Health Benefits Of Halloumi Cheese
If you've browsed the cheese isle of the grocery store that carries the latest food trends you may have noticed halloumi or grilling cheese this unique cheese may be trending in the u.s these days but it's been consumed in greece for hundreds of years when cooked it becomes crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside and it offers a delicious salty taste too it's versatile enough to add to many recipes you're already preparing at home so consider adding some halloumi cheese for an extra boost of protein and calcium.
but what are its health benefits? does it help to boost bone health? what does it do for weight loss? is it diabetic friendly in this Article we will be talking about all this and more.
what is halloumi cheese?
halloumi cheese is a semi-heart unripened and brine cheese that's traditionally made from sheep's milk in the greek island of cyprus in the u.s grilling cheese is also made from cow and goat milk halloumi is free from the rennet an enzyme that's commonly used in cheese making because rennet is often derived from the stomach of calf lamb and goat people on a vegetarian diet typically won't eat cheeses made with the enzyme halloumi has a unique taste and texture it's firm and salty and has been compared to thick feta although halloumi has a smoother texture it's when the cheese is grilled pan fried or baked that it's true delicious flavor emerges it becomes a savory treat.
• That's crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside the texture and taste of this grilling cheese are what make them so versatile and explain its growing popularity it can be added to salads wraps tacos burgers and more halloumi cheese nutrition how healthy is it we know halloumi is tasty and it's certainly one of those cheeses that you can't stop eating once you start it but let's get down to halloumi cheese nutrition how healthy is it we examine the nutritional profile of halloumi so that you can understand whether it should be a regular part of your diet according to the usda one slice 25 grams of halloumi nutrition contains approximately 74 calories 5 grams protein 6 grams fat 180 milligrams calcium.
let's check some potential halloumi benefits.
Number one: high in protein just one thin slice or 25 grams of halloumi cheese contains 5 grams of protein consuming enough protein foods regularly is important for many body functions including providing energy supporting the absorption of nutrients and stabilizing blood sugar levels research published in nutrients suggests that individuals may benefit from increasing their intake and frequency of consumption of protein.
Number two: good source of calcium halloumi cheese also serves as a good source of calcium according to researchers in greece the calcium content in the grilling cheese depends on the brining process but 80 percent of the calcium found in the cheese comes from the casein molecules we know that calcium as a key nutrient in our bodies and maintaining adequate levels is important consuming high calcium foods like halloumi can help support heart and bone health.
Number three: may protect against diabetes some studies have found that consuming full fat dairy products like halloumi could protect against type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance a condition that impairs the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels the protein and fat in halloumi can also help slow the emptying of the stomach which may help stabilize your blood sugar levels after meals.
Number four: vegetarian friendly but check first many halloumi products aren't made with rennet so they are considered vegetarian that said you'll want to double check the product label to ensure that it's not made with animal derived rennet research published in the journal of the international society of sports nutrition suggests that the typical vegetarian diet tends to be high in carbohydrates and low in protein adding halloumi to some meals throughout the month can help maintain proper nutrient levels now let's check how to enjoy halloumi.
• Halloumi has a deep savory flavor and can be prepared and enjoyed in several ways frying the cheese in a bit of olive oil can help enhance its texture and salty flavor it can also be grilled for two to three minutes per side which gives it a nice color and crisp exterior alternatively try drizzling some oil over the cheese in a sheet pan sprinkling on some herbs and baking it for 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit 175 degrees celsius for a flavorful appetizer or accompaniment to your meal furthermore.
• Halloumi works well in a variety of other dishes including skewers salads sandwiches curries paninis and pizzas halloumi has a savory rich flavor and firm texture it's a versatile ingredient that can be fried grilled or baked and incorporated into a variety of recipes but be aware of how much of this delightful cheese you're adding to your morning bagel and salads halloumi cheese is high in fat making it quite calorific if you are doing weight loss your weight loss diet is based on lowering your calorie intake and if you're not careful high amounts of halloumi cheese could quickly cause a calorie build up try it and share your experience with us.
FAQ
Is halloumi cheese good for you?
Nutritionally, halloumi is a superb source of calcium, providing 70% of the adult recommended daily allowance in one portion. Halloumi also contains zinc, selenium, magnesium, vitamin A and lots of of the B vitamins.
Which is healthier feta or halloumi?
Haloumi vs feta
Brands vary, but feta is typically the winner. Haloumi tends to possess more calories and a better fat content. Plus, it always has more salt. Haloumi makes an honest cooking cheese because of its high freezing point . But to stay the fat down, grill or dry-fry it (without any oil within the pan). be careful for marinated versions of either cheese, which frequently have more calories. Whichever cheese you select , choose a salt-reduced brand.
What's the worst cheese for you?
cottage cheese, mother forced me to eat it and that i remember it making me sick, I threw up everywhere the place and to the present day i will be able to NOT check out it including eat it. Nothing worse than force feeding someone and getting sick thereon .
Is halloumi better for you than cheddar?
Cheddar vs halloumi
At first glance, you'll see that in cheddar is more calories than in halloumi.
Cheddar has 410 kcal per 100g and halloumi 321 kcal per 100g so it's pretty easy to calculate that the difference is about 22 %.
In cheddar and in halloumi most calories came from fat.
Is halloumi vegetarian?
Halloumi is usually vegetarian, but it's worth checking the packet, because it are often made with animal-derived rennet. it's not vegan because it may be a foodstuff .
Feta cheese: Healthy Or Unhealthy?
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Feta cheese |
Feta is a soft white brined cheese that was originally part of a Mediterranean cuisine it's used in all sorts of dishes from appetizers to desserts but is it healthy or not let's take a look feta cheese is originally from Greece this is what it looks like now it's made from sheep's or goat's milk and considered a fresh cheese as it's not aged or cured especially quite nutrient-dense now one ounce or 28 grams provides about 74 calories 6 grams of fat 4 grams of protein about a gram of carbs about 13 to 14 percent of the RDI for riboflavin calcium and sodium and then a bit less for phosphorus vitamin b12 selenium vitamin b6 and zinc.
• And what's more feather is low in fat and calories then aged cheeses like cheddar or parmesan so one ounce or 28 grams of cheddar or Parmesan contained more than 110 calories and 7 grams of fat and remember that one ounce of feta has only 74 calories and 6 grams of fat additionally it contains more calcium and B vitamins than other fresh cheese's like mozzarella ricotta cottage cheese or goat's cheese so when lining up against many other types of cheese it fares really well feta can support bone health feta cheese is a good source of calcium phosphorus and protein all of which are shown to help promote bone health calcium and protein help maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis while phosphorus helps your bones absorb calcium.
• Now each serving a feather provides almost twice as much calcium as phosphorus a proportion shown to have positive effects on bone health now additionally milk from sheep and goats contains more calcium and phosphorus than cow's milk therefore incorporating cheeses like feta into your diet could help you achieve the recommended daily intake of calcium but of course there is not the only way you can get your calcium feta is probably good for your gut probiotics are live friendly bacteria that can benefit your health feather has been shown to contain lactobacillus playing time which accounts for about 50% of it's bacteria these bacteria can help benefit the immune system and promote gut health by protecting the intestinal tracts from disease-causing bacteria like e.coli and Salmonella.
• What's more they seem to increase the production of compounds that inhibit the inflammatory response thus providing anti-inflammatory benefits as well potential problems with better right so in this to be like a fella commercial or something so I do want to highlight some of the issues with better the first is that it contains high amount of sodium or salt during the cheese-making process salt is added to the curd additionally during storage the cheese block needs to be submerged in a brine of up to seven percent salt.
• Now the finished product is achieved that's high in sodium in fact feta cheese contains 312 milligrams of sodium in a 1 ounce of 28 grams serving which can account for up to 13 percent of your recommended dietary intake so if you're sensitive to salt or you have been advised to reduce your intake feta is probably not the best choice for you just know you can reduce a lot of the salt in it by simply soaking it in a bit of water beforehand the second issue is that it has a high lactose content because of how it's made so if you lactose-intolerant it's best to avoid fresh cheese's like better lastly some types of feather have a higher risk of carrying Listeria a type of bacteria that can occur in fresh cheese's with a high moisture content.
• Now pregnant women are revived to avoid foods with a high Listeria risk such as raw vegetables raw meat and unpasteurized dairy therefore feta cheese made with unpasteurized milk is not recommended for pregnant women so you have it compared to other cheeses Fedder is nutritious it's low in calories in fact it may even be good for gut health so for most people it's a healthy addition to the diet but be aware that it is high in sodium and lactose which can be an issue for some people and pregnant women should avoid unpasteurized feta.