Cottage Cheese: Are There Health Benefits? (2024)

FAQs

Cottage Cheese: Are There Health Benefits? ›

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein and contains relatively few calories. It's also packed with many nutrients, such as B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium.

Is cottage cheese healthy? Cottage cheese is low in calories while providing protein and vital nutrients, Zumpano says, making it one of the healthiest cheeses you can eat. It's made by curdling pasteurized (sterilized) cow's milk — when milk turns acidic, the milk protein separates and forms curds (clumps).

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of calcium, a mineral that plays a major role in tooth and bone health, and in the prevention of osteoporosis. It also helps you to regulate your blood pressure and might even play a role in preventing certain cancers, such as prostate cancer.

Is cottage cheese or yogurt better for you? Both cottage cheese and yogurt are excellent options for a healthy snack. Snodgrass finds it hard to choose, but she thinks there may be a slight winner. “Cottage cheese does however have a modest advantage in terms of a little less sugar than yogurt.

Consuming cottage cheese and other dairy products may have a beneficial effect on the gut microbiota. This is the collective term for organisms that live inside the digestive tract and serve numerous functions, including: harvesting energy from food.

A 2021 study of 35,352 postmenopausal women published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reported a connection between higher intakes of dairy foods (including cottage cheese) and lower levels of CRP and IL-6. The same study revealed that eating yogurt was linked to a drop in type 2 diabetes risk.

The calcium in cottage cheese can help strengthen your bones

Reading the label of a well known cottage cheese brand, a half-cup serving yields 10% of your calcium needs for the day. Double that to a full cup, and you're doing your bones some good.

Cottage cheese contains more protein than two eggs.

And that's just the protein in a personal-size cup of the stuff (5.3 oz)—in that size, those wannabe trendy cottage cheeses are weighing in at 16 to 19 grams of protein; eggs have about 6 g each.

It's high in many nutrients, including protein, B vitamins, and minerals like calcium, selenium, and phosphorus. If you're looking to lose weight or build muscle, cottage cheese is among the most beneficial foods you can eat.

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese, and other food high in lean protein, contain the amino acid tryptophan, which can increase your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a brain chemical which low levels of it can contribute to insomnia. To sweeten it up, add a handful of raspberries on top, which are a rich source of melatonin.

Is cottage cheese good for your liver? ›

Best cheeses to include in a healthy diet are low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese or mozzarella cheese made with skim milk. There are also other varieties of cheese that are available as low fat and fat-free.

We won't dive deep into the nutrition, but it's worth noting that the cultures found in fermented foods, such as cultured cottage cheese, are considered probiotics, or good bacteria says Chef Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, FAND. Research points to their potential benefit in keeping our gut microbiome healthy.

Plain yogurt and cottage cheese both fall in the camp of healthier processed foods. “This often overlooked gem is one of my daily staples.

Cottage cheese is a great addition to a healthy eating pattern because it is low in calories, fat and carbs while being high in protein. Even the full fat version (which we love) only has 4% milk fat, compared to 36% milk fat found in cheddar cheese. One note of caution; cottage is quite high in sodium.

The salt in cottage cheese not only enhances flavor but also contributes to texture and functions as a preservative.

With its modest amount of carbohydrates per serving, around five grams, and no added sugar, plain cottage cheese is a sensible choice for people who need to monitor their blood sugar. Again, because of its ample protein content, which slows digestion, it helps to promote blood sugar control while preventing spikes.