cheese pancakes. Stir it into a pasta.
How much cottage cheese can you eat in a day? The recommended daily amounts vary from 25 grams to as much as a bowl. We suggest you talk to your health care provider for the right dosage for you. What are the side effects of excess cottage cheese? As the cheese is a great source of protein, consuming it along with other protein-rich sources can lead to excess protein intake – ultimately resulting in stress on the kidneys and issues with the organs. Also, if you have lactose intolerance, having cottage cheese can lead to allergic reactions and gastrointestinal problems. And given the high amounts of sodium, excess intake of cottage cheese can lead to hypertension, which is not good for the heart as well. How long does cottage cheese last? If kept in the refrigerator, it lasts for 5 to 7 days. In the freezer, cottage cheese can last up to 3 months. Can we feed cottage cheese to dogs? Yes. The calcium and protein in the cheese can be beneficial for your dog. But avoid it in case it develops digestive issues. What is a good substitute for cottage cheese? Plain Greek yogurt can act as a good substitute. Even ricotta cheese or sour cream can do the trick. What mixes well with cottage cheese? Cottage cheese mixes well with both savory flavors and fruits, such as bananas, pineapples, and berries. Olive oil, pinenuts, and basil also make for a healthy snack with it. Is cottage cheese inflammatory? No. However, its consumption may cause inflammation if you are allergic to casein. Does cottage cheese boost metabolism? A 2014 study confirms that consumption of casein before sleep may boost next-morning metabolism in young men (7). Can cottage cheese cause gas? No, it is good for digestive health. However, its consumption may cause bloating and gas if you are lactose intolerant.
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