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Don’t let the “cheese” in cottage cheese deter you from this healthy superfood! If your goal is to lose weight, build muscle, and improve your metabolism, it’s time to stock your refrigerator with cottage cheese.
Cottage cheese offers an array of health benefits: it’s packed with nutrients, convenient to eat, and keeps you feeling full for long periods of time thanks to its high protein content. Even if you’re not trying to lose weight or build muscle, cottage cheese lends to a stronger immune system and improved overall bodily function.
Cottage cheese (Daisy cottage cheese is my favorite, and contains only 3 ingredients) is my new favorite go-to snack since having cranked up my workout routine earlier this fall. Check out these 3 amazing reasons to start including cottage cheese in your diet!
1. It’s High In Protein and Casein Protein
One cup of cottage cheese has 25 grams of protein. Since protein is responsible for building, repairing, and maintaining muscle tissue, cottage cheese is ideal to eat before and after your workouts.
Additionally, cottage cheese is rich in casein protein — a slow-digesting protein that releases amino acids to your bloodstream for up to several hours following consumption. Casein protein boosts your energy levels, and increases your metabolism while you’re sleeping so you can lose weight while catching those zzz’s!
2. It’s Loaded With Nutrients
In addition to being a protein powerhouse, cottage cheese is high in several nutrients and antioxidants that strengthen your immune system and lower the risk for illness and disease. Adding cottage cheese to your diet also helps you experience faster post-workout recoveries.
Common nutrients found in cottage cheese:
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- B-complex vitamins (vitamin B12, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin, and folate)
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
- Zinc
- Selenium
Calcium and vitamin D strengthen your bones and lower the risk for gum disease, osteoporosis, and cancer — especially breast cancer. B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin helps convert carbohydrates into energy, while niacin improves digestion and energy production. Selenium is an antioxidant that protects cells and DNA from free-radical damage — lowering the risk for abnormal cell growth and cancer.
3. It’s Easy To Grab and Go
When you exercise and train regularly, your body typically burns through food faster due to having a higher metabolism. This means you’ll be hungry more frequently throughout the day. If you don’t have time to stop everything you’re doing to cook every few hours, you’ll love the convenience of cottage cheese.
Cottage cheese can easily be spooned onto a plate or eaten right out of the container at any given time. No meal prep, no mess; just easy-peasy.
Tips For Buying Healthy Cottage Cheese
Keep in mind that not all cottage cheese brands are necessarily healthy. ALWAYS read the ingredients labels to make sure your cottage cheese lacks fillers and additives. Quality cottage cheese should usually only contain the basics: cultured skim milk, cream, and salt.
Stay away from cottage cheese brands that contain toxic ingredients like modified food starch, xanthan gum, and natural flavor. These substances, which offer zero nutritional benefits, are free radicals that can compromise your immunity.
Content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical treatment.