Bland, boring and lumpy – but cottage cheese is back in fashion

“Yes, cottage cheese is high in protein, but it also contains calcium, vitamin B12, and other micronutrients,” says Dr. Amati.

Vitamin B12 is important for brain function. Of course, calcium is important for healthy bones and teeth, but cottage cheese is a good source of phosphorus, a mineral that helps in that area, as well as the micronutrient riboflavin, which good for your skin and eyes.

“Cottage cheese also has a good amount of selenium, which is an important nutrient and antioxidant,” says Amati. This is good news for everyone, as antioxidants prevent and slow down cell damage caused by free radicals (the waste products that are produced when your body reacts to stress such as swelling or contamination).

One cup (225g) contains about 36 percent of the recommended daily intake of selenium, which is important for reproduction, thyroid function, DNA production and the rest.

Dr. Emily Leeming, microbiologist, nutritionist and nutritionist, says Dr. Emily Leeming. Genus is good. “These live cultures can produce new ‘good’ bacteria and yeasts in your gut, helping to maintain a healthy microbiome, which plays an important role in digestion and overall health.” Not all varieties have this important ingredient, however: “so it’s important to check the label for ‘live or active cultures'”, he says.

Yes, if you believe the bright little things about “simple bathroom snacks that made me save”. But does science confirm it? Kind of. In fact, protein is important for muscle growth because it helps repair and maintain tissue. Since casein is a type of slow release, some bodybuilders eat cottage cheese before bed, aiming for a steady release of amino acids overnight, reducing muscle breakdown. That said, a 2017 study looked at the effect on muscle mass and strength of consuming slow or fast protein after exercise and found no difference.

In general, “To build muscle, you need to do resistance exercises and eat enough protein,” says Amati. “Cottage cheese is a good source of protein, but it won’t help you build muscle unless you work out, unfortunately.”

“Like other dairy products, cottage cheese contains calcium, which is important to support bone health,” says Amati. That said, hard cheeses have a lot more to them. For example, one hundred grams of cottage cheese will contain about 90 milligrams of calcium, while the same amount of parmesan can contain more than 900 milligrams.

On the other hand, fresh cheeses contain more lactose than hard cheeses. One hundred grams of cottage cheese contains about 3.5g of lactose, which is less than mascarpone (4.5g) but more than cheddar (0.1g). So, “people who are lactose intolerant or have a dairy deficiency should avoid cottage cheese,” says Amati.

Unfortunately, it probably isn’t, as some social media influencers are saying. “Since cottage cheese does not contain fiber, which is key to supporting a healthy gut microbiome, it’s a good idea to combine it with high-fiber foods like berries, nuts or seeds for a boost. gut health,” it says. In the past.

Amati points to Zoe’s viral recipe (see recipe section below) for protein cottage cheese cookies, which combine fiber, protein and fat in the form of oats, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, so reducing the rate at which sugar is absorbed, leading to very low blood sugar and long-lasting satiety.

In fact, cottage cheese is one of the healthiest cheeses around, but extreme food fads of any kind are not, all three experts agree. Take the “mustard and cottage cheese” that took Tiktok by storm, encouraging people to eat green vegetables and sausage topped with cottage cheese and mustard (no, really). Influencers have claimed that it has led to weight loss, while nutritionists have criticized it. They pointed out that Cottage cheese is high in sodium and therefore needs to be eaten as part of a variety of meals.

“Cottage cheese can be part of a healthy diet,” says Kalinik, “although I’d lean more toward a hard, aged cheese like cheddar or parmesan if you’re looking for more probiotic benefits.”

Your best bet, suggests Amati, is not to follow fads but to focus on eating a varied, plant-based diet while being active. So if you like cottage cheese, eat it. But if you don’t, then don’t panic. Greek yogurt may be low in protein, but it’s also high in calcium, low in sodium and a reliable source of live probiotic bacteria. Less acne too.

Even if you are not a fan of cottage cheese, these recipes are full of flavor, so you won’t notice.

Cottage cheese protein pancakes from Zoe