Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano, or parmesan, hails from Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy known for its incredible restaurants and food products.
It'smade at a special dairy that uses farm-fresh milk from cows that have never been fed silage (dried animal feed). The dairy implements a regimented process to brine and age wheels of cheese until they're ready to enjoy.
All of this is to ensure consumers are getting authentic parmesan that's packed with health benefits. Notably, the parmesan you might find in a plastic shaker isn't made using the same process and it doesn't boast these same health benefits.
Here are some ways authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano can be beneficial to your diet.
Naturally low in fat, free of carbs, and lactose-free, Parmigiano-Reggiano has plenty of health benefits
"Parmesan cheese is a good source of protein and fat. It's rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium, vitamin A, vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorus, zinc, and copper," Leah Silberman, RDN, told INSIDER. "Harder cheeses like parmesan or provolone tend to be the best options. In general, the harder cheeses have a higher protein content and lower fat content."
An ounce of parmesan packs about 10 grams of protein. And, according to a report about parmesan cheese and bone health published in the US National Library of Medicine, authentic parmesan is easy to digest due to its probiotic effects and it is rich in calcium. According to the report, the cheese's high calcium content can be beneficial for bone health and osteoporosis prevention.
Parmesan is a dairy product, but it's lactose-free
"People who normally suffer unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms from lactose intolerance may tolerate a serving of parmesan cheese just fine," Silberman told INSIDER.
Made from milk with lactose, the lactose in the dairy becomes lactic acid as the wheel of cheese matures, meaning that any lactose left by the time the cheese has aged is negligent if at all existent.
As a hard cheese, parmesan is also considered safe for pregnant women to eat. There are also Halal-certified and Kosher-certified variations of Parmigiano-Reggiano that allow those with dietary restrictions to enjoy the taste and health benefits of the cheese.
There are a lot of ways to incorporate parmesan into your diet
Although parmesan shouldn't become a major cornerstone of your diet, Silberman said parmesan can be a "delicious supplement" to any well-rounded healthy diet. When choosing to top your meal with parmesan or enjoy it as a snack, she advises following the suggested serving size, which is about ¼ cup of shredded parmesan.
And, of course, to really gain the health benefits, you'll want to enjoy your cheese with reasonably healthy foods. "I sprinkle it on my chickpea or lentil pastas and I love adding it to roasted veggies like broccoli or asparagus," Silberman told INSIDER.
Parmesan cheese is considered a functional food because it contains biologically active ingredients that benefit your body or health in some way. Parmesan is a hard Italian cheese. It's considered a particularly healthy type of cheese because it's easy to digest and full of essential nutrients, like calcium.
Parmesan is an aged cheese with a strong flavor and a crumbly texture. it is produced in certain regions of northern Italy. It's highly nutritious and can be a great choice for people who have lactose intolerance or are looking for easy-to-digest proteins.It may also support bone health.
It's tasty on its own, or when tossed into your favorite pasta dish. While this popular household cheese has been around for hundreds of years and is likely sitting in your fridge in some form or another, there's a lot you may not know about it.
If you are trying to reduce your intake of sodium, mozzarella might be the way to go. Compared to the same serving size of feta and Parmesan, mozzarella has less than half the sodium, with 138 milligrams per serving.
You could technically eat up to 4.5 ounces of parmesan cheese daily to fulfill your daily dairy requirement. But remember that this means that you shouldn't eat other dairy sources on the same day. There's also a chance that this much parmesan could put you over the limit for other nutrient requirements.
Most types of hard cheese contain high levels of cholesterol. For example, 100 grams of romano cheese has 104 mg of cholesterol. Parmesan, a popular hard cheese, contains nearly 88 mg of cholesterol per 100-gram serving. However, you can get reduced-fat versions of parmesan cheese with much less cholesterol.
Although extremely tasty on that cheese plate, soft cheeses such as Camembert, brie and triple-crème (cheese enriched with cream) fall into the “less healthy” category because of their saturated fat content.
This power cheese is packed with nutrients like protein, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. It's also low in cholesterol and a good source of riboflavin.
Parmesan has mineral-binding compounds that make it an especially useful source of bone-building minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus. It also contains proteins that may modulate the immune system as well as having blood pressure lowering effects.
As a general rule, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both block and grated Parmesan do not require refrigeration for safety, but they will last longer if kept refrigerated.
A whole, unopened block of Parmesan cheese can last seven to nine months in the refrigerator, and a whole opened block of Parmesan cheese will last one to two months. A container of grated Parmesan cheese will last about one week in the refrigerator. When Parmesan turns yellow or begins to get moldy, it has spoiled.
Although Parmesan cheese has many health perks, it is high in calories. Carrying extra weight raises your risk of serious health issues like heart attack and stroke. So like most rich foods, Parmesan cheese is best eaten in reasonable amounts.
If you'd like a little more kick in flavor, you can enjoy some pecorino Romano as an alternative to Parmesan, but make sure to use pecorino carefully because the flavor is more intense and will make more of a statement.
Olives are very high in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants. Studies show that they are good for the heart and may protect against osteoporosis and cancer. The healthy fats in olives are extracted to produce olive oil, one of the key components of the incredibly healthy Mediterranean diet.
Popular types of natural cheeses include unripened (e. g., cottage cheese, cream cheese), soft (e. g., Brie, Camembert), semi-hard (e. g., Brick, Muenster, Roquefort, Stilton), hard (e. g., Colby, Cheddar), blue veined (e. g., Blue, Gorgonzola), cooked hard cheeses (e. g., Swiss, Parmesan), and pasta filata (stretched ...
Cheddar and Parmesan cheese vary slightly in nutritional values. Both are a good surce of Calcium and iron, have no added sugar, but are very high in saturated fat and sodium. Calories vary based on the type of the milk used (fat/non-fat) for making the cheese.
Why it's good for you: Some fermented cheeses, like parmesan, contain lactic-acid bacteria that can create gut-healthy probiotics. Cheese also contains important nutrients like protein and calcium.
“Hard cheeses such as cheddar and Parmesan usually have more calcium and less lactose, since the whey is removed during processing,” she explains. That said, though there's less fat than there is in soft cheese, there's more sodium.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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