The benefits of cottage cheese for the body. The benefits of cottage cheese in the nutrition of nursing women

When exactly people first extracted cottage cheese from milk and tasted its amazing taste, there is no exact information, but ancient treatises tell us that our ancestors consumed this very tasty dairy product and even used the benefits of cottage cheese for medicinal purposes.

The food industry offers consumers a wide range of cottage cheese and curd products. Cottage cheese is a fermented milk product and is produced by fermenting whole milk and separating the whey. The remaining mass after this process is cottage cheese.

Cottage cheese is produced from various dairy raw materials, from natural and normalized, reconstituted and recombined milk, from a mix of dairy products. It is divided according to fat content from 1.8 to 25% (there is also completely low-fat) and according to the quality of the raw materials. Milk for cottage cheese is used both pasteurized and whole.

The most useful beyond any classification is considered homemade cottage cheese. It is made from curdled milk by heating it in a water bath. The protein is separated from the whey and the curd mass is placed under a press in a gauze bag.

Composition and calorie content

Cottage cheese contains many substances beneficial to the body:

minerals: phosphorus (27.5%), calcium (16.4%), potassium (4.5%), iron (2.2%), magnesium (5.8%), sodium (3.2%);

amino acids (choline and methionine);

vitamins of groups A (8.9%) and B (19.4%);

vitamin PP (15.9%);

casein is a unique milk protein;

lactic acid bacteria.

The energy value (calorie content) of cottage cheese is 155.3 kcal. 100 g of product contains 16.7 g protein, 9 g fat and 2 g carbohydrates.

9 beneficial properties of cottage cheese

1. Replenishes the body with protein

   Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein; on average, 100 grams of this product contains from 14 to 18 percent protein. Moreover, unlike products of animal origin (meat, fish or poultry), the structure of cottage cheese does not consist of fabric fibers. Therefore, the body easily absorbs and digests curd flakes, receiving the required amount of protein - the most important component for the healthy development of all tissues of the body.

2. Strengthens bone tissue

   Regular consumption of cottage cheese will allow you to forget about visits to traumatologists and dentists for a long time. Due to its high calcium content, cottage cheese strengthens bone tissue, minimizing the risk of bone fractures. In addition, by adding this healing product to your daily diet, you can strengthen your teeth and protect them from the development of caries.

3. Improves liver health

   Cottage cheese contains the essential amino acid methionine, which is an excellent fat burner. It protects the liver from obesity, which can develop due to increased cholesterol levels or the negative effects of certain medications or dangerous toxins on the liver. In addition, doctors recommend consuming at least 300 grams of cottage cheese daily for people undergoing antibiotic treatment.

4. The benefits of cottage cheese for women and children

   Thanks to its rich composition, cottage cheese is extremely useful for pregnant women and nursing mothers. It replenishes the body with calcium and other micro- and macroelements that a woman loses during pregnancy, and has a beneficial effect on the development of the fetus itself. It is recommended to give low-fat cottage cheese to young children from the age of five to seven months. The product promotes the growth and development of all tissues of the body, especially necessary for the formation of bones.

5. Benefits of cottage cheese for older people

   Due to its high calcium content, regular consumption of cottage cheese protects older people from the development of osteoporosis, the main symptom of which is brittle bones, and also strengthens teeth. The iron in cottage cheese improves blood circulation, potassium and magnesium stabilize the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and a complex of vitamins helps improve brain activity.

6. Improves digestion

   Cottage cheese is included in the diet of people with various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: peptic ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, etc. It is very easily digested and does not “load” the stomach, and the lactic acid bacteria it contains improve intestinal motility. But for these purposes it is best to use non-acidic cottage cheese with a minimum fat content.

7. As a diuretic

   Due to the presence of calcium salts in cottage cheese, it has a pronounced diuretic effect. Due to this, it is successfully used to treat kidney diseases and hypertension. In addition, cottage cheese is used in dietary nutrition to remove excess fluid from the body, and those who want to lose a couple of extra pounds even arrange “curd” fasting days.

8. For healthy skin, hair and nails

   Thanks to the beneficial properties of cottage cheese, its regular addition to the diet improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails. But besides eating, this healing product is also used at home in the form of masks for the face, décolleté, hands and scalp. It is also included in many skin and hair care cosmetics. In addition, sunburns are successfully treated with cottage cheese compresses.

9. Prevention of cancer

   Scientific studies have shown that eating cottage cheese prevents the occurrence of cancer. Thanks to the rapid saturation of the body with calcium, cottage cheese helps eliminate free radicals, which are the main cause of cancer development. In addition, this fermented milk product promotes the phagocytosis of cancer cells. What does this mean? The human immune system uses special cells called phagocytes, which track cancer cells and engulf them. After such absorption, the phagocyte must be neutralized. This is where cottage cheese comes in handy, as it promotes the breakdown of such cells by active digestive enzymes.

The benefits and harms of low-fat cottage cheese

There is an opinion that low-fat cottage cheese is not as tasty and healthy as full-fat cottage cheese, and does not have the same range of beneficial properties, since when defatting, all the most valuable things were removed from it. This opinion is wrong.

In its composition, low-fat cottage cheese is not inferior to fatty cottage cheese. It contains the same vitamin group B, C and D, only vitamin A becomes less when defatted, since it is fat-soluble and is excreted along with fat. The minerals in the cottage cheese are preserved, only the percentage of fat content of the product decreases.

Low-fat cottage cheese brings the same benefits as other types of cheese. Calcium strengthens the skeletal system, potassium improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, vitamins strengthen the immune system.

The only drawback of low-fat cottage cheese is that it has a low percentage of calcium absorption, but this in no way means that cottage cheese is harmful. Experts say that for normal absorption of calcium by the body, cottage cheese must be not less than 9% fat content.

Low-fat cottage cheese can be harmful to the body only if a person is on a strict diet and eats only low-fat cottage cheese, without consuming any other foods.

Contraindications to the use of cottage cheese

Cottage cheese brings great benefits to human health, but due to the ignorance and carelessness of the consumer, it can also cause harm. There are some contraindications for consuming low-fat cottage cheese; below are some of them.

1. People with individual intolerance to the product should avoid cottage cheese.
2. Cottage cheese can be harmful to the body if you consume a product that has expired.
3. During the industrial production of cottage cheese, its composition may include various chemical additives to increase shelf life and improve taste, but they can be very harmful, so you need to choose cottage cheese with a minimum content of foreign substances.
4. Natural cottage cheese, on the contrary, has a very short shelf life and should be used within two to three days and stored only in the refrigerator.
5. An overdose of cottage cheese is also harmful, like any other product. Its excess can negatively affect the normal functioning of the kidneys.

Otherwise there are no contraindications. Cottage cheese can be consumed by all people at any age, but only fresh and in moderation.

What else is useful?

A tasty and healthy dairy product is cottage cheese. Doctors advise adults and children to eat it, and the number of recipes is very large. But is cottage cheese as healthy as it is believed? Cottage cheese is a fermented milk product obtained by fermenting milk and removing the whey.

Traditionally it is classified by fat content:

• Fat (19-23%);
• Classic (4-18%);
• Bold (low fat) (1.8%)
• Low fat (less than 1%)

But this product can be classified as factory-made or home-made, from naturalized or natural raw materials.

In the human diet, it can act either in its pure form or as an ingredient for dishes such as cheesecakes, pies, casseroles, and dumplings. In addition, various types of cheese are made from it.

The nutritional value

The nutritional value, calorie content, properties and benefits of cottage cheese depend on the fat content. For a factory product, the standard protein content is 16 g, fat - 9 g, carbohydrates - 2 g per 100 grams, in semi-fat and low-fat these indicators decrease, and in fat - they increase.

In addition, this dairy product contains a large number of microelements:

• potassium (112 mg)
• sodium (41 mg)
• calcium (164 mg)
• phosphorus (22 mg)
• magnesium (23 mg)
• iron (0.4 mg)

Cottage cheese also contains a large amount of vitamins - B2, C, B1, A, PP. The energy value and properties depend on its type. The norm is the following calorie content per 100 grams:

• fatty – 2260 calories;
• classic – 1560 calories;
• bold – 860 calories;
• low fat – 700 calories.

Vitamin E, vitamin B12, folic acid, zinc and fluoride are present in small quantities only in full-fat cottage cheese

Useful video No. 1:

The role of cottage cheese in therapeutic nutrition

Cottage cheese is included in the diet and diet - both for treatment and for the purpose of weight loss. The value and benefits of this dairy product depend mainly on the large amount of protein. And thanks to denaturation processes, this protein is easily broken down, which makes cottage cheese an easily digestible product.

Cottage cheese also contains a large amount of calcium, which is good for bone tissue - therefore, the diet should include as much cottage cheese as possible in young children, the elderly, people with increased bone fragility and those suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The amino acids contained in this product have a beneficial effect on the liver, slow down destructive processes and stimulate tissue regeneration during treatment. But the benefits will only come from low-fat or low-fat dairy products, and fatty ones should be avoided.

This dairy product also contains the amino acid methionine. It is very important for the functioning of the liver - it has useful protective properties against fatty degeneration of liver tissue.

For people suffering from diseases of the digestive system, and especially ulcers and gastritis, it is important to introduce into the diet during treatment as much low-fat cottage cheese with low acidity as possible - it is easily digestible and has beneficial properties.

Benefit for health

People suffering from atherosclerosis benefit from curd products due to their high content of methionine and choline. The potassium contained in this product helps remove excess fluid from the body, which is important for heart and liver diseases.

Cottage cheese acts as a prophylactic for anemia, obesity, and diseases of the nervous system.

Cottage cheese is widely used in folk medicine - it is included in various diets, and compresses are made from it for burns, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Cottage cheese is also often used in cosmetology - useful masks for the skin are made from this product, mixing it with honey, herbal infusions, and oils. Such masks have beneficial nutritional and rejuvenating properties, so they are well suited for girls with dry skin; in addition, they also have a whitening effect and even out the complexion. For hair, girls and women use masks that also include various fruits - avocados, peaches, oranges, pears, currants. This makes hair grow faster.

Harm

Cottage cheese is a practically harmless product and has only benefits for men and women. But it also has contraindications. It should absolutely not be consumed by people suffering from lactose intolerance. Everyone else should definitely include this dairy product in their diet.

It is worth remembering that this is a protein product, and if you consume it too much, you can harm the body - the liver ducts can become clogged. For the same reason, people suffering from diseases of the urolithiasis should not abuse it. The daily intake of cottage cheese, which is not harmful and has no contraindications, is no more than 300 grams. A product with a high fat content helps increase cholesterol levels in the blood.

Another danger is improper storage conditions. The shelf life of the product is 5 days (for factory-made ones) and 36 hours (for home-made ones). In addition, if you store it at high temperatures (without refrigeration), it deteriorates much faster and can be harmful. A homemade product may contain dangerous microorganisms.

Purchase and preparation

When buying cottage cheese, you should choose products made from natural milk. It is necessary to pay attention to the expiration date and do not store it longer than this period.

It is better not to buy homemade cottage cheese - there is a high risk that it contains microorganisms that can cause harm, and it is almost impossible to check under what conditions it was prepared. The exception is to prepare it at home yourself from high quality milk. Although there is an opinion that the greatest benefit comes from a product prepared at home.

For people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, stomach and liver, it is worth buying a dietary product, because fatty ones can be harmful. The same applies to pregnant women and young children. Fat cottage cheese is useful for men actively involved in strength sports.

The greatest benefit from cottage cheese is in its raw form - this way all the beneficial substances are preserved. Moreover, it can be mixed with sour cream, honey and fruit.

A lot of different dishes are prepared from cottage cheese - dumplings, pies, sauces, desserts and cheesecakes, but not all beneficial properties are preserved during heat treatment.

Storage conditions

It must be stored only in the refrigerator and not exceed the expiration date. Cottage cheese should be stored for no more than 5 days from the date of manufacture, homemade cottage cheese - no more than 36 hours. If the product has been in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, it is better to prepare some kind of dish from it that will not cause harm. It is better to store it in an airtight container without access to air and other products, or, as a last resort, wrapped in foil or parchment. Otherwise, the process of multiplication of E. coli may begin.

Benefits of the product for weight loss

Cottage cheese is a dietary product, so it is recommended to eat it when losing weight. You should only buy dietary low-fat types of cottage cheese, in which the fat content is from 0 to 4%. A product with high fat content is contraindicated when losing weight, just like various cottage cheese desserts, even if they are positioned as dietary - the properties of such a dairy product are opposite to dietary ones and are harmful to the body.

Useful video No. 2:

Hello dear readers. Today we’ll touch on the topic of homemade cottage cheese. Homemade cottage cheese is a unique product that can be used not only internally for health benefits, but also has external use. Surprised? There is no need to guess how this cottage cheese can be absorbed by the body through the skin. External use of cottage cheese is used as a cosmetic product. But in addition to being a food product and a cosmetic product, cottage cheese can also be used as a medicine.

You can learn how to quickly and easily make cheese from cow’s milk at home from the article on the blog ““. Recipe with step-by-step photographs.

Cottage cheese is a fermented milk product that is rich in protein, contains a small amount of fat and is very easily absorbed by the body. It is used by children and adults, ordinary people and athletes.

For example, bodybuilders take it to increase muscle mass. In terms of these capabilities, cottage cheese is not inferior to chemicals that cause minimal or moderate harm to internal organs.

But, unlike the use of chemicals, eating cottage cheese not only does not harm the body, but also makes it healthier.

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.

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 a 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 ““. In this article you will learn about the signs, symptoms, treatment of calcium deficiency and where to find it in food.

Composition and calorie content of cottage cheese.

What else is healthy in cottage cheese? You may be perplexed that all of the above is more than enough to make a decision about consuming the described fermented milk product. And so it is.

But this is not a complete list of all the positive properties of cottage cheese. Indeed, in addition to calcium, which is very well absorbed by the body, cottage cheese is rich in protein, of which the product contains about 17 percent.

It contains lactose or milk sugar, which is contained in cottage cheese in an amount of 2.5-3%, as well as phosphorus, iron, twelve vitamins of groups A-D, as well as phosphorus, carbon dioxide, iron, fat and amino acid. The high protein content makes cottage cheese an excellent meat substitute.

The amino acids contained in cottage cheese, namely choline and methionine, allow cottage cheese protein to compete in its value with protein from both meat and fish. At the same time, cottage cheese protein is easily digestible, without requiring large energy expenditures, which cannot be said about meat protein.

Dwelling in detail on the digestion process, it is necessary to note that consuming cottage cheese with vegetables and herbs improves the absorption of cottage cheese. With this approach, the digestion process goes very smoothly, without any side effects such as bloating and gas formation, which are observed when eating meat or legumes. This fermented milk product is perfect for those who want to go on a diet.

Before you start abusing your body, such people should know that they should not abuse their body, depriving it of all useful substances and microelements, but eat proper nutrition.

Eating cottage cheese fully allows you to solve the problem of getting rid of excess weight.

It contains just over 6 grams of fat per 100 grams of product. And this despite the fact that the same 100 grams contain 17.6 grams of protein, and 11.3 grams of carbohydrates. A whole complex of useful substances allows you to fully compensate for all losses from limiting the body to high-calorie foods.

Calorie content of cottage cheese. Cottage cheese with 9% fat content contains approximately 165 kcal per 100 grams, the calorie content of homemade cottage cheese is slightly higher, but it also all depends on the fat content of the cottage cheese; there is fatty and non-fat cottage cheese. I usually buy low-fat cottage cheese.

The benefits of low-fat cottage cheese.

There is an opinion that low-fat cottage cheese should not be consumed, since it does not have all the valuable properties that are found in full-fat cottage cheese or in medium-fat cottage cheese. This opinion is based on the fact that during the technological process of degreasing, all of its useful contents are removed from this product. But this is not true at all.

Firstly, the composition of a low-fat product is almost identical to its fatty counterpart. It contains 16 grams of protein per 100 grams of product, which is 1.6 grams less than full-fat cottage cheese.

It contains vitamins of groups A-C, as well as iron, phosphorus, magnesium. Vitamin D, as well as most vitamin A, are fat-soluble and leave the product when defatted. It is still an excellent source of calcium. But the amount of fat in it, which ranges from 0.1% to 1.5%, is noticeably lower than that of fatty cottage cheese – 4-15%.

If we talk about the benefits of low-fat cottage cheese, it has a beneficial effect on the human body according to parameters similar to those of full-fat cottage cheese. Calcium, which is part of it, will also serve to strengthen the skeletal system, ensure the functionality of the muscular system, have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, strengthen the immune system and prevent various diseases, including cancer.

In order not to list all of the above for cottage cheese, you can list the description again under the first subheading.

We can say that both fat and low-fat cottage cheese are very beneficial for human health. However, the latter has some disadvantages, which we will discuss below.

Disadvantages of low-fat cottage cheese.

The first thing that some nutritionists pay attention to is the low degree of absorption of calcium contained in cottage cheese. According to experts, in order for calcium to be well absorbed when consuming this product, its fat content should be within 9%. This allows you to achieve an optimal balance of fat and calcium, which is necessary for the absorption of the latter.

Well, the experts are not lying, and the conclusion is not the result of battles in advertising from different manufacturers.

Eating low-fat cottage cheese really prevents calcium from being absorbed. But this is the case when a person is on a diet and, apart from low-fat cottage cheese, as well as a small amount of vegetables and fruits, eats nothing else.

In this case, his health will not have the best ending very quickly. But, if, along with the consumption of this low-fat product, other foods are eaten a day, such as meat or fish, which contain both calcium and fats, then the body will receive everything it needs.

The second disadvantage of a low-fat product is that it has a very small amount of beneficial phospholipids: lecithin and cephalin.

These components of milk fat have nutritional value and are components of the structures of cell membranes, as well as their microreceptors, which ensure the transmission of nerve impulses. If the body does not receive these substances in the required quantities, then a person’s health will deteriorate very quickly. And the content of these substances is found in dairy and fermented milk products with medium and high fat content.

The third minus is usually given to low-fat cottage cheese due to the low content of vitamins. But this difference is not very big, so it doesn’t play a big role in consuming fatty or low-fat cottage cheese.

Is homemade cottage cheese harmful to health?

Homemade cottage cheese cannot cause any active harm to health. It is for this reason that it is recommended for use by both children and the elderly, pregnant women and the sick.

But, there may be individual intolerance to this product, which can negatively affect your well-being when consuming cottage cheese. Severe damage to the body can be caused by eating stale cottage cheese.

Unlike those products that are produced on an industrial scale and which contain various additives that allow them to be stored for a long time, homemade cottage cheese is a perishable product.

Eating spoiled cottage cheese can cause nausea and vomiting. An excess of cottage cheese can negatively affect kidney function.

But here you need to make an allowance that you won’t eat a lot of cottage cheese. Even if at first it seems to you that you are able to consume kilograms of it, then after a few days of use your ardor will noticeably decrease. The body itself regulates how much of this fermented milk product it needs.

How much cottage cheese can you eat per day?

It is enough to stop at 150-200 grams of homemade cottage cheese per day to get the maximum benefit from this product. This will save your digestive system from unnecessary work and save energy. In addition, such a volume of cottage cheese consumption will allow you to save your budget, since homemade cottage cheese is not the cheapest product, although it is affordable for almost any wallet, both a pensioner and a student.

But as the doctor told Elena, my wife, when she was pregnant, that in order to provide a daily supply of calcium for a person, it is necessary to eat at least one kilogram of cottage cheese. But this does not mean that you should give up homemade cottage cheese. On the contrary, if possible, you should increase your consumption of cottage cheese. And to what volumes - the body itself will tell you.

Nutrition is very important for the normal functioning of our body. But with the development of civilization, problems with food consumption are becoming more and more. Constant employment does not allow us to pay due attention to this issue.

In addition, a deficiency in the body of various vitamins and microelements, in turn, leads to many diseases and general health problems - fatigue, loss of performance. In this article we will talk about how to get cottage cheese at home, the benefits and harm to the body, the importance of cottage cheese in human nutrition. So, let's begin…

It is impossible to say with certainty the approximate time of invention of this product. Perhaps it appeared when our ancestors left sour milk unattended, and whey accidentally leaked out of it...

One thing is known that cottage cheese entered our diet when goats and cows were domesticated. There are many ways to prepare this wonderful product. Among our ancestors, it was called sour cheese and was prepared in a cooling oven by placing curdled milk in it.

After a few hours, they took it out, put it in a fabric bag, and filtered out the excess whey. The product was then moved under the press. There was a method of preparing the so-called “dry” cottage cheese - it could be stored in the cellar, and it could be taken on the road without fear for its safety. To do this, the cottage cheese was placed again in the oven, and then again under the press. At that time, such a product was valued much more than a fresh, but perishable product.

Cottage cheese itself is a universal food product. It is eaten both sweet and salty, mixed with various ingredients - sour cream, sugar, berries, honey, wine. It is the main ingredient in the preparation of casseroles, cheesecakes, and pancakes. It can be used both as a nutritious food and as a dietary dish.

What are the benefits of cottage cheese for the body?

As for nutritional value, cottage cheese is recognized as universal here too. It contains the highest amount of easily digestible proteins of all dairy products. They break down into different amino acids, such as choline, tryptophan, methionine, and are actively consumed by the body.

Due to its easy digestibility, cottage cheese is recommended for both young children and elderly people with various digestive disorders. It is also included in the list of mandatory products for restoring the body after various diseases and surgical interventions. It can be used even for chronic ailments of the gastrointestinal tract - it does not increase acidity and does not cause irritation to the surface of the stomach.

The benefit of cottage cheese is also that it contains a small amount of fat, it will help you feel full without compromising your figure, and also helps to gain muscle mass. Depending on the fat content, the number of calories in one hundred grams of the product can range from 90 to 230. But please note that glazed cheeses and curds are not so healthy. First, they are often loaded with preservatives. And secondly, their calorie content is much higher due to the content of chocolate, sugar and cream.

In addition to the high content of amino acids and calcium, cottage cheese contains B vitamins, vitamins A, E, P, it is rich in salts of sodium, iron, copper, magnesium, etc. All these compounds contribute to the rapid absorption of this product. It is especially useful for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and babies begin to give it from five to seven months. Children's cottage cheese has a low fat content and is prepared from milk, which is heated slightly and briefly.

Cottage cheese is necessary for the body for the normal functioning of all internal organs, especially bone tissue. It has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart and blood vessels, the formation of red blood cells and nervous health.

Therefore, it is advisable to periodically arrange cottage cheese days for yourself. They will play the role of unloading, improving metabolism and helping to cleanse the body.

To do this, you need to eat 100-150g of cottage cheese with sour cream three to four times a day. There is no point in eating it anymore, since 150g is the maximum dose that the body can absorb at one time. Although such a diet will not help you lose weight, it will definitely be beneficial.

To make cottage cheese yourself, you don’t need any special equipment. Take village milk, pour it into a saucepan and leave in a warm place for a day. Then heat until almost boiling and let cool. Fold several layers of gauze and strain the resulting substance through it. Make a bag of cottage cheese out of gauze and hang it over the saucepan. Excess whey will drain off and the product will be ready for consumption. Remember that homemade cottage cheese is often richer than store-bought cottage cheese, and its cost is higher. The whey can be drunk as a dietary product, or you can use it to make baked goods.

Always remember that cottage cheese can be harmful to the body only in one case, when you eat it stale. The thing is that stale cottage cheese can be a breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms. It may cause serious poisoning or an allergic reaction. Therefore, do not store it for longer than two or three days, and then use it only after heat treatment - in the form of casseroles or cheesecakes.

One of the favorite dairy products of both adults and children is cottage cheese. There are many varieties of this product on the domestic market, and everyone can choose cottage cheese to their taste. Let's figure out what kind of product this is, what are the benefits and harms of cottage cheese for the body?

A little history of cottage cheese

It is unknown when cottage cheese was first made. There is information that this product has been used since the times of ancient civilizations. Also, the most ancient written sources claim that cottage cheese was loved by our ancestors.

Cottage cheese was eaten in its pure form, and honey and jam, berries and fruits, spices and herbs were added to it. Casseroles, pies, and desserts were made from cottage cheese. When making casseroles or cheesecakes with cottage cheese, we are guided by recipes that are at least two thousand years old.

Why is cottage cheese so popular?

Almost all nations eat cottage cheese. Which is not surprising, because in addition to its wonderful taste, it is extremely healthy. It is eaten by healthy people and is an excellent treat for children. In addition, cottage cheese is an excellent dish for sick and weakened people, the elderly and children with symptoms of rickets, and mental and physical retardation. Cottage cheese is both food and medicine.

Composition of cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is made from milk. Both cow's and goat's milk are used. There is evidence that desert peoples prepare a cottage cheese-like product from the milk of camels, mares and buffaloes.

Natural cottage cheese consists of milk and bacteria that ensure its ripening. If cottage cheese contains other additives, it can be classified as a curd product. The only classification of natural cottage cheese is fat content. It can be from 0% to more than 50% (specialists find it difficult to classify cottage cheese with a fat content of 0% as a product called “cottage cheese”, but this product is present on store shelves).

The secondary classification is based on the type of milk from which it is made. Cottage cheese is produced industrially from milk:

• - whole;
• - normalized;
• - low fat;
• - recombined;
• - restored;
• - mixtures of several types of milk.

The healthiest product is considered to be one made from whole or skim milk.

What are the benefits of cottage cheese?

The benefits of cottage cheese are determined by its composition. And its composition is truly unique.

Main classifiers of nutritional value:

• - protein;
• - carbohydrates;
• - fat.

The specific proportion of each component depends on the fat content and technology of cottage cheese production.

Vitamins:

• - A;
• - group B (almost all);
• - D;
• - E;
• - RR;
• - TO

In low-fat cottage cheese, the content of vitamins A, D, E is minimal.

Minerals:

• - calcium;
• - sodium;
• - potassium;
• - phosphorus;
• - iron;
• - selenium;
• - manganese;
• - molybdenum.

Essential amino acids:

• - tryptophan;
• - valine;
• - lysine;
• - methionine.

The content of these amino acids in cottage cheese is very high, which determines its unique nutritional value and indispensability in the diet.

What beneficial effects does cottage cheese have on the organs and systems of the human body?

Benefits of cottage cheese for bones

The high calcium content, coupled with vitamins A and D, promote the restoration and growth of bone tissue. This is a necessary product for pregnant women - it completely replenishes the daily calcium requirement. Cottage cheese makes a child's skeleton stronger, bone tissue grows dense and strong. In older people, cottage cheese reduces the risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis. For patients with osteoporosis, this product facilitates the course of the disease and blocks the removal of calcium from the body. In addition, cottage cheese strengthens the ligamentous apparatus, increasing strength and endurance.

Benefits of cottage cheese for muscle tissue

Cottage cheese is the champion among products in terms of easily digestible protein content. The peculiarity of curd protein is that it does not require the body to secrete additional enzymes and waste energy on its absorption. This product completely supplies the body with the necessary amount of protein and eliminates degenerative processes.

Benefits of cottage cheese for the heart

The combination of vitamins and microelements has a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart. The high protein content increases the productivity of the heart muscle, and the mineral composition normalizes the electrical impulse system. The amino acid lysine promotes the renewal of myocardial cells and ensures good vascular tone.

Benefits of cottage cheese for the liver

The content of the amino acid methionine blocks the processes of pathological fatty liver. The high content of B vitamins and vitamin D (in fatty cottage cheese) stabilizes metabolic processes in organ tissues, and the combination of selenium and valine prevents tissue degeneration.

Benefits of cottage cheese for the nervous system

The unique composition of cottage cheese has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, improves the transmission of impulses along nerve fibers, and helps restore nerve connections.

The amino acid tryptophan is a building material for serotonin itself and a number of hormones that ensure brain function. Cottage cheese improves memory, intelligence, and mood. Helps slow down destructive processes in patients with atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In children with mental retardation, cottage cheese helps form new nerve connections in the brain and stabilize the transmission of nerve impulses.

Benefits of cottage cheese for the endocrine system

Cottage cheese is rich in substances that help normalize hormonal levels. Also, these substances act as a building material for hormones and as a catalyst in their production.

The benefits of cottage cheese for the reproductive system

Cottage cheese contains substances that are building materials for sex hormones. Also, this miracle product helps to renew sperm and improve sexual function in men, normalize hormonal levels, ovarian function and improves fertility (the ability to conceive) in women.

Benefits of cottage cheese for the immune system

Cottage cheese is the best friend of the immune system. Being a complete food product, it supplies the body with everything necessary for normal functioning. It strengthens the body's resistance to infections and the degeneration of cells into pathological ones.

Benefits of cottage cheese for blood

High iron content helps increase hemoglobin. The content of essential amino acids and a high concentration of vitamins contribute to the complete maturation of blood cells and improvement of indicators for all blood elements.

The benefits of cottage cheese for children and pregnant women

For children from 6 months of age, cottage cheese is an essential element of the diet. It promotes physical and mental development and gives the little one a boost of energy. For a pregnant woman, cottage cheese is indispensable - it provides the mother and child with everything they need. In addition, it is a building material for hormones. Cottage cheese helps normalize the hormonal levels of a pregnant woman.

Harm from cottage cheese

Despite the enormous benefits of cottage cheese, it can also be harmful. Let's look at the dangers of this product:

Risk of poisoning. Cottage cheese is a perishable product and pathogenic microorganisms can cause botulism;

High calorie content. Fatty cottage cheese does not contribute to a slim figure. Choosing a low-fat option will help solve the problem;

Excess protein is harmful to the kidneys. Eat no more than 100 g of cottage cheese per day and you will provide your body with an optimal dose of protein.

There are no other contraindications or negative effects. As for an allergic reaction, cottage cheese, on the contrary, helps eliminate allergies.

How to choose cottage cheese

It is better to buy it in stores to have at least a minimum guarantee of the safety of the product. Cottage cheese from your hands is delicious, but there is a risk of poisoning.

Choose a product with a shelf life of no more than 14 days, otherwise you will end up with a mass devoid of all useful substances or cottage cheese stuffed with chemicals.

If you purchase cottage cheese secondhand, buy it from trusted housewives. And then there is the risk of getting poisoned. In the store, pay attention to:

• - label (should say “cottage cheese” and not “curd product”),
• - composition (milk, lactic acid starter, calcium chloride, rennet - maximum),
• - best before date.

Cottage cheese is a very tasty and healthy product for everyone. It is necessary in the diet of people who care about their health.