Cottage cheese

It is believed that the ancient Romans had prototypes of cottage cheese. Today cottage cheese is present in many national cuisines of the world. In some countries it is considered one of the varieties of cheese, and in others it is considered a separate product. It is actively used in medical nutrition and in all kinds of diets. But how do you know what the benefits and harms of cottage cheese are? However, first things first.

Composition and calorie content

In many ways, the chemical composition depends on the fat content of the product, as well as its calorie content. Calorie numbers are approximately as follows:

Fat contains 226 kcal per 100g.
In bold – 156.
Low-fat – 86 kcal.
Low-fat cottage cheese contains 70 kcal.

It is worth noting that cottage cheese with 19% fat per 100g is considered fat, semi-fat - 1-18%, low-fat - maximum 3%. Carbohydrates here are represented by lactose, proteins contain from 14 to 18 g. The vitamin composition of cottage cheese is also rich. Yes, here we have:

retinol;
beta-carotene;
riboflavin;
thiamine;
nicotinic acid;
tocopherol (exclusively in fatty cottage cheese);
ascorbine;
cyanocobalamin (where fat content is high);
folic acid (absent in low-fat cottage cheese).

The mineral composition of the dairy product is also luxurious. Yes, here we have:

iron;
calcium (cottage cheese is one of the record holders for its content);
sodium;
phosphorus in large quantities;
magnesium;
zinc (only in fatty cottage cheese);
potassium;
fluorine (only in fatty forms);
copper (only in fatty cottage cheese).

Useful properties of cottage cheese

One of the main advantages of cottage cheese is that it is digested easily and quickly, because this product lacks both cellular and tissue structure, which distinguishes it from animal proteins. Not only are there a lot of proteins, but they are also well balanced due to their denaturation. In addition, casein itself is easier to digest than animal proteins. When consuming cottage cheese, much less gastric juice, enzymes and hydrochloric acid are released than when consuming other fermented milk products.

There is also a lot of methionine, that is, an essential amino acid that has a lipotropic effect. Methionine not only lowers the level of “bad” cholesterol, but also prevents the development of fatty liver. This problem can occur, for example, when taking certain medications and when the body is exposed to strong toxins. When taking anabolic steroids to treat certain ailments, you must eat this dairy product.

Another value of it lies in the abundance of calcium, which, like proteins, is easily absorbed by the body. And it's not just bones, hair, nails and teeth. This fermented milk product is a medicine for the treatment of rickets and ailments of the musculoskeletal system; after fractures, in addition, it restores cartilage tissue. It also has a positive effect on nerve tissue.

This product is simply necessary for diseases of the heart, blood vessels, blood and hematopoiesis. Cottage cheese must be included in diets for the treatment of liver diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and tuberculosis.

As a dietary product, it is also used in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. These include ordinary gastritis, ulcers, intestinal ailments, pancreatitis, and all diseases of the gallbladder or liver. In addition, the product also helps remove excess urine from the body, so it is recommended not only for hypertension, but also for diabetes and kidney diseases, as well as for all kinds of edema.

But traditional medicine has come up with a way to use it externally. So, for bronchitis and pneumonia, it is recommended to make a honey-curd compress at night. He is laid on his back and secured with paper and warm cloth.

Homemade cottage cheese. Benefit for health.

One of the most valuable components that cottage cheese has is calcium, which, when consumed, is very easily absorbed by the human body.

For people lacking calcium, cottage cheese is a must for daily consumption. It can be fully called a product for health and longevity, and this would not be an exaggeration.

Regular consumption of this fermented milk product very quickly affects the strength of teeth. Caries makes itself felt less and less, and the help of a dentist is needed less and less.

In addition, a person’s bones are strengthened, and this significantly reduces the risk of injury from an awkward twist of the leg or a fall in ice. In such cases, instead of a fracture, there may be a bruise or sprain, and this is a much lesser evil and its consequences are quickly eliminated.

If you previously did not attach due importance to cottage cheese, then by including it in your daily diet, in a few weeks you will notice how strong your nails and hair have become, which react very painfully to the lack of certain substances and microelements in the body, acting as a kind of indicator.

Therefore, if you experience problems with hair and nails that quickly break and split, then regular consumption of cottage cheese will relieve these troubles.

Regular consumption of cottage cheese has a beneficial effect on some important metabolic processes, which improves the conductivity of nerve impulses in the body, and also normalizes osmotic processes in cells. This process allows the retention of useful substances in the cell and ensures the conduction of other substances through its membrane.

This means that the cells become healthier, which consequently affects the overall condition and health of the person. As a result, the exchange of useful substances in the body improves and this leads to an overall rejuvenating effect of the whole body.

Scientists have noticed that eating cottage cheese has a preventive effect on the occurrence of cancer.

Firstly, having the property of quickly absorbing calcium into the human body, it helps remove free radicals from it. It is the increase in free radicals that leads to the occurrence of cancerous tumors, and preventing or neutralizing this process fully counteracts the occurrence of cancerous tumors.

The intake of this fermented milk product into the body has a regulatory effect on the process of phagocytosis of cancer cells. What does this mean? The immune system contains cells such as phagocytes, which search for foreign cells in the body. Once phagocytes find such cells, they use receptors to bind to them and then engulf these foreign cells. This absorption process takes from 8 to 10 minutes.

After the immune system soldier has absorbed the foreign cell, it is attacked by aggressive digestive enzymes that lead to the neutralization of the cell. Figuratively speaking, she dies. Thus, cottage cheese provides a kind of cancer prevention.

Treatment and prevention of other diseases For everyone who suffers from cardiovascular diseases and for those who want to prevent the occurrence of such diseases, cottage cheese must be included in the daily diet.

Firstly, its use has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle.

Secondly, its beneficial substances make blood vessels stronger. And finally, thirdly, blood clotting processes are normalized.

Harm of cottage cheese

An ideal product for a diet can in some cases cause harm. For example, it is definitely not suitable for people who are lactose intolerant. It is not recommended to abuse this product if you have kidney problems: there are too many proteins that load this paired organ.

Fatty types of cottage cheese are not recommended for those who suffer from excess weight or atherosclerosis. Well, of course, it is forbidden to eat spoiled cottage cheese that has expired: store-bought cottage cheese does not exceed 5 days, home-made cottage cheese does not exceed a day and a half. Delay can cause intestinal infections.

Types of cottage cheese

Varieties of cottage cheese differ not only in fat content, but also in other criteria. So, according to the method of preparation, cottage cheese can be divided into two types:

Acid-rennet, in the production of which pepsin (rennet enzymes can be used) and lactic acid bacteria, or more precisely, their starter cultures, are used.
Acid. Here, only starter cultures are used for protein coagulation. It is usually made from skim milk.

Low-fat cottage cheese: benefits and harms

Low-fat cottage cheese is no less healthy than any other. There is phosphorus, and calcium, and proteins. But there are also some subtleties.

It cannot actively harm your health, but a reduced percentage of fat makes it less possible to fully absorb that same calcium and proteins. Thus, calcium is poorly absorbed without fat-soluble vitamins, which are almost absent in this product. And finally, there is not much cephalin and lecithin, which are involved in many processes in the body, for example, in the transmission of nerve impulses.

In addition, the taste of such cottage cheese is not very expressive. It's not terrible, but manufacturers improve it with the help of nutritional supplements. Not all of them are useful.

Albumin curd: benefits and harms

This is a secondary raw material for cheese making; it is prepared from cheese whey and enriched with protein albumin. There are no fats, only 2 g of carbohydrates, but a dozen and a half types of microelements and macroelements. The product is easily digestible and has a positive effect on metabolism and immunity. Helps eliminate cholesterol and maintain water-salt metabolism, ideal for overweight people.

It can be harmful if it is expired, or for people with kidney problems: in this case, its amount is reduced to 400 g per day.

Grain cottage cheese: benefits and harms

Its benefits and harms are identical to any other type of cottage cheese, but it deteriorates more slowly than regular cottage cheese and is larger in volume. However, you should not joke with the shelf life of the product.

Frozen cottage cheese: benefits and harms

When frozen, this product does not lose its beneficial and harmful properties, but it must be frozen and thawed correctly:

The “correct” freezing temperature is 18 degrees below zero.
You need to freeze in small portions; you cannot use plastic bags.
Can be stored for up to two months.
It is better to defrost in the refrigerator - this will take about half a day, but this way you will not lose the beneficial properties of the product.
After defrosting, lightly squeeze the product.
It is better not to freeze cheese masses and sweet curds.

Goat cottage cheese: benefits and harms

This product is distinguished by a large amount of vitamins B 2 and B12, rich in magnesium and copper. In terms of the amount of protein, it is close to meat, but has less calories. The product is required for use by patients with osteoporosis.

It can only become harmful if consumed in excess: there are a lot of saturated fatty acids, and they lead to excess weight gain. Abuse of the product can also lead to increased cholesterol levels.

Homemade cottage cheese: benefits and harms

If you made cottage cheese with your own hands, then you are confident in the quality of the products from which it was prepared. And this is a big plus. Homemade cottage cheese is no less healthy than store-bought options.

But it can be harmful if the expiration date has long expired. It can be stored for only 36 hours. Spoiled cottage cheese can cause vomiting and nausea.

Cottage cheese from powdered milk: benefits and harms

Powdered milk, and therefore cottage cheese made from it, retains all its beneficial properties. The only peculiarity is that the product reduces fat content.

Harm is only possible if low-quality powdered milk or its dubious substitutes were used during preparation.

Cooking methods at home

For preparation, you can use fresh, steamed or slightly sour milk. When using the latter, it must be boiled to destroy all harmful bacteria.

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Features of protein foods

The volume of the dishes should be greater than the volume of milk. You need to add starter, kefir or yogurt to it: for 3 liters of milk - 200 ml of starter.

Classic cooking method

You need to add a pinch of salt or 0.5 liters of kefir to fresh milk and leave it overnight in a warm place for the souring process to begin. The next morning you will get kefir from the milk, which will then turn into cottage cheese. The resulting kefir is placed on low heat and brought to a boil, stirring constantly. It is recommended not to overcook, otherwise the dairy product will become hard.

It is better not to overcook the curd mass and leave it for another 30 minutes on a warm stove, giving it time to “risen”. After this, it is drained through a colander and cottage cheese is obtained.

In the bank

This method can be used to produce cottage cheese from sour milk, but it is not recommended for use by young children or people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or other organs.

The milk must be poured into a glass jar and left in a warm place until it sours. Next, you need to heat the jar in a water bath and wait until the whey separates from the curd mass. After this, remove the jar and leave for 30-40 minutes in a warm room. All subsequent steps are similar to the previous recipe.

In a slow cooker

Add any souring agent (sour cream, kefir, whey, salt) to fresh milk, mix and leave at room temperature for half an hour. Next, pour the resulting seven into the multicooker bowl, select the “Heating” function and leave for three hours. After they have expired, drain the product in a colander and put it in the refrigerator.

With sour cream sourdough

The jar of milk is placed in a tall pan filled with water and heated in a water bath. Then take out the jar, add sour cream to the milk and mix. Transfer the jar to any place at room temperature and leave for two days. After the curdled milk has formed (rising air bubbles will appear), the contents of the jar should be placed back in the bath and maintained over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Next, strain the curdled milk through cheesecloth, tie it in a bag and hang it over a bowl for several hours, getting rid of excess liquid.

To make cheese we need the following ingredients:

0.5 kg of cottage cheese;
0.5 liters of milk;
salt to taste (maximum one teaspoon);
0.5 tsp. soda;
one chicken egg;
25 g butter.

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Now let's look at the procedure:

Milk at room temperature is poured into the pan, cottage cheese is added, then mixed and placed on the stove.
Cook the mixture on low for about five minutes, stirring occasionally and waiting for the whey to separate.
Then the cottage cheese is thrown into a colander, having previously covered its bottom with several layers of gauze.
In a separate bowl, mix the egg, salt and soda and mix thoroughly.
At the same time, melt a piece of butter in a frying pan.
Pour the egg mixture into the frying pan, mix thoroughly and add cottage cheese. Cook the mixture over low heat for 5-7 minutes, remembering to stir and rub out any lumps that arise.
Next, the resulting homogeneous mixture is transferred to a container and left at room temperature until completely cooled. Then put in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

Combination with other products

Cottage cheese goes well with both sweet and cinnamon. But we will talk about the most famous combinations.

With honey. Cottage cheese and honey are good because they give the body an unlimited amount of vitamins, microelements and macroelements and help the immune system function.

Harm is only possible if the honey is of poor quality, you are allergic to it, or you overuse honey: this is also excess sugar in the blood.

With sour cream. Together they will not only provide even the most growing organism with calcium, but are generally capable of much. Sour cream is very rich in useful elements, including biotin, beta-carotene, phospholipids, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and potassium. This dish is simply necessary for young children whose musculoskeletal system and teeth are developing.

Since sour cream is rich in fat, it is better to limit it to people who are prone to obesity and suffering from vascular diseases.

Cottage cheese with flaxseed oil. These are products made for each other. Flaxseed oil is a luxurious source of linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids. Proteins allow them to be better absorbed. And the acids themselves help the rapid absorption of all the beneficial substances from the cottage cheese. This mixture will help you lose weight and normalize the functioning of the female genitourinary system.

Harm is possible if you have chronic pancreatitis or cholecystitis. The mixture is not recommended for “female” cancer diseases. Well, the oil must be fresh.

Cottage cheese with sugar or jam. Here we are talking about improving the taste of cottage cheese. And if the jam is fruit, which means some vitamins, then sugar will only add calories and cause weight gain. But you can replace them with dried fruits or marmalade.

The benefits of cottage cheese for women and pregnant women.

In addition to cardiovascular diseases, cottage cheese helps prevent diseases of the reproductive system in both men and women. It is needed to get rid of impotence and frigidity, and if a woman has an irregular menstrual cycle, then regular consumption of this fermented milk product eliminates menstrual irregularities.

As for the female body specifically, cottage cheese must be consumed during pregnancy. This will provide her body with the necessary amount of calcium and prevent it (the body) from destroying organs and systems that are highly dependent on the presence of calcium.

Sometimes you can hear the expression that the child ate all his mother’s teeth. This refers to the fact that while carrying a child, the woman experienced a lack of calcium, which negatively affected the condition of her teeth.

In addition to the health of the woman in labor, consumption of cottage cheese has a beneficial effect on the development of the fetus itself, as well as its immunity, improves the formation of its nervous system and intellect, laying the foundation for the harmonious development of the child.

Cottage cheese helps improve anti-inflammatory processes, helps cope with allergic reactions and seasonal allergies such as hay fever, eliminates local swelling and inflammatory diseases.

Its constant use allows you to cope with diseases of weak immunity, has a generally strengthening effect on it and increases the body’s ability to withstand adverse factors, including infectious diseases.

For intellectual workers (and not only for them), it is necessary to know and take into account that cottage cheese, when consumed regularly, improves mental activity, activates it, and increases intellectual abilities. Since, as mentioned above, it has a beneficial effect on the transmission of nerve impulses through nerve fibers, its use calms the nervous system and improves the functioning of the cerebral cortex. As a result, a person’s memory improves greatly.

In addition to brain function, cottage cheese prevents corneal clouding and stimulates good vision. In general, if we take all the positive effects that a person receives from eating cottage cheese, then we can characterize it as a product of health and longevity.

In addition to all of the above, it is necessary to eliminate the consequences of fractures, osteoporosis, ulcers and burns. Its use improves the functioning of the digestive system, helps in the treatment of bronchitis and bronchial asthma, heart failure, tachycardia, epilepsy and paralysis.

Due to the fact that cottage cheese is a storehouse of calcium, it triggers rejuvenation processes in the human body, eliminating premature aging in it. In the female body, these processes are triggered more strongly than in the male body.

You can read about the dangers of a lack of calcium in the body in the article “Lack of calcium in the body.” In this article you will learn about the signs, symptoms, treatment of calcium deficiency and where to find it in food.

Cottage cheese for weight loss

Cottage cheese is an important component of many protein (and not only) diets. It fills you up perfectly and prevents you from eating too much. But you shouldn’t abuse it - an excess of protein leads to serious metabolic disorders and liver diseases.

conclusions

Cottage cheese is a product that can easily be called a superfood. There is a sea of minerals and vitamins, as well as protein, which is easily digestible. But all this applies only to high-quality cottage cheese. In addition, you should not abuse it. And finally, you should not choose the most low-fat types: this way you deprive yourself of many vitamins.