Cottage cheese provides several amazing benefits that you may not have realized existed. Cottage cheese is much more than a tasty snack because it provides several essential nutritional benefits. It is tough to beat in comparison to other foods and what they offer nutritionally to the body. Cottage cheese is not a perfect food because nothing really is, but it does offer a lot as you will see below.

Protein:

We discussed the benefits of cottage cheese protein in the previous post so we won't go into great detail on this topic. However, the biggest benefit of cottage cheese protein is the casein protein packed into every bit. Casein is a protein found in milk. This protein sticks in the body for a long time, which helps keep the body full for a long time. A cup of protein has an amazing amount of protein. There are roughly 28 grams in a cup, giving a person about half  their recommended daily value. The protein content is comparable to the protein content in some meats. 

Calcium:

A half cup of cottage cheese provides about 10 percent of your daily calcium. Calcium is important because it help build bones and keep them strong. This is especially true for younger people who store bone mass for later use when the body is no longer producing it. 

Calories:

If you eat fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese, the calories are very low in comparison to other foods. A cup of fat-free cottage cheese only has about 105 calories and a cup of 1 percent cottage cheese only has roughly 160 calories. A cup of cottage cheese is a lot to eat if you have ever had a serving of it. It will fill most people up, yet the calories are very low for what you get.

B-Vitamins

Cottage cheese is packed with B vitamins, which help with many functions of the body. 

Probiotics

Some cottage cheese products have probiotics, which are good bacteria that are found naturally in the body. Probiotics help fend off the bad bacteria, creating a healthier body. The benefits to consuming probiotics include the following: 

• Strengthen immune system
• Assist in alleviating irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
• Alleviate diarrhea symptoms
• Aid in allergy relief 
• Help fend off urinary tract infections
• Assist in preventing yeast infections

Conclusion

Cottage cheese is definitely a     good food     with limited downsides like high sodium and cholesterol. The benefits well outweigh the downsides. Although cottage cheese is probably not a top food you would think of as a health food, it is one to consider on your next grocery trip. 

    Cottage Cheese Protein

Cottage cheese is an excellent source for protein. Generally, there are about 14 grams of protein per half cup of cottage cheese. Adults need between 45-55 grams of protein per day. Men being on the higher end of the requirement than women. By eating a cup of cottage cheese, you can acheive approximately half of your protein requirement. Furthermore, cottage cheese contains casein protein. This type of protein sticks in the body for a long time after ingestion. Because it takes so long to digest, it will keep a person satisifed for much longer than many other foods. This will help eliminate the need to grab that extra snack between meals. Additionally, Casein helps feed the body with protein to help feed and heal the muscles, among other things.

Cottage cheese is an amazing food because it is low in carbs, low in calories for low-fat varieties, and as stated above, it is high in protein. While cottage cheese may not be your goto food source, it should be reconsidered as one of your staple foods. If you don't care for the taste, it can always be mixed with fruit or added as an ingredient in many recipes.

Photo Source: Flickr - dawnnakaya

 Easy Way to Make Cottage Cheese

1.  1 1/2 Liters of whole milk cooked over high heat
2. Bring to a boil
3. Add 1/4 cup vinegar and stir. Curds will form. 
4. Drain in a colander and press the whey (liquid) out with a spatula while the curds sit in the colander. 
5. Add buttermilk or cream and salt to create a store bought cottage cheese texture (not in video)

1. It is cheap. A large 24 ounce container will cost you less than $3.00. Organic may cost a bit more. 

2. Protein Packed - There are about 12 grams of protein in 1/2 cup of cottage cheese. Eat one cup of cottage cheese and you have a protein amount equivalent to some meats. 

3. Low Calories - Fat-free cottage cheese has around 105 calories per cup. Low-fat 1% cottage cheese has about 160 calories per cup. It is tough to beat that given the serving size.  

4. Low-carbs - Cottage cheese has approximately 10 or less carbohydrates per cup. It is considered a low-carb food. 

5. High Calcium - Cottage cheese is a dairy product so it is naturally high in calcium. with about 10 percent of your daily recommended value per 1/2 cup. 

6. Uses - Cottage cheese has many uses. It can be used as a substitute for other cheeses like ricotta, mixed with fruit, used in lasagna, mixed in with scrambled eggs, and much more. 

Thank you for visiting Cottage Cheese Paradise. We love cottage cheese (obviously) and we hope to share what we know about it. You can read new posts on this blog via the RSS feed.