Cottage cheese is loaded with health advantages. Do you need to eat it all day?

Similar to these controversial food pairings, if someone considers cottage cheese it is a common reaction to have two responses: Yum! or nope.

Whatever your personal preferences the fact that no matter what your preference, cottage cheese is a healthy snack that a lot of people enjoy. If you're not intimidated by the mere thought the cottage cheese we dug into the benefits of this favorite dairy food by speaking with the experts in nutrition Kimberly Snodgrass, RDN, an ambassador on behalf of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and Caryn Huneke, MS RD, CDN, CDCES Registered Dietitian at the Center for Weight Management at Northwell Health.

Does cottage cheese benefit you?

Yes! Snodgrass claims it's a good alternative because it's low in calories and is high in proteins in addition to vitamin B. She also says "It is important to note that the nutrients in cottage cheese may help support weight loss, muscle growth, and bone health."

Huneke was also vocal about its benefits, "Cottage cheese is a great, low-cost, and flexible way to increase calories. It can be consumed by itself or mixed with fruit. It can be used to boost protein content in dishes like pancakes and is able to be whipped to satisfy the craving for sweet or savory." You can think of pairing it in combination with tomatoes and basil to make a new twist on a Caprese salad or added with almond extract, powdered sugar, and mini chocolate chips to make an extremely protein-rich cannoli dip dessert.

She further states that cottage cheese could be the ideal late-night snack. "... to create the distinctive texture of cottage cheese liquid whey is squeezed out, leaving solid curds. The curds are stuffed with casein, which is the slow-digesting milk protein that makes cottage cheese a perfect evening snack, providing your body a continuous flow of protein throughout several hours in the night, which aids in recovery and muscle repair."

What are the health benefits of cottage cheese?

Apart from the reasons mentioned above cottage cheese can also help in the improvement of gut health. Because it is fermented frequently, (a process that helps eliminate the cheese curds from in the fluid) cottage cheese could be a source of "good" bacteria called probiotics. Snodgrass claims that probiotics can be "crucial" to good digestion. Huneke states that you can determine whether the cottage cheese has been fermented by examining the label. Keep on the lookout for the wording "contains live and active cultures." The list of ingredients should contain the exact strains of bacteria.

Is yogurt or cottage cheese more beneficial for you?

Cottage cheeses and yogurt are great alternatives for a nutritious and healthy snack. Snodgrass has a hard time deciding which one to decide, however, she believes there could be an unintentional winner. "Cottage cheese, however, has some advantages in terms of having a bit less sweetness than yogurt. You will also discover that yogurt contains greater protein in a cup than cottage cheese." the author explains.

In reality, the difference between them is hardly noticeable. Huneke offers a thorough analysis "Nutritionally speaking, plain Greek yogurt is the closest comparison (to cottage cheese) - they're both lower in calories (the 0-2% fat versions), high in protein, a good source of calcium, contain no added sugars, and have lower levels of lactose (so they're among the more easily-tolerated forms of dairy)."

When you read this post in the morning, reach out to the fridge for some cottage cheese! For a snack in the afternoon? Cottage cheese! Need something to eat late at night? Try cottage cheese!