Health benefits of the Parmesan cheese

Parmigiano-Reggiano is way healthier than the parmesan sold commercially in plastic shakers. You will be surprised to know that even though parmesan is cheese and a dairy product it is also free from lactose and low in fat content. Read on to know about the various health benefits of using parmesan cheese.

Parmesan is manufactured a bit differently than rest of the varieties of cheese. Parmesan uses fresh cow milk from specially bred cows and a typical cheese making process to get the best product. Here are the health benefits of using authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano.

It is nutritionally rich. Parmesan is rich in vitamin A, B6, and B12, and also in minerals such as calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and copper. It is a hard cheese and has a fairly high protein and low fat content. Parmigiano-Reggiano offers about 10 grams of protein in every ounce of serving. It is also very healthy for bones and is easy to digest because it offers probiotic effects to our body.

It is lactose free. Even people who are lactose intolerant can enjoy a serving of parmesan cheese comfortably. This is because during the cheese making process lactose converts in to lactic acid. Parmesan is even considered safe for pregnant women to be consumed. Now, you can also find Halal certified and Kosher certified options of Parmigiano-Reggiano, so that a diverse population can enjoy the rich flavors and health benefits of this cheese.

It is a very versatile ingredient. Parmesan should not be the main ingredient to plan your meal, for obvious reasons. But yes, you can add this as a delicious topping for any food preparation and increase its health quotient. It is advised, that if topping the meals with parmesan, you should restrict the quantity to about ¼ cup of shredded parmesan. To gain health benefits from this cheese, you can sprinkle it on roasted vegetables, pasta preparations, salads, curries, or any other nutritionally balanced meal.