What Are Probiotic Foods
We all have bacteria in our guts and other organs that support our vital functions and help us to stay healthy. In fact, there are around ten times more bacteria than human cells in our body, and they are crucial to our wellbeing. Sometimes, they may die due to the use of antibiotic medicine or an unhealthy diet, which can cause our normal mechanisms to be disrupted. You may suffer from digestive problems like diarrhea when this happens.
The term probiotic refers to the fact that there are live organisms in certain foods you eat. These can help you when your natural bacteria are disrupted, but they also support your bodys function under normal conditions. The better your beneficial bacteria are, the less susceptible you are to disease, unpleasant symptoms related to your digestive system, and long-term health conditions.
It May Help Build Muscle
If you’re looking for foods that help support your strength goals, protein-packed cottage cheese may be able to help with that. “Protein helps keep us full, and it’s great for muscle recovery,” says Shana Spence, M.S., RDN, CDN. It varies per brand, but on average, you’ll find between 15 and 25 grams of protein per cup of cottage cheese. That’s about the same you’d get from eating 3 ounces of chicken breast.
A type of protein found in cottage cheese, caseinate, or casein, may be especially helpful for muscle growth. One study found it had a superior effect on muscle protein synthesis after exercise compared to soy protein.
How To Use Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is more than just a low fat and high protein snack. This recipe results in a full liter of cottage cheese, so its useful to have a few recipes up your sleeve.
- Cottage cheese is a probiotic breakfast or snack. Mix in some fruit and youve got a healthy and wholesome treat.
- Pressed cottage cheese will melt, so it is perfect for pizza or grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Cottage cheese can be used like ricotta for homemade lasagna.
- My favourite way to eat cottage cheese it to make my favourite Eastern European comfort foodvareniki.
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Cottage Cheese Is Rich In Many Different Nutrients
The nutritional contents of cottage cheese vary with the fat content of the milk used. One cup of cottage cheese made with low-fat milk , provides the following:
- Calories: 163
- Calcium: 138 mg
- Phosphorus: 303 mg
- Vitamin B12: 1.42 µg
- Selenium: 20.3 µg
- Sodium: 918 mg
- Riboflavin: 0.373 mg
The one knock on cottage cheese is that it is particularly high in sodium . For that, you might want to opt for a low-sodium option. As with most cheeses, it also contains lactose, to which many people are intolerant.
Cottage cheese is known for being high in proteins while being relatively low in calories. These make it particularly popular among gym-goers as a post-workout snack.
It May Reduce Cholesterol Levels
Tempeh is traditionally made from soybeans, which contain natural plant compounds called isoflavones.
Soy isoflavones have been associated with reduced cholesterol levels. One review looked at 11 studies and found that soy isoflavones were able to significantly decrease both total and LDL cholesterol .
Another study looked at the effects of soy protein on cholesterol levels and triglycerides. In the study, 42 participants ate a diet containing either soy protein or animal protein over a 6-week period.
Compared with animal protein, soy protein decreased LDL cholesterol by 5.7% and total cholesterol by 4.4%. It also decreased triglycerides by 13.3% .
Though most available research focuses on the effects of soy isoflavones and soy protein on blood cholesterol, one study did focus specifically on tempeh.
A 2013 animal study examined the effects of nutrient-enriched soybean tempeh on mice with liver damage. It found that tempeh had a protective effect on the liver and was able to reverse damage to liver cells.
Additionally, tempeh caused a decrease in both cholesterol and triglyceride levels .
Summary
Tempeh is made from soybeans, which contain soy isoflavones. Studies show that soy isoflavones and soy protein may decrease blood cholesterol levels.
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Other studies have found that supplementing with soy isoflavones may have a favorable effect on several health conditions associated with oxidative stress.
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Is It Healthy To Eat Cottage Cheese Everyday
Is It OK to Eat Cottage Cheese Every Day? Yes, cottage cheese can be part of a healthy diet every day. If youre sensitive to dairy, look for a lactose-free option like Green Valley Creamery. The versatility of cottage cheese recipes makes it easy to incorporate this protein-packed treat into any meal.
Enjoy Life Foods Baking Mixes
We love that Enjoy Life‘s baking mixes are free of gluten and synthetic ingredients like hydrogenated oils and caramel coloring, but they shouldn’t be your go-to source of probiotics. Sure, they contain the bacteria bacillus coagulans, but the little buggers have very poor resistance to heat. “Probiotics are usually destroyed when cooked at high temperatures, so you’re likely not reaping many of their healthy gut benefits,” explains Moskovitz.
The Bottom Line: If you want brownies or muffins with a clean ingredient profile, go ahead and grab a box. But when it comes to weight loss and gut health, they likely won’t help.
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How To Use Greek Yogurt And Cottage Cheese
Because Greek yogurt has a smoother consistency, Bouchard says this is typically going to be your go-to in place of sour cream, using it to make dips and sauces. “The texture of cottage cheese makes it just a bit more difficult to use in this context,” she points out.
However, Bouchard says smoothies and acai bowls are a great place to incorporate cottage cheese. “People tend to go for Greek yogurt for this, but because cottage cheese is actually a bit higher in protein, it’s a really good choice,” she says.
And of course both can be eaten as is, or with fruit, honey, and granola. Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are both healthy options, so Bouchard recommends switching them up for a well-rounded nutritional profile.
While we’re getting to the bottom of what’s healthy or not, here’s the verdict on white rice versus brown and potatoes.
Why You Need To Eat More Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is not like most cheeses that you know, like American cheese. Its not aged, its a little wet, resembling yogurt more than cheese. But its become quite popular lately, especially in celebrity diets.
Harley Pasternak, a celebrity trainer who trains Rihanna, Lady Gaga, took a snapshot of his healthy breakfast, which included this cheese. So, what is it exactly?
Cottage cheese is a soft, creamy, and milky cheese. Unlike most cheeses, it does not undergo an aging or ripening process. This results in a milder, lighter flavor than say, gouda, or parmesan.
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Why You Need Probiotics
You need probiotics to keep your body balanced.
When you get sick, good bacteria fight off the increased amount of bad bacteria to keep your levels as close to neutral as possible.
One of the most significant benefits of probiotics is that they ease symptoms of digestive issues, such as:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Here are seven foods high in probiotics:
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is made by culturing milk with bacteria that produce lactic acid, such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, although more strains can also be added. If yogurt is heat-treated, it loses its probiotic contents.
2. Buttermilk
Several different fermented dairy products are referred to as buttermilk, but the only kind that contains live probiotic cultures is the liquid that remains after butter is produced. Many types of buttermilk you would find in the grocery store do not actually contain live probiotics, so make sure to read the label closely.
3. Sourdough Bread
This kind of bread is traditionally made with fermented flour that contains healthy bacteria. However, not all brands use this method .
4. Cottage Cheese
Because cottage cheese is not aged or heated, it maintains a high amount of probiotics. Other cheeses that often contain probiotics include:
- Swiss
- Gruyère
5. Tempeh
Tempeh is a soy-based food that provides numerous health benefits. In addition to probiotics, tempeh provides an excellent source of fiber, protein, and iron.
6. Sauerkraut
7. Miso Soup
It Helps Convert Food Into Energy
Cottage cheese is also high in B vitamins. “B vitamins are essential for the body to convert food into energy and help maintain healthy skin and brain cells,” says Spence. In fact, one study found that children who consume dairy products like cottage cheese have more energy. Meaning the creamy food could be one way to help fight that midafternoon slump.
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Savor More Soft Cheeses
Probiotics in food are beneficial for health, but only if they are tough enough to withstand stomach acid and make it all the way to your intestines. The makeup of soft cheeses is ideal for delivering probiotics to the gastrointestinal tract. The pH of a cheese affects the ability of probiotics to survive and grow in the intestines. For this reason, soft cheese is likely better than yogurt for delivering intact probiotics to the GI tract.
Does Cottage Cheese Have Good Bacteria Like Yogurt
Does cottage cheese have good bacteria like yogurt? As with other fermented foods, cottage cheese often delivers probiotics , and its high in calcium, which is important for strong bones.
Do all cottage cheese have probiotics? Although most types of cheese are fermented, it does not mean that all of them contain probiotics. Therefore, it is important to look for live and active cultures on the food labels. The good bacteria survive the aging process in some cheeses, including Gouda, mozzarella, cheddar and cottage cheese .
What brand of cottage cheese has probiotics? Nancys is the only brand of cultured cottage cheese that Ive seen in New Orleans-area stores . Its different from regular cottage cheese in that it provides live cultures, including L. acidophilus and B. bifidum, as well as four strains of lactic cultures.
Does yogurt or cottage cheese have more probiotics? Lower in Calories: Greek yogurt contains fewer calories-120 per cup, vs. 160 for cottage cheese. Its also more likely to contain probiotics . Just 1 cup of cottage cheese can deliver more than 5 times the sodium found in Greek yogurt.
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The Best Cottage Cheese You Can Buy At The Store
Despite the impending loss of street cred, we’re fully prepared to announce that we have a favorite cottage cheese. And, no, we’re not octogenarians. We’re not even trying to build up momentum for some lame new diet. We just happen to love cottage cheeseand we don’t mind telling people that the best cottage cheese around is Friendship Dairies 4% California-Style Small-Curd Cottage Cheese. Among the 13 brands of full-fat, small-curd cottage cheeseincluding both organic and non-organic varietiessampled recently by a panel of Epicurious staff, it was determined the best tasting and best textured. For our methodology and the full list of cheeses we tasted, scroll to the bottom of the page. First up, the rankings!
Great Source Of Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that plays numerous roles in our general health and wellbeing.
Perhaps the most widely recognized benefit of calcium, however, is the fact that it is absorbed into the bones where it helps to strengthen them and protect them.
The calcium absorbed by the bones helps to prevent degenerative bone issues such as osteoporosis or brittle bone disease.
Calcium, therefore, can help to strengthen the bones and protect you from bone breakages, particularly as you grow older.
Calcium is also useful when it comes to protecting the teeth, especially the enamel found on the outer layer of the teeth themselves.
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Why Tempeh Is Incredibly Healthy And Nutritious
Tempeh is a fermented soy product thats a popular vegetarian meat replacement. Whether youre a vegetarian or not, it can be a nutritious addition to your diet.
Tempeh is a versatile ingredient that comes with a variety of health benefits. Its high in protein, prebiotics, and a wide array of vitamins and minerals.
This article will take a deeper look at the many advantages of tempeh.
The Best Wet Cottage Cheese: Daisy
Some tasters on the panel wanted a higher liquid-to-curd ratio than what Friendship offered, and while Daisy was by far not the wettest cottage cheese we tasted, it was significantly wetter than our two leads. The flavor is very mild, but it tasted fresh with a sweet milkiness. It was tied with Trader Joe’s for third place after our blind tastingand they are admittedly quite similar in texture and appearance. Upon further inspection, we liked that Daisy only has three ingredients: cultured milk, cream, and saltas opposed to the stabilizers present in Trader Joe’s and most of the selections that placed lower in the rankingswhich gave it the edge to nab a place in the winner’s circle.
BUY IT:
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Good Culture Cottage Cheese
To be clear: Not all cottage cheeses contain probiotics, but Good Culture‘s tubs are packed with live and active cultures, and they come in a variety of sweet flavors like blueberry açaí, strawberry chia, and pineapple. Though dairy products are packed with slow-digesting protein and have been shown to enhance probiotic absorption, that doesn’t make this product a clear cut winner or loser. “Cottage cheese is generally high in sodiumand this line is no differentso people with elevated blood pressure may want to skip it. People who bloat easily and those with lactose intolerance should also pass on it,” advises Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.
The Bottom Line: This is definitely healthy enough to be an Eat This!, but don’t make it your go-to source of probiotics unless the rest of your diet is relatively low in salt.
Melt Organic Probiotic Buttery Spread
Melt Organic‘s blend of coconut, sunflower, and flaxseed oils is spiked with a patented probiotic called GanedenBC30. The makers of the product claim that the bacteria survives 10 times better in the gut than yogurt cultures, and, in turn, can bolster immunity and digestive health more effectively. “GanedenBC30 contains the probiotic strain, Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086. This strain is different than the standard probiotic strain, Lactobacillus, which is more commonly found in probiotic products,” explains Koszyk. “Some research has suggested GanedenBC30 might increase immune system functions and decrease harmful gut bacteria. However, there is currently not enough research to guarantee specific benefits claims.”
The Bottom Line: Fermented foods like sauerkraut and green olives are likely more potent sources of probiotics than a man-made buttery spread spiked with gut bugs. However, if you’re interested in getting extra probiotics in, Koszyk gives you the green light. “I wouldn’t depend on it as your sole source since there’s no way to know how many of the probiotics are actually making it into your system. That said, it is a source of a less common probiotic, and consuming various strains can only benefit gut health,” she explains.
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Cottage Cheese Will Get You Jacked
Hadnt you heard?
Cottage cheese is now more powerful than anabolic steroids and it will get you big and jacked!
Okay, thats only partly true.
Cottage cheese isnt anywhere near as powerful as anabolic steroids and eating it by itself will not help you to build muscle.
Many meatheads, however, do eat a lot of cottage cheese because it is the perfect bodybuilding food.
This is because cottage cheese is loaded full of protein and amino acids.
Protein is vital when it comes to the growth and repair of lean muscle tissue.
The more we consume the easier well find it to build muscle when using it in conjunction with a healthy diet and intense training regime in the gym.
As well as helping to promote muscle growth, cottage cheese is also low in calories and fat, so if you want to get lean and shredded, its the perfect food to consume.
Bigelow Lemon Ginger Herb Plus Probiotics Tea
Here at Eat This, Not That! we’re huge fans of all kinds of teas, but we weren’t sure what to think about a tea that’s been packed with probiotics. So, of course, we asked Choi, our resident tea expert, to weigh in: “The effectiveness of probiotic tea is still up for debate. It’s really hard to say how much of the bacteria is still in the tea bag once it makes it into your kitchenand it’s even harder to determine how much can actually make it down into your stomach.”
The Bottom Line: Give it a try if you’re curious there’s not much to lose. “To preserve the most probiotics as possible, let the water cool a bit before adding the tea bag to your cup. This will ensure more of the bacteria survive,” explains Choi. She also says to watch steep times and follow the box instructions exactly. “The instructions present the brand’s ideal. Following suit means you’ll have the best chance of the nutrient making it into your system.”
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Health Benefits Of Eating Cheese With Probiotics
Probiotics have incredible effects on ones overall gut health. The bacteria is known to aid bloating, constipation, and the impact of irritable bowel syndrome . They can also provide immune-boosting benefits.
Additionally, new research has shown that probiotics can provide positive benefits for mental health. The concept was further supported through the establishment of psychobiotics, certain strains that may affect cognition and reduce depression.
Most people consume probiotics through supplements or fermented foods. Luckily for you, quite a few famous cheeses fall in that category. Enjoying quality fermented cheeses is a beautiful way to feature more healthy probiotics in your diet.
