We all love cheese, but feel guilty because of the calories we may gain every time we have it. But now you can have it without any worries of the calories it contains. Goat cheese is the one for you. It is low in calories, and at the same time, is tasty.
Goat cheese also has lots of health benefits. If you would like to know more about goat cheese, read on.
Goat Cheese – What is it?
Goat cheese is made from the goat milk and you get it in the soft form as well as in hard form. Goat cheese in healthier than the cheese made from cow’s milk, which makes it a better option. Other than the presence of more nutrients in it than other cheese, it also has some interesting health benefits.
Important Health Benefits of Goat Cheese:
Calcium rich:
Goat cheese is a rich source of calcium. Calcium in it is more than that found in cow cheese. Calcium is a mineral that is essential for the body. It is needed for keeping your bones and teeth healthy and strong. You can also protect your body from various diseases by consuming calcium regularly. So, calcium offers you a lot of benefits. By consuming goat cheese regularly, you can ensure that your body gets the required amount of calcium.
Fewer calories:
Goat cheese contains fewer calories than that found in any other form of cheese made by using cow’s milk. By substituting cheddar cheese with goat cheese, you can reduce about 200 to 300 calories from your diet. So, it is a better option for those on weight loss programmes.
Good for lactose intolerant people:
Goat milk contains less amounts of lactose compared to regular milk. Usually, when the cheese is churned, lactose present in it is lost. So, goat cheese contains very low amounts of lactose in it. This makes goat cheese an ideal option for people who suffer from lactose intolerance.
Low fat:
Goat cheese is a low -fat cheese and contains lesser amounts of fat than other cheese forms. So, replacing your regular cheese with goat cheese is an excellent way to reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol that you take in a day. The fat content in goat is just a little more than that found in regular cheese. It also contains only half the amount of saturated fat found in regular cheese.
Low sodium:
Goat cheese is also low in sodium. It contains about half the sodium that is found in regular cheese. Excess sodium can lead to chronic conditions and fatal diseases like heart attacks as well as stroke. Doctors recommend that we should not have more than 2.300 mg of sodium per day. If you love to have cheese and cannot resist it, it is better that you choose goat cheese instead of the regular cheese. This way you can reduce the amount of sodium that you take in.
Rich in vitamins and minerals:
The amount of minerals and vitamins present in goat cheese is more than that found in cow cheese. It is particularly rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin K. It also contains the same amount of Vitamin A as in cow cheese. Goat cheese is also rich in B vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine and niacin. Riboflavin is a vitamin that is needed for the promotion of tissue health. Your body cannot produce these vitamins and minerals on its own. You need to get it from the food you eat or from supplements that you have. So, goat cheese is a great option to get the essential vitamins that you need.
Sufficient protein:
Goat cheese is not as rich a source of protein as the regular cheese. But it contains good amount of protein, which is enough for the body to perform its functions properly. The protein level in goat cheese is slightly more than half the protein found in cheddar cheese. Doctors advise that women should consume 46 gm of protein per day while men should have 56 gm of protein per day.
Now that you have seen the various benefits of goat cheese, make it a part of your regular diet. Make sure that you buy it form reliable sources. If not, it can lead to complications and adverse conditions.
How to Make Goat Cheese at Home?
Ingredients list:
- 1 quart goat’s milk
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Coarse salt
- Finely chopped herbs, such as parcel and lovage (optional)
Preparation Process:
- Heat the milk in a medium sized saucepan till it reaches 180 degree. Now remove from heat and add lemon juice to it. Stir as you add the lemon juice. Let it stand until set. For this you have to leave it for 15 seconds.
- Take a few layers of cheese cloth and line a colander with these cheese clothes. Now you have to ladle the set milk into the colander. Tie the four corners of the cheese cloth together. Hang it on the handle of a wooden spoon placed over a deep bowl. Let it drain for 1 to 2 hours, till its consistency is that of a slightly dry cottage cheese. Once it has reached the desired consistency, you can transfer it into a bowl and add salt and herbs to it.
- Keep this in an airtight container in the refrigerator for one week.
