Photo: Getty Images / elenaleonova Cottage cheese has exploded on social media recently, and influencers have taken to the dairy product as a creative ingredient in unique recipes like grain-free wraps , breads, dips, savory bowls, ice cream, and even cookie dough. “Cottage cheese is really having a moment,” Kelsey Russell-Murray, MS, RD , clinical dietitian and founder of the Gut Healthy Dietitian , tells Well+Good. The cheese’s high protein content is largely to thank for its soaring popularity, especially in our current "all things protein" food landscape.
Aside from boosting your protein intake for the day, cottage cheese also offers other nutrients worth talking about, like calcium, B vitamins, and phosphorus which support bone, cell, and metabolic health, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). But is cottage cheese good for gut health? Here’s what our experts had to say. (Hint: It’s good news.) Is cottage cheese actually good for gut health?
When asked whether or not cottage cheese is beneficial for gut health, a gastroenterologist and two registered dietitians all agreed that the trendy cheese is a smart choice, depending on the variety.
“Cottage cheese can be good for gut health because it is generally considered to be a fermented dairy product, similar to yogurt,” says Wendi LeBrett, MD , gastroenterologist and educator. However, not all cottage cheese is created equal when it comes to gut health benefits. That’s because some brands are not cultured or fermented. “Cottage cheese that is cultured (FYI, look for labels that say ‘contains live and active cultures’) is a great choice for supporting gut health since it contains live bacteria, also known as probiotics,” adds Russell-Murray.
Probiotics are a cornerstone of gut-healthy eating as they help cultivate populations of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome — a colony of over a trillion microorganisms largely living in the colon. This bacterial community supports overall gut health by increasing digestive regularity and reducing gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation symptoms. However, research is also finding it to be increasingly influential across the whole body, such as supporting immune , heart , and even brain health (just […]
Step Aside Yogurt, Cottage Cheese Is the Next Best Gut-Friendly Snack
