It is believed that the ancient Romans had prototypes of cottage cheese. Today cottage cheese is present in many national cuisines of the world. In some countries, it is considered one of the varieties of cheese, and somewhere a separate product. It is actively used in clinical nutrition and in all kinds of diets. But, how to find out what are the benefits and harms of cottage cheese? However, first things first.

Composition and calories

In many ways, the chemical composition depends on the fat content of the product, as well as its calorie content. The calorie numbers are something like this:

  1. Fat contains 226 kcal per 100g.
  2. Bold is 156.
  3. Low fat - 86 kcal.
  4. In fat-free cottage cheese - 70 kcal.

It is worth noting that cottage cheese is considered fat with 19% fat per 100g, in bold - 1-18%, in non-fat - a maximum of 3%. Carbohydrates here are represented by lactose, proteins contain from 14 to 18 g. The vitamin composition of cottage cheese is also rich. Yes, there is:

  • retinol;
  • beta carotene;
  • riboflavin;
  • thiamine;
  • nicotinic acid;
  • tocopherol (exclusively in fatty cottage cheese);
  • ascorbin;
  • cyanocobalamin (where the fat content is high);
  • folic acid (not present in low-fat cottage cheese).

The mineral composition of the dairy product is also luxurious. Yes, there is:

  • iron;
  • calcium (cottage cheese is one of the champions in its content);
  • sodium;
  • phosphorus in large quantities;
  • magnesium;
  • zinc (only in fatty cottage cheese);
  • potassium;
  • fluorine (only in fatty forms);
  • copper (only in fatty cottage cheese).


Useful properties of cottage cheese

One of the main advantages of cottage cheese is that it is easily and quickly digested, because this product lacks both cellular and tissue structure, which distinguishes it from animal proteins. Proteins are not only abundant here, but they are also well balanced due to their denaturation. In addition, casein itself is easier to digest than animal proteins. When using cottage cheese, much less gastric juice, enzymes and hydrochloric acid are released than when using other fermented milk products.

There is also a lot of methionine, that is, an essential amino acid that has a lipotropic effect. Methionine not only lowers the level of "bad" cholesterol, but also prevents the development of fatty liver. This problem can occur, for example, when taking certain medications and when strong toxins act on the body. When taking anabolic steroids to treat certain ailments, this dairy product is a must.

Another value of it lies in the abundance of calcium, which, like proteins, is easily absorbed by the body. And it's not just bones, hair, nails and teeth. This fermented milk product is a medicine for the treatment of rickets and ailments of the musculoskeletal system, after fractures, in addition, it restores cartilage tissue. It also has a positive effect on nerve tissue.

This product is simply necessary for diseases of the heart, blood vessels, blood and hematopoiesis. Cottage cheese must be in diets for the treatment of liver ailments, hypertension, atherosclerosis, tuberculosis.

As a dietary product, it is also used in the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments. These are ordinary gastritis, and ulcers, and intestinal ailments, and pancreatitis, and all diseases of the gallbladder or liver. In addition, the product also contributes to the removal of excess urine from the body, therefore it is recommended not only for hypertension, but also for diabetes and kidney ailments, as well as for all kinds of edema.

But traditional medicine has come up with a way to use it externally. So, with bronchitis and pneumonia, it is recommended to make a honey-curd compress at night. It is laid on the back and secured with paper and a warm cloth.

Harm of cottage cheese

An ideal product for a diet can, in some cases, do harm. For example, it is definitely not suitable for people who have lactose intolerance. It is not recommended to abuse this product for kidney ailments: there are too many proteins that load this paired organ.

Fatty types of cottage cheese are not recommended for those who suffer from or atherosclerosis. Well, of course, it is forbidden to eat spoiled cottage cheese, which has expired: at the store it does not exceed 5 days, at home - no more than a day and a half. Delay can provoke intestinal infections.


Types of cottage cheese

Varieties of cottage cheese differ not only in fat content, but also in other criteria. So, according to the method of preparation, cottage cheese can be divided into two types:

  1. Acid-rennet, in the manufacture of which pepsin is used (rennet can be used) and lactic acid bacteria, more precisely, their starter cultures.
  2. Acid. Here, only starter cultures are used to fold the protein. It is usually made from skimmed milk.

Fat-free cottage cheese: benefits and harms

Fat-free cottage cheese is no less useful than any other. There is phosphorus, and calcium, and proteins. But there are some subtleties.

It cannot actively harm health, but a reduced percentage of fats makes it less possible to fully absorb the same calcium and proteins. So, calcium is poorly absorbed without fat-soluble vitamins, which are almost absent in this product. And finally, there is not much cephalin and lecithin here, which are involved in many processes in the body, for example, in the transmission of a nerve impulse.

In addition, the taste of such cottage cheese is not very expressive. It's not terrible, but manufacturers improve it with nutritional supplements. Not all of them are useful.

Albumin cottage cheese: benefits and harms

This is a secondary raw material of cheese making, it is prepared from cheese whey and enriched with albumin protein. There are no fats, only 2 g of carbohydrates, but a dozen and a half names of microelements and macroelements. The product is easily digested, has a positive effect on metabolism and immunity. Helps to remove cholesterol and maintain water-salt metabolism, ideal for overweight people.

It can be harmful if expired, or for people with kidney problems: in this case, its amount is reduced to 400 g per day.

Grain cottage cheese: benefits and harms

Its benefits and harms are identical to any other type of cottage cheese, but it spoils more slowly than normal and is larger in volume. However, do not joke with the shelf life of the product.

Frozen cottage cheese: benefits and harms

When frozen, this product does not lose its beneficial and harmful properties, but it must be frozen and thawed correctly:

  1. The “correct” freezing temperature is from 18 degrees below zero.
  2. You need to freeze in small portions, you can not use plastic bags.
  3. You can store up to two months.
  4. It is better to defrost in the refrigerator - it will take about half a day, but this way you will not lose the beneficial properties of the product.
  5. After defrosting, squeeze the product lightly.
  6. It is better not to freeze cheese masses and sweet curds.

Goat cottage cheese: benefits and harms

This product is distinguished by a large amount of vitamins B 2 and B12, rich in magnesium and copper. By the amount of protein, it is close to meat, but less calorie. The product is mandatory for use by patients with osteoporosis.

It can become harmful only when consumed in excess: there are a lot of saturated fatty acids, and they lead to weight gain. Abuse of the product can also lead to an increase in cholesterol levels.

Homemade cottage cheese: benefits and harms

If you made cottage cheese with your own hands, then you are confident in the quality of the products from which it was prepared. And this is a big plus. Homemade cottage cheese is no less useful than store-bought options.

But it can be harmful if the expiration date has long expired. You can store it for only 36 hours. Spoiled cottage cheese can provoke vomiting and nausea.

Cottage cheese from powdered milk: benefits and harms

Powdered milk, and hence the cottage cheese from it, retains all its useful properties. The only feature is that the product has reduced fat content.

Harm is possible only if low-quality milk powder or its dubious substitutes were used in the preparation.


Combination with other products

Cottage cheese goes well with both sweet and cinnamon. But we will talk about the most famous combinations.

With honey. Cottage cheese is good because it gives the body an infinite amount of vitamins, microelements and macroelements and helps the immune system to work.

Harm is possible only if honey is of poor quality, you are allergic to it, or you abuse honey: this is also excess sugar in the blood.

With sour cream. Together, they will not only provide calcium to even the most growing body, but are generally capable of much. Sour cream is very rich in useful elements, including biotin, beta-carotene, phospholipids, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and potassium. This dish is simply necessary for young children whose musculoskeletal system and teeth are being formed.

Since sour cream is rich in fats, it is better to limit it to people who are prone to fullness and suffering from vascular diseases.

Cottage cheese with linseed oil. These are products made for each other. Flaxseed oil is a luxurious source of linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids. Proteins allow them to be better absorbed. And the acids themselves help the rapid absorption of all the nutrients from the cottage cheese. This mixture will help to lose weight and normalize the work of the female genitourinary system.

Harm is possible if you have chronic pancreatitis or cholecystitis. The mixture is not recommended for "female" cancers. Well, the oil must be fresh.

Cottage cheese with sugar or jam. Here we are talking about improving the taste of cottage cheese. And if jam is fruit, which means some vitamins, then sugar will only add calories and provoke weight gain. But you can replace them with dried fruits or marmalade.

For the male body

Cottage cheese, especially albumin, is the best way to build muscle mass without dangerous chemicals. Therefore, athletes need to pay close attention to it.

Benefit and harm to a woman's body

Cottage cheese is not only a source of beauty. It will help fight bone thinning during menopause, establish the menstrual cycle, but also overcome frigidity. Without fail, expectant mothers need it, but also nursing ones too.

Cottage cheese for children

Often this is the very first complementary food. And the most needed. For children whose skeleton and molars are just being formed, this product is simply necessary. Schoolchildren need it to maintain brain function and intellectual development.

Cottage cheese can be harmful to children only if it is intolerant, if it is a poor-quality product (remember that it is easier for a child to get poisoned) and if there are problems with the kidneys.

For people aged

With age, when the lack of calcium is more and more noticeable (and these are permanent fractures and injuries), you need to include this product in your menu. And even if they never loved him.

It is important to remember that in adulthood, the metabolism slows down. In order not to burden the body, older people are better off eating low-fat types of cottage cheese.

Cottage cheese for weight loss

Cottage cheese is an important component of many protein (and not only) diets. It perfectly saturates and does not allow you to eat too much. But do not abuse it - an excess of protein leads to serious metabolic disorders and liver diseases.

conclusions

Cottage cheese is a product that can be called a buzzword superfood. There is a sea of ​​minerals and vitamins, as well as protein that is easily digestible. But all this applies only to high-quality cottage cheese. Also, don't overuse it. And finally, you should not choose the most low-fat types of it: in this way you deprive yourself of many vitamins.

The first indirect documentary references to cottage cheese can be found in the civilization of Mesopotamia. This product was actively used in ancient Rome. On the territory of Ancient Rus', cottage cheese was called cheese, respectively, any dishes based on it received a root similar in sound.

The name of the product, revered by the Slavs, took root so strongly that it was used for a long period of time even after hard cheeses appeared in everyday life. Modern methods of preservation were not yet known at that time, therefore, cottage cheese was practically not stored unchanged - it was pressed, placed in an oven, and after the moisture came out, it was placed in pots and poured with ghee. In this form, the cellar product could be stored for months.

Compound

Cottage cheese consists of a large number of a wide variety of components, the concentration of which strongly depends on the type of cottage cheese and its fat content.

Percentage and component composition:

  1. Water - from 64 to 70 percent;
  2. Proteins - from 14 to 18 percent;
  3. Fats (including saturated and monounsaturated) - from 0.1 to 18 percent;
  4. Carbohydrates (lactose and galactose) - from 1 to 1.5 percent;
  5. Ash - from 1 to 1.2 percent.

Also, cottage cheese contains a number of minerals and vitamins:

  1. Vitamins: A, B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, PP, C, E, B12, H beta-carotene;
  2. Minerals - sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, selenium, manganese, molybdenum and fluorine;
  3. Replaceable and irreplaceable amino acids - arginine, valine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methiodin, cysteine, threonine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, alanine, glycine, proline, serine, aspartic and glutamic acids.

Types of cottage cheese

First of all, cottage cheese is divided according to its consumer properties:

  1. Classical. Has a fat content of 4 to 18 percent;
  2. Non-greasy. Bold version of cottage cheese 1.8 percent;
  3. Fatty. Most often, a home-made non-winnowed product with a fat content of 19 to 23 percent;
  4. Fat-free. Fat is present only in trace amounts, less than 0.1 percent;
  5. Calcined. Cottage cheese, additionally saturated with calcium;
  6. Curd with additives. They are usually nuts, raisins, candied fruits, dried fruits, various jams and preserves.

In addition, the product is also divided according to the method of production:

  1. Classic-traditional. It has two variations - acid and acid-rennet. In the first case, it is prepared from skimmed milk, the coagulation process occurs due to lactic acid and fermentation under the action of starter cultures. The second option is the use of lactic acid bacteria and rennet;
  2. Separated. The base product (pre-refined milk) can be separated to produce skimmed milk and 50–55 percent cream. Next, cottage cheese is produced from the fat-free substrate using acid-rennet coagulation, and after cooling, a small amount of previously obtained cream is added to the finished product.

Another cottage cheese is divided by consistency:

  1. Grain. Classic "home" product;
  2. Pasty. It has an oily texture in the form of a homogeneous mixture.

Calorie content and nutritional value of cottage cheese

The total calorie content of cottage cheese is very much dependent on its fat content. So, the energy value of a dietary product is only 700 kcal per kilogram. Low-fat and bold types have a calorie content of 860 and 1560 kcal / kg, respectively. The energy value of fatty cottage cheese can reach 2260–2500 kcal per kilogram of product.

The mass composition also partly depends on the type of cottage cheese. The typical nutritional value of the most popular and widespread product in terms of 100 grams of weight corresponding to modern GOSTs (bold-fat cottage cheese, 9 percent) is as follows:

  1. Proteins - 18 grams;
  2. Fats - 9 grams;
  3. Carbohydrates - 3 grams;
  4. Water - 67.8 grams;
  5. Ash components - 1 gram;
  6. Dietary fiber - absent.

As mentioned above, depending on the fat content of the cottage cheese and the method of its preparation, the nutritional value can vary between 5-15 percent.

Curd is not just recommended for use, regardless of age and gender, as an extremely useful product in all aspects. Its unique natural composition, as well as many types of products, makes it possible to introduce a fermented milk product into a number of general and specific diets.

First of all, fat-free cottage cheese is recommended for children from 5 years old, pregnant women and nursing mothers as products rich in calcium and phosphorus salts, essential amino acids - these elements have a beneficial effect on bone growth, as well as the activity of the entire cardiovascular system. In addition, the multicomponent mineral composition will be useful for patients with tuberculosis and anemia, for patients with kidney and liver problems, as it perfectly normalizes metabolic processes and removes excess fluid from the body.

Low-fat types of cottage cheese are often prescribed for gout and obesity, as an alternative to meat and fish, a product that contains proteins in a fairly high concentration. The yeast and acidophilic colonies of bacteria that are part of the cottage cheese have a positive effect on the restoration of the intestinal microflora, respectively, they are suitable for a wide variety of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (except for dystrophic-systemic ones). Do not forget about the product and those who have problems with bad hair, nails, teeth - the mandatory three meals a day of the above food in its pure form will significantly improve the condition of these body components.

Fatty varieties of cottage cheese are an excellent useful and high-calorie source of body recovery after major operations - it is often recommended by nutritionists to anyone who needs a full and enhanced diet.

The vitamin composition of cottage cheese is not as impressive as the mineral one, however, the high concentration of elements of groups B, D allows you to use it as an element of a therapeutic diet in cases of atherosclerosis, as well as a prophylactic against night blindness, problems with the musculoskeletal system, premature aging, a number of other diseases.

Cottage cheese can be used not only for food - creams, ointments, face and body masks are made from it at home, even burns are treated.

Dangerous properties of cottage cheese

In some cases, cottage cheese can be dangerous to human health. We describe the most typical cases:

  1. Uncontrolled use of the product. Cottage cheese (especially its fatty types) is a fairly high-calorie product. The recommended dosage of the first use is 100 grams 3-4 times a week. If you significantly exceed this dosage on an ongoing basis, then the risks of obesity increase, and atherosclerosis may also develop against the background of an increase in cholesterol levels. Also, an excess of calcium can affect the deterioration of the cardiovascular system.
  2. Absolute protein intolerance or oversaturation of the body with it. A number of people may have an absolute intolerance to any protein food - cottage cheese is categorically contraindicated for them. Also, the absence of restrictions on the use of products against the background of a monotonous menu can provoke a change in the balance of protein in the body, which in the first place will greatly affect the kidneys from the negative side.
  3. Prohibition of use in case of serious health problems. Doctors recommend significantly limiting the intake or completely abandoning the use of cottage cheese for food in case of destructive systemic pathologies of the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract in the stage of decompensation. Such patients are prescribed a super-strict diet, and nutrients are introduced mainly by drip.
  4. Best before date. A very commonplace, but common reason for the harm of cottage cheese is the expiration of its shelf life. Being a natural product of animal origin, cottage cheese spoils rather quickly and can be stored for no more than 4-5 days even at a low temperature in the refrigerator. After this period, pathogenic microflora may begin to multiply in the home product, leading to poisoning and even a broad spectrum bacterial infection. Industrial options in aseptic vacuum packaging with preservatives have longer shelf life, but in any case, pay attention to them when purchasing the product. Appropriate expiration dates? It is better to refuse such food or, in extreme cases, give it a thorough heat treatment, making cheesecakes, casseroles or any other dish, but not eating it raw.

How to make homemade cottage cheese?

Most often, cottage cheese at home is made from milk. Below is a classic cooking recipe - relatively simple and effective.

  1. Take a sufficient amount of milk (2-3 liters), pour it into a saucepan, cover with a lid and put it in a warm place for a day so that the primary product turns sour. Optionally, add a few tablespoons of low-fat sour cream to the liquid - this will give the future product a slight sourness;
  2. At the end of the day, make sure that the milk is really sour, then place the pan with the liquid in a large container (if your milk is in a 3-liter container, then you need to place the pan in a 5-liter or 7-liter one), coinciding with original height. Fill the gap between the above dishes with plain water;
  3. Put the "double pan" on a slow fire, then temporarily do not move away from the stove and watch the milk. As it slowly boils, a yellowish liquid will begin to emerge and separation will occur. Turn off the stove immediately and remove our containers from it. A vessel with sour milk after heat treatment must be cooled to room temperature;
  4. Take a large sieve, put gauze in 2 layers on its inner bottom. Use a large spoon to scoop up the substrate from the pot and place it on the cheesecloth. Partially filling the sieve, lift the edges of the gauze from the sides and tie them into a kind of bag - it can be hung by a knot for whey to drain;
  5. After 15–20 minutes, open the "bags" - the product remaining inside is homemade cottage cheese.
  1. Large clots, laid out on a sieve from a pan, are best cut even in a container to a small size, and then placed on gauze;
  2. Carefully monitor the process of boiling sour milk and be sure to wait for the moment of coagulation and the formation of a yellowish liquid, then immediately remove it from the stove. When the substrate is overheated, the cottage cheese will be crayons and crumbly, while underheating it will become sour;
  3. To get the most dense cottage cheese, after laying it out on gauze and tying a knot, put a clean kitchen board on the “bag” and create an additional burden (by placing, for example, a jar of jam);
  4. The whey remaining after the curd preparation procedure can be used to create delicious kvass, jelly or kissel.

Curd from kefir

Cottage cheese can be prepared not only from milk - kefir is often used for this. There are quite a few similar recipes for preparing the above product, both by the classical method and forced, by heating on the stove or in the microwave. However, here we will present an alternative option for creating cottage cheese from kefir - by freezing. Suddenly? But it is very simple and effective, moreover, without actually applying any effort.

  1. Place the package with the base product in the freezer, preferably in the evening. By morning, kefir will completely freeze;
  2. In the morning, carefully open the package and place the resulting rectangular bar to thaw on a sieve, which must first be lined with gauze in 2 layers. After 8–10 hours at room temperature, the whey will drain completely, leaving delicious tender cottage cheese on cheesecloth, pasty consistency, very similar in taste to ricotta.

Cottage cheese recipes step by step

In the world over the past millennia, hundreds of the most diverse recipes for cottage cheese dishes have been created - they differ in local characteristics, color, and manufacturing method. Below are the options for classic Eastern European cuisine, the most adapted and in demand in the post-Soviet space.

Syrniki is a classic Slavic dish that could be found on the table of any family that regularly uses dairy and sour-milk products for food. They are healthy, nutritious, easy to prepare, suitable for everyday diet.

Ingredients:

  1. Half a kilo of medium-fat cottage cheese;
  2. Three tablespoons of flour;
  3. 2-3 tablespoons of sugar;
  4. Several fresh eggs;
  5. Sunflower oil, 50 grams of raisins, flour.

Cooking:

  1. Rinse and steam the raisins in warm water;
  2. Mix cottage cheese with sugar and carefully rub through a sieve with medium cells;
  3. Add the cooked eggs and 1 cup flour to the mixture. As it should, knead the resulting consistency, then pour in the raisins and mix thoroughly again;
  4. Prepare a work surface with breading (a thin layer of flour on a board). Lightly moisten your hands and form small cakes from the prepared dough, rolling them in flour;
  5. Leave the prepared cakes for 10 minutes, then roll them again in breading;
  6. Pour a sufficient amount of oil into the pan, heat the dishes over low heat and fry the cakes for 1.5–2 minutes on each side until fully cooked;
  7. Ready cheesecakes are served hot, if necessary, sour cream is added to them in a separate bowl.
  1. Fry the cakes until a golden crust forms, preferably covering the pan with a lid - so the cheesecakes will turn out juicy and soft;
  2. Do not use a lot of breading - this will spoil the taste of the final product;
  3. The dough should be thick, not sticky to the hands and look like a classic curd mass;
  4. Fresh dry cottage cheese is suitable for cheesecakes - so their taste will be perfect.

Cottage cheese casserole is an ancient Slavic version of British pudding and Italian lasagna, a tasty, healthy and relatively easy-to-prepare dish that is equally loved by both old and young.

Ingredients:

  1. 300 grams of cottage cheese;
  2. 4 tablespoons of semolina;
  3. ½ cup sour cream 15% fat;
  4. 2 eggs;
  5. 4 tablespoons of sugar;
  6. 100 grams of raisins;
  7. 1 sachet of baking powder;
  8. A pinch of vanillin;
  9. ¼ teaspoon salt, vegetable oil.

Cooking:

  1. Wash and steam the raisins in warm water;
  2. Mix semolina with sour cream and set aside for 15 minutes;
  3. Put cottage cheese, a mixture of semolina and sour cream, vanillin, the contents of 1 sachet of baking powder and salt into a container, then mix thoroughly, you can use a blender. The output should be a pasty mixture without lumps;
  4. Pour pre-beaten eggs with sugar into the mixture (they should have a thick, stable foam) and mix gently;
  5. Add prepared raisins and stir again;
  6. Lubricate the baking dish with oil, sprinkle it with semolina;
  7. Pour the mixture into the mold, then put the workpiece in the oven at 180 degrees and bake for ¾ hours;
  8. Take out the casserole, let it cool a little to a warm state, then cut the dish and arrange it on plates;
  9. Cottage cheese casserole served warm with sour cream.
  1. Choose only homemade cottage cheese for the dish;
  2. Do not use flour - there is semolina to replace it. With it, the casserole will retain its magnificent forms and will be as tasty as possible;
  3. Observe the temperature regime. If your oven cannot maintain a constant temperature of 180 degrees, then you will have to be at the oven and vary the temperature so that the bottom layer of the dish does not burn, and the top is baked enough.

Cheesecake is a relatively new name for Russia, borrowed from American cuisine. This term usually means a cheese-containing dessert, but in our case, homemade cottage cheese is used instead of the classic Philadelphia hard cheese.

It is noteworthy that this dish is not originally American, but came to the country from old Europe - cheesecakes were first cooked in ancient Greece (the athletes of those times were fed delicious desserts at the Olympics).

Ingredients:

  1. For cream - ½ kilogram of homemade fatty cottage cheese, 100 grams of 35 percent cream, 150 grams of sugar, 5 yolks and 4 proteins, a tablespoon of flour and jam with powdered sugar for serving;
  2. For the dough - 170 grams of flour, 1 egg, 100 grams of chilled creamy margarine, 50 grams of powdered sugar and a little salt.

Cooking:

  1. Three margarine on a fine grater, adding salt and flour to it;
  2. We put powdered sugar and the contents of the egg into the mixture, after which we gently knead the dough;
  3. We wrap the resulting dough in a film and place it in the refrigerator for ½ hour;
  4. We wipe the cottage cheese through a fine sieve;
  5. Separate the yolks and proteins;
  6. Add the yolks to the curd mass, 1 each, slowly beating with a mixer, after which we report the flour and sugar, also mixing thoroughly and slowly. The last step in working with the mixer is adding cream to the consistency;
  7. In a separate bowl, beat the whites and mix the finished mix with our curd mass;
  8. We roll out the chilled dough with a thin layer (no more than 4 millimeters), after which we lay it in the mold;
  9. Gently spread the cream on the dough;
  10. Turn on the oven at 170 degrees and bake for 40 minutes;
  11. Reduce to 150 degrees and bake for another 20 minutes;
  12. The last stage is 150 degrees and 12 minutes;
  13. Leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door open for 1 hour;
  14. Cut, serve with powdered sugar / jam, serve a dish at room temperature.
  1. Follow the instructions exactly, especially in terms of volume and weight of ingredients;
  2. Bake carefully, gradually lowering the temperature, as stated in the instructions - so the cheesecake will become ruddy, will not burn or crack;
  3. You can decorate the finished dish not only with jam or powdered sugar - liquid chocolate, syrup and even marmalade are also suitable.

Sometimes you want to dilute the gray everyday life and pamper your family with something tasty, but you don’t have the strength and desire for a gastronomic masterpiece that lasts for many hours. The way out can be cottage cheese cookies - very tender, nutritious and also easy to prepare.

Ingredients:

  1. 200 grams of bold cottage cheese;
  2. 100 grams of butter (not spread!);
  3. 1 full glass of flour;
  4. 4 tablespoons of sugar;
  5. ¼ teaspoon of soda;
  6. Vegetable oil.

Cooking:

  1. Thoroughly rub the cottage cheese, using a sieve with small cells for this;
  2. Melt the butter, cool it and add to the curd mass, adding flour with soda and kneading the dough;
  3. Wrap the dough in cling film and place in the refrigerator for two hours;
  4. Roll small balls from the dough no larger than an average walnut, form them into cakes and bread in sugar, folding the products with a “bud” - the output should be “triangles”;
  5. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper, grease with oil, put the liver on it and bake at 200 degrees for about 20 minutes;
  6. Cool cookies until warm and serve.
  1. After cooking, cookies can be decorated with powdered sugar;
  2. Products are suitable for both simple home tea drinking and for treating guests;
  3. Despite the abundance of delicious ingredients, the calorie content of such a liver is relatively low, so you can safely use 5-6 pieces for your pleasure without harm to the figure.

Useful video

Live healthy - Cottage cheese: useful properties

The protagonist of this article, as you already understood, is cottage cheese, its benefits and harms to the body, how it affects the health of women and men, whether it is needed for older people and how important it is for children and pregnant women.

Cottage cheese is not an unfamiliar and little-known product, and I think that not only adults, but also children know that it is useful. I'm sure they often hear the following phrase from their parents: "Eat cottage cheese, it's very healthy." So why is it useful?

A little history about cottage cheese

But before we start talking about the benefits and harms of cottage cheese, let's look into the past of this product.

History is silent about how people learned to make cottage cheese, suggest that it was by accident, but this product has been known for a long time. There is a record of Roman scribes dated to the 1st century AD and it said that cottage cheese was a favorite product among different segments of the population.

According to an ancient legend, God Krishna considered cottage cheese a gift from Mother Nature because of the beneficial effect of this product on the human body.

In ancient Rus', they also knew and loved cottage cheese, though they called it cheese, apparently since those times the name of a popular and beloved by many dishes has come to us - syrniki.

Under Peter I, hard cheeses appeared in Russia, and therefore it was necessary to separate the names of products. We borrowed from the Poles and Ukrainians, their version is cottage cheese, but we just changed the emphasis and got the Russian version - cottage cheese. Apparently, therefore, it is not forbidden to emphasize any letter “o”, so feel free to speak the way you are used to, this will not be a mistake.

Where did the word "curd" come from? Experts in this field associate it with the word "create" and there is an explanation for this. After all, before it appears on our table, it must be done, there is even an entry in one old book on nutrition - “curds were made from milk.”

Cottage cheese - benefits for the human body

In order to understand what benefits, and maybe harm, cottage cheese brings to our body, we will evaluate its composition.
Cottage cheese is a product obtained from milk, but not immediately, but in stages. First, curdled milk is made from milk, adding a special lactic ferment to it, and then, by heating, the liquid is separated - whey, and cottage cheese remains, a kind of milk concentrate, which took all the best from it.


The chemical composition of cottage cheese:

  • vitamins A, B, C, D, PP;
  • proteins;
  • enzymes;
  • fats;
  • carbohydrates - lactose (milk sugar), galactose;
  • minerals - the main phosphorus, calcium, iron, as well as many others, such as fluorine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, sodium, potassium;
  • hormones.

Nutritional value of cottage cheese:

Well, the composition of cottage cheese is quite impressive, but before talking about the benefits of cottage cheese for humans, I would like to reveal a little information about some of its useful substances.

  • Let's start with the most important nutrient that cottage cheese is rich in - protein. The protein found in cottage cheese is an animal protein, it contains a more complete and balanced composition of essential and non-essential amino acids when compared to vegetable protein sources. Also, vegetable protein during digestion can be accompanied by fermentation, bloating, and the formation of gases. When digesting milk protein, such negative factors do not occur.
  • And now let's compare the proteins of cottage cheese and meat - of course, meat products contain more protein, but it has such a drawback as a longer and more difficult digestion process, and for better absorption it is necessary to add plant foods (greens, fresh vegetables). In its pure form, meat can cause the rapid multiplication of putrefactive bacteria in the digestive tract, which in turn can provoke serious intestinal diseases. Because of the milk protein, such problems do not happen.

Of course, if a person has good health, then such deficiencies in vegetable and meat protein will not cause much discomfort, but for people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, with the functioning of the liver and kidneys, this can be a significant disadvantage. Therefore, for such people, cottage cheese will be an excellent source of protein; of all dairy products, it is the easiest to digest.

  • What else is interesting about cottage cheese in terms of the protein it contains. There are proteins (proteins) that are digested for a long time, and there are easily digestible ones. Cottage cheese contains a complex protein, it contains both, so this product can be eaten at any time of the day, you just need to take into account its fat content.
  • Speaking of fats, our body also needs them, you can read about it. The advantage of milk fat is that it is considered easily digestible, it is especially important for people with serious liver diseases to know that cottage cheese will be useful for them, unlike other fatty foods.
  • By the content of carbohydrates - cottage cheese does not go ahead of the rest, it has a fairly low content. But, for example, for people with diabetes, this is a big plus.

Considering the nutritional value of cottage cheese, I have already talked about some of its beneficial properties and positive effects on our body. But this is only a small part of the benefits of cottage cheese.

  1. We have already concluded that the nutrients found in cottage cheese are quite easily absorbed by our bodies. It also helps other foods to be more easily digested, so cottage cheese is good to combine with different foods, even with spicy foods. Cottage cheese is able to neutralize the effect of spicy foods.
  2. If you care about the health of the cardiovascular system of your body, then cottage cheese will help you. It lowers cholesterol, participates in the process of blood formation, thins the blood, normalizes blood pressure, helps strengthen the heart muscle.
  3. Cottage cheese promotes the formation of hemoglobin in the blood, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, contributes to the overall strengthening of the nervous system, so cottage cheese is an excellent replacement for antidepressants.
  4. The high protein content makes cottage cheese a product that works to improve our immunity, thereby protecting our body from bacteria, viruses, cancer.
  5. Cottage cheese, or rather the beneficial bacteria that it contains, improve the microflora, so it is recommended to eat cottage cheese while taking antibiotics.
  6. The antifungal effect of cottage cheese is used even in the fight against dandruff. To do this, you need to make a mask for the scalp from soft grated cottage cheese, although you need to walk with this mask for at least an hour.
  7. We all know how important calcium is for the body, its deficiency can cause diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis and other diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system. But for the formation of a full-fledged skeletal system, phosphorus is also needed. So cottage cheese is rich in both calcium and phosphorus. It also strengthens hair, nails, teeth.
  8. They said about the benefits for the hair, but cottage cheese is also very good for the skin. It is often used in cosmetology for various masks, due to the content of vitamins and trace elements necessary for the skin. For an example, watch one of the cottage cheese masks in the video:

Doctors of different directions recommend including cottage cheese in our diet for heart diseases and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as for the liver, gallbladder, etc. Do not exclude cottage cheese and nutritionists - low-fat cottage cheese is present in many diets for weight loss and is recommended for fasting days.

As you can see, the benefits of cottage cheese are obvious, and for everyone, regardless of gender and age. But I will still dwell on some of the individual characteristics of cottage cheese.

The benefits of cottage cheese for children

Of course, cottage cheese is very useful for children. The balanced composition of useful substances of cottage cheese makes it an indispensable product of baby food, providing the child's body with harmonious growth and development.

It does not irritate the mucous membrane of the baby's stomach, so they begin to introduce it as complementary foods from the age of 6 months.

Health benefits of cottage cheese for women

  • I have already talked about the antifungal effect of cottage cheese, so it is useful for women, as it can prevent thrush.
  • Pregnant women should definitely include cottage cheese in their diet, it should actually be the No. 1 product, since it contains very important components for the normal development of the fetus, and will also make nutrition complete and without additional stress on the gastrointestinal tract for the woman herself. After all, if, for example, a pregnant woman does not consume dairy products in sufficient quantities, then the child will take the missing substances from the female body, and this will naturally affect the health of the pregnant woman, there may be problems with teeth, brittle bones and other negative consequences.
  • At a later age, especially during menopause, calcium deficiency begins in women, which can lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system, irritability appears - including cottage cheese in your diet can help the body cope with this difficult period in a woman's life.

Health benefits of cottage cheese for men

Cottage cheese contains casein protein, so this product is very popular with athletes, it is slowly broken down in the body, promotes muscle growth.

B vitamins, as well as zinc and selenium, which are part of cottage cheese, contribute to the production of natural testosterone, so it is important for men to include cottage cheese in their diet for normal hormonal levels and male strength.

What is useful cottage cheese for the elderly

  • In addition to the above-mentioned beneficial properties of cottage cheese, which have a beneficial effect on people of any age, I would like to note that cottage cheese helps older people cope with problems associated with high cholesterol.
  • Often in the body of older people milk is not absorbed (lactose intolerance), there is not so much lactose in cottage cheese, so it, unlike milk, is easily absorbed.

Cottage cheese - harm to the body

We learned about the benefits of cottage cheese, whether there is harm from cottage cheese to a person.

Daily maximum rate consumption of cottage cheese for an adult - 200 gr.

Why such a limitation if it is so useful. I never get tired of repeating - every useful product has its own “but”.

  1. The casein protein contained in cottage cheese contributes to the formation of edema, in particular swelling of the joints, and can also cause an autoimmune disease, so it is important to comply with the norm, especially for the elderly.
  2. An excess of animal fats can contribute to clogging of the liver ducts.
  3. Do not take cottage cheese if you are allergic to milk proteins.

The biggest “BUT” of this dairy product is its quality, because our body will benefit only from real cottage cheese, and not from the curd product, which is now so much in our supermarkets.

This concludes my conversation about cottage cheese, about its benefits and harm to the body. I hope the information was interesting and useful for you.

Elena Kasatova. See you by the fireplace.

Cottage cheese. Its pros and cons

Cottage cheese - this product is considered the most ancient, the manufacture of which was carried out by the Romans, Slavs and many other peoples.

Unfortunately, history does not tell us when cottage cheese first appeared. Most likely, he appeared at a time when civilization was just emerging, and people began to use animal milk for food.

By now, nothing has changed. Cottage cheese has become quite a popular product, which is used during the preparation of various dishes. In this article, we will try to understand the beneficial properties of cottage cheese. Is it really that useful? And will it be harmful to health?

And so, let's start with the beneficial properties of cottage cheese

This fermented milk product is rich in calcium and phosphorus. Without these components, the normal formation of bones and teeth is simply impossible. It is especially recommended to eat cottage cheese for pregnant women when the fetus begins to form.

Cottage cheese is very beneficial for the health of young children. That is why, it is practically the first product during complementary feeding. It is also often used in children's and clinical nutrition. An irreplaceable product for diseases of the liver, digestive tract, kidneys, and lungs.

If every day to eat the daily norm of fermented milk products, they contribute to the normalization of hemoglobin in the body. People with a metabolic problem are advised to constantly eat cottage cheese. The norm for an adult is 300 grams.

Curd with honey

Such a favorite delicacy as honey, a fairly high-calorie product. But if you combine it with cottage cheese, you get healthy and nutritious food.

Advantages of cottage cheese with honey:

  • The resulting dish is recommended to eat for those people who need to strengthen their immunity;
  • This product is rich in lactobacilli, and its combination with honey has a great effect on the digestive background;
  • Cottage cheese in combination with honey is recommended for people who are overweight. It is bee enzymes that unhook fat cells, and cottage cheese is considered a low-calorie product;
  • Eating such a delicacy in the evening, you are guaranteed to improve your sleep;

The advantages of combining cottage cheese with honey can be listed endlessly. Such a product will only benefit.

Cottage cheese and sour cream

Both ingredients are fermented milk products. That is why the advantages and disadvantages of each product are determined by a person individually. But still, there are more advantages. These include:

  • Products contain a lot of calcium and vitamins, so this combination will only favorably affect bone tissue and the whole body as a whole;
  • Do treats boost immunity?
  • Doctors recommend eating sour cream with cottage cheese for teenagers to normalize hormonal imbalances;
  • The dish improves brain function, normalizes the digestive system, cardiovascular system;
  • Products strengthen nails, hair. For women, this dignity is extremely important;
  • A fermented milk product saturates the body with proteins and vitamins;

However, the use of each ingredient should be in moderation.

Skim cheese

The manufacturing technology of low-calorie curd is no different from the usual one. But during production, the amount of fat in it decreases. It is impossible to remove them completely. Fat-free cottage cheese is useful as well as fat. It contains: calcium, protein and phosphorus. As well as vitamins of groups A, B, C, PP.

The benefits of a low-calorie product:

  • For diabetics, it is recommended to consume at least 100 grams of fat-free cottage cheese, for protein, which is easily digestible;
  • It is recommended to eat the product for people who eat right;
  • Fat-free cottage cheese helps to restore the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • Necessary for the functioning of the thyroid gland;

A dietary product is often eaten by people who play sports and want to pump up muscle mass.

Goat curd

Since ancient times, goat's milk curd has been considered a product rich in all kinds of vitamins and minerals. It was especially useful for the elderly and children. If we compare products that are made from goat's and cow's milk, then their composition is almost the same. In addition, goat cottage cheese has the same fat content, but is easier to digest.

Positive properties of goat cheese:

  • The composition of the product includes a lot of calcium and phosphorus;
  • Especially useful for the category of people with a deficiency in the body of animal protein;
  • Goat curd is suitable for therapeutic nutrition for osteoporosis;

But it is worth remembering that you need to use any product in moderation, because excessive consumption can lead to an increase in blood cholesterol.

Cottage cheese with linseed oil

As a result of regular use of cottage cheese in this form, Omega-3 vitamins with protein particles enter the body. Experts recommend that young girls use a mixture of cottage cheese and flax, as it saturates the female body with alpha-linolenic acid. It is this acid that prevents the development of breast cancer. This mixture is also used for weight loss. In addition, it is useful to use oil for men who have problems with potency.

Curd with banana

First of all, a banana is a fruit that is rich in potassium, which is very necessary for the normal functioning of the brain, heart and muscles, in addition, bananas have many vitamins, such as: A, C, E, PP, group B.

The combination of cottage cheese with a banana is very useful, which is very useful for hypertension, as well as for all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Athletes often eat this mixture after training, it helps to restore strength and spent energy. And also a great dish for those who increase immunity. It is recommended to give the child cottage cheese with a banana during complementary foods.

Is frozen cottage cheese useful or not?

Nutritionists say that with proper freezing, cottage cheese can be frozen, and it is able to maintain its positive properties for two months. At home, freezing should be at a temperature not lower than -20 degrees. Shops, supermarkets and other retail outlets use dry freezing. It should be -30 degrees. With such a freezing, cottage cheese can be stored from 3 to 6 months and at the same time its properties are preserved.

Do not defrost cottage cheese, and then freeze it again. Such a product is already strictly prohibited.

Curd for breakfast. Benefit and harm

Among experts, there is an opinion that eating cottage cheese for breakfast is very useful, because it is not only a light dish, but it also contains: amino acids, protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin B. Such a breakfast has an absolutely beneficial effect on the figure. That is why people who are watching their figure or on a diet regularly eat cottage cheese for breakfast.

Cottage cheese can be eaten in its pure form, you can add fruits to it, or cook cheesecakes from it.

I would like to note not only the beneficial qualities of cottage cheese, but also harmful to health. For example, with the frequent use of this product in large quantities, an excess of protein may occur in the body, which in the future can provoke the appearance of various diseases. Before use, you need to look at the fat content of cottage cheese, because increased fat content can provoke such changes in the body as an increase in cholesterol.

Is it possible to eat cottage cheese at night?

According to experts, this issue can be considered from two sides. Cottage cheese is rich in vitamins and proteins, which supplies the muscles throughout sleep. It is also recommended to eat cottage cheese for those who want to build muscle mass.

On the other hand, any consumption of such food at night can cause a surge of insulin in the blood. Thus, the use of cottage cheese before bedtime, in turn, suppresses the work of growth hormone. To say that it won't work at all is wrong, but not to its full potential.

What is harmful cottage cheese?

Despite such a large number of positive properties, cottage cheese has its drawbacks. For example, if you use it more than three times a week in large portions, then it can harm the body. Do you want to eat cottage cheese every day? Make small portions, and check the fat content of the cottage cheese.

In addition, there is a lot of protein in cottage cheese, if you eat a lot of it, then it can adversely affect the kidneys.

Follow the expiration date if the buyer is in stores, and if it is a homemade product, then take it only from trusted people, since it is in the cottage cheese that E. coli develops first of all from all fermented milk products.

Cottage cheese (from the word "create") is a fermented milk product obtained by fermenting milk.

Cooking

Cottage cheese is one of the oldest fermented milk products known to mankind. The inhabitants of Ancient Rome, the ancient Slavs and many other peoples were engaged in the preparation of cottage cheese.

History has not preserved for us how cottage cheese was first obtained. This probably happened at the very dawn of civilization, as soon as man began to use animal milk for food.

In Rus', cottage cheese was obtained from ordinary sour milk - yogurt. It was placed in a clay pot for several hours in a heated oven, and then taken out and poured hot into a linen bag to drain the whey. Then they put it under the press and got the curd. This method is still used today.

Compound

Cottage cheese contains protein, minerals, lactose (milk sugar), fat, enzymes, vitamins.

In total, there are 12 vitamins in cottage cheese: A, D, C and vitamins of group B. It also contains calcium, iron, and phosphorus in large quantities. At the same time, cottage cheese contains only 3% carbohydrates. About 200 g of cottage cheese is obtained from 500 g of milk, respectively, the nutritional value of cottage cheese is much higher than that of milk.

Properties and application

Useful properties of cottage cheese are determined by its healing composition. Milk protein - casein, contained in cottage cheese, has a high nutritional value and can replace animal proteins.

The minerals that make up the cottage cheese contribute to the formation and strengthening of bone tissue. Amino acids contained in cottage cheese contribute to the prevention of liver diseases. B vitamins protect against atherosclerosis. Fat-free cottage cheese is a part of many diets for weight loss and fasting days.

Unlike meat, cottage cheese does not contain purines.

Lactic acid bacteria found in cottage cheese improve the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, normalize intestinal motility. It is useful for people suffering from diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, lungs. For people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is preferable to use cottage cheese in a processed form: dumplings, cheesecakes, etc.

Cottage cheese contributes to the formation of hemoglobin in the blood and the normalization of the nervous system. Cottage cheese is used not only as a food product. It is used in the form of various masks, creams and ointments for the skin of the face and body. Burns are treated with warm cottage cheese.

Despite all the listed beneficial properties of cottage cheese, it should not be consumed more than 200 g per day due to its high protein content.

Cottage cheese is useful for almost everyone, except in cases of serious kidney pathologies, or in cases where it is necessary to limit the intake of protein and calcium.

Cottage cheese is a perishable product, so it must be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2-3 days.

Curious fact

The words "cottage cheese" and "cheese" are clearly distinguished in Russian only now. And earlier in Old Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian and some other Slavic languages, the word "syr" meant both actually "cheese" and "cottage cheese". Therefore, for a long time, everything that was made from cottage cheese was called "cheese" (for example, syrniki).

Calorie content and nutritional value of cottage cheese

Calorie content of cottage cheese 18% fat - 236 kcal, bold 9% fat - 169 kcal, low-fat 0.6% - 110 kcal.

The nutritional value

cottage cheese 18% fat: proteins - 15 g, fats - 18 g, carbohydrates - 2.8 g,

semi-fat cottage cheese 9% fat: proteins - 18 g, fats - 9 g, carbohydrates - 3 g,

low-fat cottage cheese 0.6% fat: proteins - 22 g, fats - 0.6 g, carbohydrates - 3.3 g