Packed with proteins, the cottage cheese can form the basis of a meal or may be used as a dip or turned into a pasta sauce. Commercially manufactured cottage cheese is more often than not loaded with salt and saturated fat; however, if you opt for no-salt and low-fat cottage cheese, you can gain its wonderful nutritional benefits without the downside.
Cottage cheese makes an excellent high-protein breakfast, especially when added to banana and oatmeal. Cottage cheese blends well with tomatoes, bell peppers, avocadoes or apples, raisins and cinnamon. You could make a casserole with rice, and peas, carrots, onions and beans, and stir in some cottage cheese for a complete meal.
It is perhaps the most versatile type of cheese around; it can be eaten by itself or may be added to savory and / or sweet foods. Adding cottage cheese to other foods raises the protein content without increasing the number of calories substantially.
It gets its name because it was manufactured in cottages as a way to use up any leftover milk.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Eating Cottage Cheese?
- Cottage cheese is low in calories and carbohydrates and high in protein. Because of this excellent nutrition combination, cottage cheese is very popular with those who wish to lose weight and maintain a good body contour. It is particularly popular with body builders and weight lifters.
- Cottage cheese comes in various fat content categories – from fat free to 4 % fat, and a serving of cottage cheese may range from 60 – 120 calories. Cottage cheese is good for your heart and blood vessels, compared to other cheeses. It does not block the arteries, as is common with many other types of cheese.
- What’s more, cottage cheese provides a substantial amount of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 helps clear away homocysteine, a by-product of metabolism, which, if found in large amounts in the blood can lead to cardiovascular disorders.
- It is loaded with good quality protein; and is good for building muscles. Beginning your day with cottage cheese pancakes or combing cottage cheese with salad, for breakfast is recommended by most nutritionists.
Nutritional Value Of Cottage Cheese
- Cottage cheese provides our body with all the essential amino acids that are necessary for it to qualify as a complete protein. In fact, the cottage cheese is one of the best non meat sources of protein. One cup of cottage cheese provides 23 grams of protein, which is about 40 % of the recommended everyday intake of protein.
- Cottage cheese is packed with calcium; this helps strengthen the bones as well as increase bone density considerably. Calcium is also very important for normal muscle contractions. 1 cup of cottage cheese provides you with approximately 18 % of the recommended daily intake of calcium.
- Cottage cheese has casein, thus, making it a high satiety food. Since it is filling, even one serving can be quite satisfying. It helps you to stay fuller for longer; wards off hunger pangs; thus aiding in maintaining an ideal body weight.
- Cottage cheese is a very good source of vitamin B12; 1 cup gives you 38 % of the recommended daily intake.