If you are a cheese lover but are concerned about the amount of fat cheese contains then maybe you should look towards Greek feta. Feta cheese is a salty, crumbly and delicious Greek cheese. Traditionally made from goat or sheep’s milk, when eating the right portion size it can make a nutritious addition to many meals.
From a nutritional standpoint, one serving size (40g) of Greek feta provides about 100 calories. It contains 6.2g of protein, 8.1g of fat of which 5.5g are saturated fat, 0.6g carbs, and 144mg of calcium.
Feta can provide various health benefits including:
Good Source of Calcium:
Feta is rich in calcium, which is needed for muscle and nerve function as well as for strong bones and teeth. Feta also contains other bone-friendly nutrients including phosphorus and protein.
Source of Protein:
A serving of feta contains a high level of protein, which is important for muscle, skin, and blood health. Protein is critical for cells and tissue to grow, develop, and repair.
Support Gut Health:
Feta contains beneficial microbes including yeast and bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. In fact, the probiotics in feta tend to be more resilient than other probiotics making them more effective at helping the gut stay healthy.
Beneficial Fatty Acid:
Feta contains a fatty acid called conjugated linoleum acid (CLA). This acid helps to reduce body fat and increase lean muscle fat. Feta made from sheep’s milk has a higher concentration of CLA.
Keeps You Fuller Longer:
Thanks to the high protein and fat level of feta cheese, eating a portion of feta will help keep you fuller and satisfied for longer.
When buying feta there are a few things you should look for. True Greek feta cheese is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product. That means any cheese sold as feta must meet some specific requirements including:
- 70% of the sheep’s or goat’s milk used must come from local breeds that have been traditional raised on local pastures and from designated parts of Greece
- Feta cannot contain any preservatives or additives
Look for a stamp or wording that indicates PDO approved. Feta-style cheese is not authentic Greek feta. You can find various forms of non-PDO feta-style cheese including some that made with cow’s milk.
Want to try some new recipes that include feta check these out:
Grilled Peach, Chicken, and Feta Salad https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/grilled-peach-chicken-feta-salad
Lentil Kofta with Orzo and Feta https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/lentil-kofta-orzo-feta
Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spinach-feta-stuffed-chicken
Spinach and Feta Cannelloni https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spinach-feta-cannelloni
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-feta-cheese
