Provides Anti-Inflammatory Effect Research shows that consuming dairy products like cottage cheese can reduce inflammation. 9 Managing inflammation is key for reducing the risks of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Based on the body of science, dairy foods like milk, yogurt and cheese do not cause inflammation and can be a part of anti-inflammatory diets.
Or, consider switching to Swiss cheese; one study found the probiotics in this variety could decrease inflammation.
Potential Risks of Cottage Cheese
While cottage cheese can be low in calories, some varieties have significant levels of saturated fat and more calories.
Why it's good for you: Cheese lovers, rejoice: cottage cheese is a great pick for your gut. As with other fermented foods, cottage cheese often delivers probiotics (check the package labels for live and active cultures), and it's high in calcium, which is important for strong bones.
Yogurt's the winner, just barely, if you're watching your weight. One cup of plain low-fat yogurt, regular or Greek-style, averages 154 calories, compared with 182 calories for low-fat cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is higher in protein—27 grams per cup versus 12 grams for plain yogurt.
Probiotics. While Greek yogurt is more likely to contain probiotics—those microscopic gut-friendly bacteria—there are some brands of cottage cheese that also contain probiotics. Not all brands of cottage cheese contain probiotics, though, so be sure to read the label.
Both boast impressive numbers that make them an excellent choice for a low-calorie, high-protein, and low-sugar breakfast or snack. Cottage cheese does have a slight advantage in terms of a little less sugar while the yogurt has slightly more protein per cup (22 grams for the yogurt and 19 grams for the cottage cheese.
Is It OK to Eat Cottage Cheese Every Day? It's fine to get a daily serving—or more—of cottage cheese. It's an ideal post-workout snack because it contains casein, slow-digesting protein that's used in some protein powders.
1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.
“Yogurt is associated with decreased inflammation, decreased insulin resistance and it may prevent type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Hu says. Nutrition researchers believe yogurt's anti-inflammatory power comes from the probiotics it contains, but that has yet to be confirmed with rigorous trials, he says.
In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent.
Active principles in plant-based foods, especially staple fruits, such as bananas and plantains, possess inter-related anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, and neuromodulatory activities.
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.
Cottage cheese is an ideal choice for a late night snack because its high in protein and low in carbohydrates . In fact, it's ok to eat “full fat” cottage cheese, since 2/3 of a cup has less than 6 grams of fat, which ultimately will help you feel full and reduce cravings.
Protein, fat and fibre. Aiming for 30 grams of protein per meal (32 grams here- cottage cheese + seeds) with healthy fat (cottage cheese) and fibre (blueberries) encourages the stomach to signal satiation cues to the brain. The hunger hormones get balanced and you feel full for HOURS.
Greek yogurt has a slight edge in calcium vs cottage cheese calcium. A cup of Greek yogurt has 282 mg of calcium, while a cup of cottage cheese has 227 mg of calcium. Ultimately, both cottage cheese and Greek yogurt can be part of a healthy diet, and there isn't a clear winner overall.
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. And your yogurt? Totally depends on which one you choose.
Greek yogurt gets all the breakfast love for being high in protein, but serving for serving (¾ cup), cottage cheese has 6 more grams of protein. (Greek yogurt has 16g per serving, compared to cottage cheese's 22g.)
May support gut health
Greek yogurt that is labelled 'contains live cultures', provides beneficial bacteria known as probiotics, which when eaten regularly may support gut health. This is because regular inclusion of fermented foods, including yogurt, appears to increase the microbial diversity of the gut.