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Many people trying to lose weight and eat healthy might be overlooking a powerful and understated tool; cottage cheese. The flavourful dairy product offers all the benefits you might find in
other cheeses but without the calories and high fat content. Because of its high protein and low calorie content, it’s the “ideal food for weight management” according to experts at UCLA
Health. It even has more protein than eggs or greek yoghurt at 11grams per single serving, roughly 100 grams. This helps you feel fuller for longer, reducing your risk of overeating.
Additionally, cottage cheese holds a protein called casein. This unique type of protein takes a while to be fully absorbed by the body. Thus helping control your appetite and steadily
supplying your muscles with fuel to help them become stronger. Plain cottage cheese can also help control your blood sugar, meaning it keeps your energy levels balanced after eating to avoid
high blood sugar spikes and energy drops. Consistently experiencing these spikes and drops over time can lead to type 2 diabetes developing. Cottage cheese offers other essential nutrients
like calcium, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin B12. These work together to boost your bone mineral density, keeping your bones strong and reducing your risk of fractures and diseases like
osteoporosis. It also has bacteria known as probiotics, which are added to milk to make it curdle and form cottage cheese. These probiotics help your gut work more efficiently and improve
its defences against harmful bacteria. The experts warned: “Not all cottage cheese contains good bacteria. Look for ‘live and active cultures’ on the label.” According to UCLA Health, up to
90% of Americans might not be getting enough diary in their diet. Cottage cheese can easily plug this gap and it’s a simple addition to your current diet. The cheese can be used as
ingredient replacements or an easy addition to a range of delicious recipes. This includes oatmeal, pancakes, eggs and smoothies. It can also act as a dip for fruits and veggies, a spread
for sandwiches and crackers or a creamy addition to sauces, baked goods and even pesto. While it’s easy to add, it’s important to be wary of the high salt content and complete absence of
fibre, so it’s best to pair with ingredients that can counteract these effects.