Cheese is popular; the average man/woman eats 20 kilos of cheese a year. Despite this, cheese is often seen as a bad choice because it contains a relatively high amount of sodium and saturated fat. Fortunately, cheese also contains many good properties.
How healthy is cheese?
Cheese contains many nutrients that make you feel full. In addition, many cheeses contain important minerals that help you stay healthy. The Nutrition Center recommends that you eat no more than 30 grams (1.5 slices) of cheese per day. A surplus of saturated fat increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. If you like to eat hard Dutch cheeses, you would do well to choose a 20+ or 30+ cheese. These types contain the least calories and saturated fat.
We tell you what the healthiest cheese choice is to make your meal even more delicious and nutritious.
1. Mozzarella
This is a soft cheese that is rich in calcium and protein. In addition, mozzarella contains less salt than harder cheeses, so there is less sodium in this type of cheese. Mozzarella can be eaten cold or warm. For example, through a salad or in an omelet.
2. Goat cheese
Goat cheese is naturally low in lactose and therefore easier for some people to digest than cheese from cow’s milk. Also, this white cheese contains A2 casein, which is less likely to cause intestinal problems than the milk proteins in cow’s milk. Goat cheese is often eaten in combination with honey.
3. Ricotta
This Italian cheese can be made from a variety of milks. Common is cow, sheep, or buffalo milk. Ricotta contains mainly whey protein, which contains essential amino acids. Whey protein has a beneficial effect on muscle growth. It can also help you keep your heart healthy and maintain weight. Ricotta is widely used in pasta dishes in Italy.
4. Blue cheese
Blue cheese gets its name from the blue mold in the cheese. The mold cheese is rich in calcium, which is very good for your bones. Good to know is that there is often a lot of sodium in blue cheese. Blue cheese has a strong, present flavor, so you don’t need much to add flavor to a salad, for example.
5. Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is also known as cottage cheese. This cheese is best known for its low calorie content. Cottage cheese also contains a lot of healthy proteins and selenium. This is an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of chronic inflammation. This cheese is extremely suitable as a breakfast or snack.
6. Parmesan cheese
You are probably familiar with this cheese. Parmesan is full of nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, which are good for bones. Because this is a harder cheese, it contains less fat and more protein. It also has a significantly lower lactose content than other cheeses. Parmesan is an older cheese and therefore does contain a lot of sodium. However, as with blue cheese, you don’t need much of this cheese because the flavor is very strong.