Can our desi paneer help in weight loss? Dos and don’ts

Who doesn't love butter loaded paneer kadai or a mouthful of paneer tikka? But do you know if eaten in the right way, the paneer can be a part of your weight loss journey. So, brighten up your mood and note down the essential nutrient elements present in the paneer and freshen up your food plate this instant.

Paneer, also known as cottage cheese, is quite easy to find. You can always get it from your local milk seller or from departmental stores. One big advantage of paneer is that it does not take much to cook paneer. It can be cooked with the minimum ingredients and since milk is a staple of the Indian diet, we do not need much spices or garnishing to eat a dairy product; our taste buds are fine with eating milk and milk products the way they are.

So here is a breakdown of the nutritional values desi paneer or Indian cottage cheese holds:

Paneer is rich in protein. As per a health journal, one cup of low-fat cottage cheese has 28 grams of protein and only 163 calories.

So what makes this high protein food beneficial? High protein foods are difficult to digest. This means they will remain within your system undigested for a long time. Till they are digested they will keep you full and away from food. Thus in a big way they will help in losing weight.

100 grams of paneer contains 72 calories which is pretty low. Since it can be eaten even without loading it with other ingredients and seasonings, it is good for weight loss. For weight control, you can grill or bake the paneer.

You would be surprised to know that having paneer can actually fulfill more than 30% of your daily value of calcium. The importance of calcium goes without saying. From bone to overall health, calcium plays an important role. Women need more calcium after their 30s. So ladies if you have been serving extra paneer to your family, it's time you keep those extra for you; because you need it more than others.

An essential component of paneer is Conjugated Linoleic Acid. This is mostly found in meat and dairy products derived from ruminants, which are hoofed herbivore grazing animals having a four-chambered stomach.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid is helpful in reducing body fat deposits and improving immune function.

Though its nutritional values will not push you towards gaining weight, the way it is cooked can severely impact your wealth.

Paneer is prepared in our homes with a number of ingredients. What makes home made paneer delicious is it being loaded with creams.

A simple palak paneer will definitely be healthy, in comparison to paneer butter masala. What you pair your paneer with will help you in weight loss.

Those who are intolerant to dairy products and can not have paneer should definitely be looking for other vegetarian protein alternatives.

Tofu is an excellent alternative to paneer. It is a rich source of isoflavones which are known to reduce the risk of several diseases like osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease.

Lentils are also a great source of protein. One cup of lentil contains 18 grams of protein. Rich in fibers, lentils are also good for your gut health.

Beans contain 15 grams of protein along with carbs, fiber, iron, folate, phosphorus, potassium. It manages cholesterol levels, blood sugar and also reduces belly fat.

Other good sources of protein are almonds, peanuts, chickpeas, soy milk, quinoa and chia seeds.

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