Which is better for you, yogurt or cottage cheese? This question has been asked numerous times and debated extensively. There are many factors to consider when deciding which is healthiest. Calories, calcium, and protein content all play a role in determining if one food or the other would be healthier for us.
What is Cottage Cheese?
Cottage cheese is curdled milk which is the result of the milk curdled due to acid. It is a fresh and unripened cheese that is high in lactose even more lactose than cheese like swiss, parmesan, and cheddar. The origin of cottage cheese is dated back to mid- 1800 in America. It is believed to be made in the cottages or farmhouses that produce butter and are left over with excess milk. They put this extra milk to use by making cottage cheese.
Here are some of the best cottage cheese that you can try:
- 365 by Whole Foods Market
- Good Culture Cottage Cheese Organic
- Daisy, 4% Cottage Cheese
- Organic Valley Small Curd Organic
- Breakstone’s Lowfat Cottage Cheese
Or you can try your hand at making cottage cheese at home. It is fairly simple and easy!
How to Make Cottage Cheese?
The Recipe to make cottage cheese is fairly simple. All you need is milk and acidic agents like drops of lemon or vinegar and you are good to go!
Here is the video explaining how to make cottage cheese at home easily
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Below are some of the details that would help you decide which one would be more beneficial to your diet.
Cottage Cheese vs Yogurt: Which is Healthier?
Calories, Protein, and Fat Content
While 1 cup of yogurt has 1oo calories, 1 cup of cottage cheese has 222 calories. It shows that yogurt is a low-calorie food, while cottage cheese has more than double the calories of yogurt with same serving. Although both food items are high on protein, 1 cup of yogurt has 18 grams but cottage cheese comes at a higher serving of 25g. Coming to fat content of both is not equal, with 0.7 grams in one cup of yogurt and 10 grams in a cup of cottage cheese.
On this nutritional analysis, we can conclude that cottage cheese may come with a higher serving of protein but it also comes with a higher amount of calories and particularly the fat content. Hence, if you are on a mission to lose weight, you should avoid cottage cheese as yogurt is your best bet. If you are on the leaner side and do not mind adding more calories to your diet, cottage cheese can be a good option as it delivers a higher amount of protein serving too!
Probiotic Content
The main difference between these two dairy products is that the yogurt has been fermented with lactic acid bacteria, while cottage cheese has no similar microorganisms. Moreover, yogurt contains more protein than cottage cheese but less fat and carbohydrates. However, to provide your body with all essential nutrients, you can use either fruit or honey to add cottage cheese.
So the answer to the question, which is the better probiotic cottage or yogurt, Greek Yogurt is the clear answer.
Considering all the above points, there is no doubt that yogurt would be healthier for you to eat than cottage cheese. Given that it has fewer calories and fat content, white color (which comes from salt), and high protein level, it is one of the best foods for your heart. However, if you are looking for low-sodium, salt-free, and lower-calorie food, you should go with cottage cheese.
Answering this question squarely, I would say that you can freely choose one of these dairy products without worrying about your health. But if you are asking my personal opinion, I prefer yogurt to be on my breakfast menu as it provides more protein than cottage cheese.
Health Benefits
Yogurt benefits the body because it contains healthy bacteria or probiotics. These are good for improving the digestive system and making the immune system stronger. Yogurt is used to make many dishes, but desserts with fruit or honey added on top of it are most popular. Cottage cheese is used in sandwiches, salads, soups, main courses, or other meals instead of meat or fish cubes.
Cottage cheese contains a high level of calcium but does not have any other nutritional value. Yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, which makes it very beneficial if you are trying to maintain your bone health or prevent osteoporosis. Yogurt offers many other benefits for our body, rich in iodine, phosphorus, vitamin B12, and good bacteria, which boost the immune system and help weight loss.
Why Cottage Cheese is Bad for You?
On contrary to yogurt, cottage cheese is high in protein but contains a high amount of fat as well. Moreover, it can be dangerous for lactose intolerant people as it has a lot of lactose, which causes gas and bloating. It should be avoided by those who suffer from digestive diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Yogurt contains probiotics that aids digestion and can be suitable for people with lactose intolerance.
When choosing between yogurt and cottage cheese for your dairy product, you should always go with the one beneficial to your health. Both products should be consumed in moderation, so it is up to you which dairy product to choose.
Is Cottage Cheese Good for Weight Loss?
Some people say that cottage cheese is better for weight loss than yogurt. But there are many other benefits of eating this dairy product. These two dairy products are that protein content plays the most crucial role in weight loss. But they often ignore the fact that cottage cheese is high on calorie content too.
As we know that weight loss is all about creating a calorie deficit. Including cottage cheese over yogurt may add more calories to your diet than required. If we make an in-depth comparison, while the protein content is 1.5 times higher in cottage cheese, the calories are 2.25 times higher than yogurt. Hence, it may not be a good idea to include cottage cheese in your diet over yogurt.
As I mentioned previously, cottage cheese is good if you are looking for a healthy dairy product. However, cottage cheese does not have beneficial bacteria or unique weight loss properties, but it does have certain benefits. Yogurt is a clear winner when it comes to choosing foods for weight loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Cottage cheese replace yogurt?
Yes you can eat cottage cheese instead of yogurt. Cottage cheese has a milder taste than yogurt. But you can substitute cottage cheese for yogurt in equal quantities. I recommended blending the cottage cheese so that you get a smooth texture as yogurt has.
Why Do They Call It Cottage Cheese?
As this type of cheese was generally made in cottages with leftover milk, it derived its name thereon. It can be eaten with fruits, over salads, and even on toast. It is a lumpy and grumpy cheese sold in pots.
Is Cottage Cheese a Superfood?
Considering its nutritional value, cottage cheese is surely a powerhouse of nutrients. From calcium to vitamins, minerals, proteins, and even fat content, cottage cheese has high content of every nutrient.
What are The Benefits of Eating Cottage Cheese?
With its higher content of minerals and calcium, cottage cheese is highly regarded for the prevention of osteoporosis. It also regulates blood pressure and might have some cancer-preventing properties.
Is Cottage Cheese Good For Your Gut?
Yes! Cottage cheese contain some anount of probiotic, making it a gut friendly deal for all the cheese lovers.
Conclusion
Both cottage cheese and yogurt are good for us. But answering the question “Which is better?” depends on many factors. Personal health conditions or dietary preferences are some of the important considerations. It can be said that both of these foods have their shortcomings and benefits. But on a deeper analysis, we can conclude that yogurt comes with overall higher health benefits.
