Having cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is so tempting. But isn’t cheese fattening? Cheese contains many nutrients that can keep you full for longer and provide the right nutrients. If you are on a weight loss journey, the first thing that you should avoid is cheese, so says most nutritionists. But listen up, if you have the right cheese in the right amount, you can lose weight instead of gaining.
You don’t have to gorge on cheese to feel satisfied, have 1/4th of a cup or just 1 ounce of cheese, which will amount to just 80-110 calories. It is delicious, nutrient-rich, and satiating. Well, what more can you ask for? Of course, it contains saturated fat and sodium. But that’s what we are saying. Eat it in moderation, and you will reap maximum benefits.
Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella cheese is one of the healthiest cheeses. It is softer and less aged, also lower in sodium, a win-win on all three counts. It just contains 10% of your daily recommendation of sodium. Mozzarella cheese also packs in the calcium, 200 mg per serving. Hence the perfect food ingredient for building bones. It is high in protein too. It serves 8 grams of protein per serving. You can add it to your salads, sandwiches, or omelets and make a Caprese salad with a drizzle of olive oil and some tomato and basil on the side.
Swiss Cheese
It is made from cow’s milk and is semi-hard. It is also one of the better options for people who are looking for cheeses that are low on sodium. Swiss cheese packs in 140 mg of sodium or less per serving. It also has more vitamin B12 than other cheeses, and hence the best bet to build more cells and muscles and is terrific for nerve function. It is also high in calcium. If you are trying to load up on this mineral, then ensure you choose the Swiss variety of cheese. It forms one-half of the classic pairing of fruit and cheese. You can have it in sandwich form too. Each slice can pack in 100 calories, so perfect for those afternoon snacks.
Parmesan Cheese
It is another nutrient-packed cheese. It promises healthy doses of calcium and phosphorus, a powerful combination for bone health. This type of cheese is slightly harder than the rest, lower in fat, and high in protein content. It has just 9 grams per serving. Parmesan cheese may contain more than a generous serving of sodium. But just a little bit of it can keep you satiated for long. It is also a better option for all those who are lactose-intolerants as the process of aging lowers its lactose content.
Blue Cheese
While blue cheese is another form of cheese that is high in sodium. It does contain a high amount of calcium compared to the other cheeses. Also, it is hunger-curbing so you don’t need a lot of it, just a little to give company to your soups, salads, or any other appetizer. It is the perfect bone-building food you need in your diet.
Cottage Cheese
If you are looking for the one form of cheese with the highest protein form, then look no further than cottage cheese. It is lower in calories too than the other cheeses mentioned in this article. So, enjoy it for breakfast or for your afternoon pick-me-ups. Another very important mineral that it contains is selenium. Since it is high in antioxidants it has the power to reduce inflammation. Have it for breakfast with apples and walnuts or enjoy it with peanut butter and jelly and there you have the perfect breakfast bowl to help you power through the day.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is an Italian form of cheese that can be made from cow, sheep, goat, or buffalo milk. Ricotta cheese contains whey protein, which is a power-packed muscle-builder as it contains all of the key amino acids. Whey protein has some great benefits, right from, losing fat, building muscles, helping you drop the extra weight, and aiding in your heart health too.
There you go. Cheese has got a bad rap in recent times. But they are not as bad as they are made out to be, especially when they are unprocessed. Choose your cheese wisely, and yes you can eat your cheese and have it too.