What if we tell you that now you can eat cheese and still lose weight and boost muscle strength! Well, this might sound like a bluff, but eating cheese can give your body a boost of immunity, build muscle strength and help in losing weight, but only if you eat the right cheese.
According to health experts, adding protein-rich cheese to your diet can help in improving your overall health, build muscles, strengthen your bones and help in losing weight effectively. Here’s a list of some of the healthiest cheese varieties.
Blue Cheese
Cheese aficionados swear by the blue grey veins of this exotic Blue cheese, but you will be amazed to know that adding this cheese to your diet can give your daily regime a boost of healthy protein. With around 29 grams of protein in 1 cup of cheese, a moderate intake of this cheese paired with veggies, fruits, leafy greens and healthy sandwiches can help in effective weight management.
Made with cow, goat or sheep’s milk, Blue cheese is prepared using the cultures of Penicillium, which is basically a type of mold, which gives this cheese a tangy flavour and a distinctive aroma.
Apart from that, adding around 28 grams of Blue cheese to your daily diet can meet around 33 percent of your body’s daily need of Calcium, which eventually helps in improving your bone density as well as bone health.
Parmesan
This cheese adds a classic touch to pasta and meat delicacies, but what makes it so good for weight watchers? With around 38 gram of protein in just 1 cup of cheese, Parmesan is a great source of protein and helps in maintaining weight by providing satiety, strengthens muscles, boosts bone health and overall immunity.
The hard texture of the cheese is attained by ageing it for at least 12 months to kill bacteria and pathogens. Made with unpasteurized cow’s milk, the salty and nutty flavour adds on to the taste of this cheese. According to studies, this cheese is high in calcium and phosphorus, which helps in strengthening the bones.
Mozzarella cheese
This is one of most widely used cheeses around the world, right from adding that perfect cheesy texture to your Pizzas to accentuating the taste of stuffed meats, breads, there’s nothing more delightful than a Mozzarella cheese. But did you know this is one of the healthiest cheese variants? The classic white cheese with a soft, bouncy texture is rich in milk protein. Made with the goodness of cow’s milk or Italian buffalo milk, this cheese originated from the bylanes of Italy and paved its way to the global palates.
Around 1 cup of Mozzarella cheese has approximately 36 grams of protein, and its low sodium composition makes it way more healthier than other cheese variants. The presence of probiotics like Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus fermentum in Mozzarella cheese makes it great for digestion and gut health. Lastly, this low calorie cheese is great for weight management, provided it is taken in moderation and paired with healthy veggies, salads, lean meats, fish or salads.
Feta Cheese
The soft, bouncy, salty, white cheese Feta Cheese is one of the healthiest cheese variants, which you can add to your salads, meat delicacies or sandwiches. Feta cheese hails from Greece and was traditionally prepared by using sheep milk, which gives this cheese a slightly tangy and sharp taste. Over the years, goat
milk is also used to make Feta cheese. As per health experts, around 1 cup of Feta cheese has around 21 grams of protein. Feta is made with full fat milk, which has conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is linked to reduced body weight and improved body composition.
Ricotta Cheese
This creamy Italian cheese is made with an amalgamation of watery parts of cow, goat, sheep or Italian buffalo milk, which is basically leftover from making other cheese varieties. What makes this cheese a hit among health enthusiasts is its rich protein content, around 1 cup of Ricotta cheese has 28 grams of protein. Ricotta cheese is basically whey, a milk protein which is packed with the goodness of amino acids. The presence of whey in Ricotta makes it great for boosting muscle strength. What’s more, it also helps in managing blood pressure.
Cottage Cheese (Paneer)
Cottage Cheese (Paneer) is one of the healthiest cheese varieties. Made with cow’s milk, this soft, white cheese has around 12 grams of protein in a serving of half cup paneer. Packed with the goodness of milk protein, paneer is a great source of calcium, which helps in strengthening bone health. What’s more, adding this cheese to your diet can provide a feeling of satiety, which gradually helps in weight loss. You can add it to your soups, stews, curries, salads, rolls and smoothies.
