Is it good to eat sour cream? Sour cream: what is useful and harmful, when and with what it is better to eat. How to treat sunburn with sour cream
Sour cream is a popular dairy product, which from time immemorial has occupied one of the main places on the table of almost every inhabitant of our country. It is made from cream followed by lactic acid fermentation. She is loved for her pleasant mild taste, many useful qualities and absolute versatility of application, and use it in cooking, cosmetology and folk medicine.
Sour cream production
Every skilled housewife knows that sour cream can be prepared at home. It is very easy and simple, it is enough to remove the cream from the settled whole milk and leave it in the cold to ripen for a couple of days. It is also possible to pass whole milk through a separator, which degreases it, separating the cream, and at the same time cleans the milk from contamination.
Lactic acid streptococci contained in cream give sour cream the necessary acidity, aroma, color and taste.
"Shop" sour cream is made at dairy plants from a special starter culture and pasteurized milk. Unscrupulous manufacturers make this dairy product using vegetable fats, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and more instead of cream.
A high-quality fresh product should have a uniform texture, be fatty and thick without grains, and taste slightly sour. The fatter it is, the thicker it is. Therefore, the thick consistency of sour cream with low fat content indicates that the product is not natural, a lot of “chemistry” has been added to it.
The classic look and taste can only be achieved by using natural heavy cream. Sour cream made in a different way is not only useful, but perhaps even harmful to our body.
It is imperative to observe the temperature regime when storing sour cream, otherwise the process of oxidation of milk fats and, as a result, the active reproduction of harmful microorganisms may begin in it.
Main characteristics and properties
high-quality sour cream improves appetite and even improves mood
High-quality sour cream is very useful for our body. The benefit of sour cream is that it is well absorbed, satiates, does not burden the stomach, increases appetite, perfectly stimulates digestion, and even improves mood. This dairy product contains a whole range of useful substances and vitamins, in particular vitamins A, C, E, group B, PP, organic acids. It is very rich in calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, biotin, lecithin and other micro and macro elements. Sour cream also contains carbohydrates, animal proteins, acids and sugars.
Sour cream can have different fat content, that is, the presence of fat in the composition. Manufacturers of this product indicate the fat content of sour cream as a percentage. She may be:
- lean (10, 12 or 14% fat);
- low fat (15, 17 or 19% fat);
- classic (from 20 to 34% fat);
- fatty (from 35 to 48%).
- high-fat (from 50 to 58%).
Interestingly, low-fat fifteen percent sour cream has a calorie content of 162 kcal per 100 g. product. Accordingly, the calorie content of a glass of a product of this fat content will be 405 kcal.
Dietary Properties
this product is a dietary product that improves digestion
Nutritionists like no one know about the benefits of sour cream. They mark her beneficial features as a product, first of all, having a beneficial effect on the secretory activity of the stomach. This fermented milk product is well absorbed by the body and helps in the fight against intestinal colitis, peptic ulcer. When ripening and ripening, it is saturated with substances that are quickly and well absorbed by the body.
In order to reduce excess weight many of the world's leading nutritionists recommend the sour cream diet. It, in addition to losing weight, helps to normalize metabolism, improve work digestive system and removing excess fluid from the body.
This diet should be followed for 2-3 days, during which the following diet should be observed: consume 400 gr. sour cream with a fat content of 20-30%. There should be five doses every three hours. It is better to eat with a dessert spoon, so the feeling of fullness will come faster. In between meals, drink rosehip infusion, and no more than 2 glasses a day.
Such a diet helps to lose up to 3 kilograms in two days. But it has contraindications. In particular, it is undesirable for professional athletes and people who have serious health problems.
Low-fat sour cream is a dietary product that is useful for both children and the elderly. It is also useful for sick people, because it can speed up rehabilitation after an illness, improve hormonal levels.
To preserve the beneficial properties of sour cream, it is recommended to add it to already ready meals, in particular in the first courses: soups, hodgepodges, cabbage soup, borscht. It is also used for cooking second courses. Fish, meat, mushrooms, vegetables are stewed and baked in sour cream, various desserts are made with it: jellies, creams, casseroles, it is added to the dough.
Many traditional Russian dishes are hard to imagine without sour cream. After all, it is an excellent dressing for pancakes, cheesecakes, pancakes, dumplings, vegetable salads, etc.
Sour cream in folk medicine and cosmetology
regular consumption of sour cream has a beneficial effect on male potency
Sour cream has found its wide use in folk medicine.
So, using it with raw carrots increases the body's resistance to infections, improves vision.
Sour cream for men who regularly consume it is an excellent means of maintaining and increasing potency.
Everyone knows that fatty sour cream for sunburn helps relieve burning, redness and soothe the skin. For any other light burn, when the skin is not blistered, it is recommended to immediately apply the following mixture liberally on it: mix 2 tbsp. l. sour cream with egg yolk and 1 tbsp. l. sunflower oil. Cover with a gauze bandage, change it once a day.
Among the people, sour cream is considered an excellent antidepressant, helps to endure stress, and improves mood. To cheer up, just eat a glass of fresh sour cream, whipped with sugar.
Regular consumption of sour cream helps to improve a person's memory. In particular, only 100 gr. of this dairy product contains a quarter daily allowance choline. Choline is a good brain stimulant, it sharpens memory and increases intellectual abilities. Also, choline has a positive effect on the development of the brain of a child in the womb, so it is especially useful for pregnant women to eat this product.
In women after thirty-five years of age, who consume sour cream daily, menopause occurs later, because this product contains copper, which plays an important role in the production of female sex hormones.
This fatty product perfectly helps to absorb many vitamins that enter the body.
Since ancient times, women have chosen sour cream as an excellent cosmetic product that can soothe the skin, saturate it with useful nutrients, smooth out wrinkles, narrow pores, and even whiten. It is used as the basis for various cosmetic masks, creams for all skin types.
Sour cream is also used when taking baths: it nourishes the body, makes it soft and velvety.
Facts about making sour cream
Aboriginal rustic recipe preparation of sour cream says that in order to get sour cream, it must be defended for several days, and then the top layer of such cream must be removed. Modern recipes Food Industry for the preparation of sour cream are somewhat different from this recipe, and the farther they go from naturalness, the less such a sour cream product becomes more useful. Unfortunately, on the shelves of stores you are unlikely to be able to meet real sour cream. And, only she can be useful!
Therefore, considering the benefits of this product, we will talk about natural sour cream, so to speak, home-made. So,
it contains vitamins E, B, C, PP, biotin (it is also called the vitamin of youth), beta-carotene, micro and macro elements, as well as useful organic acids. Also, sour cream contains calcium (which is why sour cream is useful for children and the elderly), potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. All these useful material are very necessary for the human body, they are quickly absorbed and benefit our health. Also, sour cream contains animal protein, pure water and natural.
The benefits of sour cream
Depending on the fat content of this product, sour cream can be either dietary (with ten percent fat) or really fatty (with forty percent fat). Therefore, if you are afraid to get better, but you are not going to refuse sour cream in your diet, it will be better for you to use low-fat sour cream. Such sour cream will also be useful for people who are prohibited from using fatty foods and prescribed a dietary regimen.
We used to refer to sour cream as a product that is simply delicious. But, sour cream (natural, of course) can still be useful! So, nutritionists recommend consuming sour cream people who have poor digestion, who suffer from lack of appetite. Surprisingly, such a product has a positive effect on the hormonal background of the human body and on
And, if you eat a spoonful of sour cream with sugar or - then your mood will improve, depression will be removed as if by hand and you will feel full of strength and energy.
In order to provide your body with all those useful components that are contained in sour cream, you will only need to eat a few teaspoons of this dairy product (anything more will simply harm you!).
And, if you can’t afford to visit elite beauty salons, but you still want to look young and attractive, create your beauty and emphasize favorably what nature has given you, the same sour cream will help. Based on it, you can make various masks, the skin after such sour cream masks becomes elastic and looks young and healthy.
It is generally accepted that since sour cream is a rather fatty product (when compared with milk, or fermented baked milk), it contains a lot of cholesterol, which means that using sour cream means deliberately harming your health. This is not true! Even if you eat the fattest sour cream with spoons, cholesterol is still formed less than if you ate a piece of butter. That is why, some gourmets replace the butter in their sandwiches with ... a layer of sour cream. So to say, both tasty and healthy!
Unlike milk and other dairy products, sour cream is absorbed much faster by the human body.
It's no secret that sour cream is an exceptionally healthy product. The range of its use is unusually wide. Perhaps not a single product can boast that they cannot do without it not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology. What is the use of sour cream and how can such popularity be explained?
The benefits of sour cream
About the benefits of sour cream
As you know, a product is considered useful if it contains in large numbers there are substances necessary for normal human life. And in sour cream there is a storehouse of vitamins, organic acids, biotin - the vitamin of youth, carotene and microelements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.
It is also distinguished by a high content of animal proteins, so necessary for the human body.
And this is not a complete list of useful qualities of sour cream.
Is it possible to ignore the fact that:
- sour cream contains a large amount of calcium, which is necessary for the growth and strengthening of bones
- it has much less cholesterol than cream
- 100 grams contains the daily dose of choline, which increases mental capacity sharpening memory
- sour cream is recognized as a dietary type product that improves digestion
- due to the fact that this product is easily absorbed by the body, it is recommended in the fight against intestinal colitis
- to get rid of excess weight, the best nutritionists around the world advise using a sour cream diet, which not only promotes weight loss, but also normalizes metabolism, improves functioning digestive tract and removes excess fluid from the body
Sour cream face mask recipes
- More
The benefits of sour cream for women are undeniable, especially when it comes to pregnancy. Indeed, in 100 grams of the product there is a daily dose of choline, which contributes to the development of the child's brain even in the prenatal period. Due to the presence of copper in sour cream, menopause occurs later in women, which significantly slows down the aging process of the whole organism.
The benefits of homemade sour cream
What woman does not think about how to become the most beautiful?
And the almighty homemade sour cream will help with this, as it is capable of:
- get rid of wrinkles
- narrow pores
- whiten your face
- make body silky
For this, sour cream is used in cosmetic masks, baths, creams.
But most importantly, using 10% fat sour cream, you can lose a few extra pounds!
But we should not forget that, for all its versatility in composition and benefits, sour cream is a high-calorie product that contains a lot of fat, and therefore, if used excessively, can lead to obesity, liver and gallbladder disease.
Sour cream is an irreplaceable dairy product. Cooking methods
- More
The word "sour cream" comes from the common Slavic passive participle of the verb smetati (collect, remove) and literally means "what was collected from milk." This exactly reflects the ancient process of making this fermented milk product: to get sour cream, our great-great-grandmothers put freshly milked, but already cooled milk in a cool place, for example, in a cellar, and left it there for a day, then removed the cream that had collected on the surface, added a little yogurt to them (sour milk) and put them to "reach" in the cold for about a night. And in the morning, with the resulting tender sour cream, it was already possible to season the cabbage soup, flavor the cabbage rolls, and pour over the pancakes. In general, sour cream in the East Slavic culinary tradition is the most popular sauce. It is served with first courses (borscht, cabbage soup), second courses (stuffed cabbage), and desserts (pancakes, pancakes, cheesecakes). Fish is baked in sour cream and meat is stewed, with its addition they cook delicious cakes and other baked goods.
The benefits of sour cream for women
Many people know about the benefits of sour cream for men. Usually, the stronger sex is advised to use it with nuts and honey. But I would like to talk about the benefits of this fermented milk product for women in more detail. Sour cream, in fact, is not only a concentrate of milk fat, but also all the fat-soluble vitamins found in milk. One of these biologically active substances, namely vitamin B4 or choline, should be given special attention: it is necessary for expectant mothers, as well as women who are just planning a pregnancy, since this vitamin is needed for the proper development of the baby's brain. Young women who use oral contraceptives should also increase their choline intake in order to avoid the depression that these drugs can cause.
In addition to vitamins, sour cream also contains some minerals, in particular calcium, which is necessary for women, especially during menopause.
The benefits and harms of homemade sour cream
Now sour cream, even homemade, is increasingly being made using a separator (a special centrifuge that separates milk fat - or cream and the rest of the milk), not to mention the one that is produced at the factory. This process is not too (perhaps only speed) different from the traditional settling of milk. The principle is the same - to separate the fatty fraction, which is then fermented with yogurt or other sourdough (homemade sour cream), or pasteurized, and then special cultures of microorganisms (factory) are introduced.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous manufacturers are not limited to this, adding cheaper milk powder, and sometimes even vegetable fats, to their product, which naturally affects the quality of the finished product in a bad way. In this sense, homemade sour cream undoubtedly wins - the benefits of a natural product are much higher than that of the surrogate that they sometimes try to pass off as it. However, if homemade sour cream is not prepared by you personally, but, for example, is purchased on the market, then you need to be 100% sure of the quality of the purchased product (in other words, it is better to buy homemade sour cream in familiar places), since this fermented milk product deteriorates quite quickly and can cause food poisoning. In addition, homemade sour cream is usually very fatty, in some cases the fat content reaches as much as 60%, which makes it not a very suitable product for people suffering from atherosclerosis, diabetes and for those who watch their weight. By the way, the consistency of sour cream can help you navigate in its fat content - the thicker the product, the fatter.
Harm of sour cream
The harmful properties of sour cream are due to its high fat content and calorie content. However, if you use low-fat versions of this product (10-14%) in limited quantities (no more than 2 tablespoons per day), then you can get all the benefits of sour cream and minimize the harm from its use.
Is it possible to have sour cream for weight loss?
Sour cream is very useful product, however, people on a low-calorie diet should still limit its use and choose varieties with a fat content of no more than 15%.
Milk and all its derivatives are one of the first products that a person gets acquainted with. In Russia, sour cream has been made from time immemorial, removing the top layer from the surface of sour milk, and pouring the cream into another container. For residents of Slavic countries, these are different things, but foreigners do not feel the difference and call sour cream “Russian cream”.
Incredible benefits of sour cream
I must say that all natural products are useful for a person to one degree or another, and especially sour cream. The lactic acid bacteria included in its composition not only provide the proper taste, aroma and color of the product, but also populate the intestines with beneficial microflora, ensuring its proper and regular functioning.
It also contains multiple vitamins - A, E, C, PP, group B, as well as minerals - zinc, iron, copper, manganese, iodine, fluorine. This product is rich in fatty and organic acids, animal proteins, natural sugar, beta-carotene, carbohydrates and biotin.
Sour cream: the benefits and harms of this product are incomparable. This product is absorbed much better than the cream and milk from which it is obtained, therefore, together with yogurt, kefir and yogurt, it is recommended for people with a sensitive or sick stomach, poor digestion.
The fact is that the composition of sour cream is so balanced that it is able to normalize metabolic processes in the body, stimulate brain activity, improve muscle function and increase efficiency. What are the properties of sour cream? The benefits for men are simply enormous, as it has a positive effect on potency.
This milk processing product is used not only in everyday life, but also in cosmetology, including home cosmetics. Masks based on sour cream improve the condition of the skin and its tone, make the epidermis more elastic and resistant to environmental influences.
This product nourishes and moisturizes the skin well, which is used to combat burns, because it is a first aid for blisters and other consequences. negative impact sun. Fans of this product claim that sour cream is an excellent antidepressant for stress and prolonged depression. It is enough to beat it with honey, fruits and berries, eat a couple of spoons and there will be no trace of fatigue and bad mood.
Sour cream for children
Sour cream is shown to children primarily because it is one of the main suppliers of calcium to the body, from which the bones, skeleton, cartilage and teeth of the baby are built. Sour cream for children: at what age can I give it? Until the child is 1.5 years old, it is better not to offer a store-bought product, since it contains a lot of chemical additives. And too fatty sour cream, too, since indigestion is possible.
If the baby is not allergic to lactose, sour cream with a fat content of 10% to 34% can be given little by little to the crumbs, preferably not in its pure form, but as part of dishes - for example, soups, second, desserts. There will definitely be no harm from this, and the benefits are huge, especially for stimulating brain activity, because the baby is growing and actively exploring the world.
In addition, it must be present on the table of a sick child, because it can speed up rehabilitation and recovery, increase immunity. Many mothers in the period of exacerbation viral infections they make their children a vitamin salad based on sour cream and grated carrots, and I must say, they are doing the right thing, alleviating the condition of their babies and reducing the risk of getting infected again.
Possible harm to sour cream
The harm of sour cream is also present. First of all, this concerns a store-bought product, which includes components with dubious properties. But a natural product, especially too fatty, can create a significant burden on the gallbladder and liver, so people with diseases of these organs should use sour cream with great care and in minimal quantities.
Fatty sour cream is contraindicated in a diet aimed at weight loss. After all, it is very important for a person who is losing weight to reduce the calorie content of the diet, and there are a lot of calories in such a product, so you should refuse to buy it in favor of kefir or yogurt.
There is an opinion that this dairy product contains a lot of "bad" cholesterol. In fact, it contains much less of it than in butter, besides, the lecithin included in the composition ensures its active dissolution. Therefore, sour cream without reservations can be called a healthy product only if it is natural and fresh. In all other cases, as they say, options are possible, but the main thing is to observe the measure in everything and then there will definitely be no harm to health.
Sour cream is a natural delicacy that serves as an addition to the dishes of different nations. What is the benefit of this hearty and tasty product?
How to get
The harm of sour cream may be due to improper production technology. The easiest and oldest way to get it is as follows: you need to remove the settled cream from whole milk and leave it in a cool place for several days. With the advent of separators, the speed of making sour cream has increased.
A modern factory product is obtained from sourdough and pasteurized milk. But some manufacturers use stabilizers, vegetable fats and other cheap additives.
Distinguishing real sour cream is quite easy. There are no powder lumps and grains in it, but there is a slight sourness. Fat content is responsible for the density. That's why a quality product with a low percentage of fat should have a liquid consistency. For the same reason, in very thick sour cream with a fat content of no more than 15%, in which “even a spoon is worth it”, some kind of “chemistry” is probably present.
nutritional value
Natural sour cream contains vitamins of group B, as well as C, E, A, various organic acids. It is rich in potassium, biotin, lecithin, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, beta-carotene. Also present are sugars, animal proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Not always sour cream has a high calorie content, which is undesirable with excess weight. Depending on the percentage of fats, the following types are distinguished:
- oily: from 50% to 58%;
- classic: from 20% to 34%;
- low fat: from 15% to 19%;
- lean: 10% to 14%.
100 g of a product with a fat content of 15% include about 162 kcal. In limited quantities, such a product can and is even desirable to use in the presence of extra pounds. In addition, sour cream contains much less cholesterol than natural butter or margarine.
Test purchase results
For sour cream with a fat content of 15%. The table was compiled based on the materials of the TV program "Test Purchase" dated 03/11/2016.
Asenievskaya Farm (Kaluga region, village Asenievskoe) | 16±0.05 | 2.8±0.03 | 7*108 | |
"Blagoda" (Chuvash Republic, Shumerlya) | 15.6±0.05 | 2.5±0.03 | 7*108 | |
"Brest-Litovsk" (Belarus, Brest) | Passed the popular vote | 15.8±0.05 | 2.7±0.03 | 6*108 |
"Vologda" (Vologda) | Did not pass the round of popular voting / Does not meet the standards | 13±0.05 | 3.1±0.03 | 3*109 |
"Parmalat" (Belgorod) | Winner | 16±0.05 | 2.6±0.03 | 2*109 |
Rostagroexport (Moscow region, Pushkin district) | Failed to pass the popular vote | 15±0.05 | 2.8±0.03 | 2*109 |
MAC (Maximum Permissible Concentrations) and Norms | ≥ 15 | ≥ 2,6 | ≥ 1*107 |
The benefits of sour cream
- It improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, so it is included in the rehabilitation nutrition menu after illnesses, as well as for colitis, ulcers and other ailments of the stomach and intestines.
- The product is extremely useful for thin people, as it “accelerates” the work of the digestive tract, normalizes appetite and helps to digest food.
- Sour cream helps to gently cleanse the intestines, which has a beneficial effect not only on overall well-being, but also improves immunity and improves skin condition.
- This delicacy provides the necessary "building materials" for the integumentary system (skin, hair and nails), therefore, it retains a beautiful, well-groomed and young look for the fair sex for a long time.
- This fermented milk product improves the functioning of the reproductive system. In particular, it plays an important role in maintaining normal hormonal levels.
- The use of sour cream helps to keep a good mood, especially in the winter season, when a person needs much more energy.
Other useful properties of sour cream:
- improves brain function, strengthens memory;
- helps to transfer stress;
- normalizes metabolic processes;
- slows down the aging process, makes the skin attractive and velvety;
- stimulates the digestive tract, cleanses the body;
- strengthens the immune system.
Dietary Properties Cleansing Method
Sour cream helps cleanse the intestines and solve digestive problems, which is often the cause of weight gain.
To cleanse the body with this high-calorie treat, you need to use a safe, time-tested and many people way. During the week, you need to eat 100 g of low-fat sour cream mixed with 1 tsp for breakfast. ordinary flour. For the second week, the amount of flour is increased to 2 tsp. On the third week, 3 tsp should be added to the fermented milk product.
Sour cream diet
Nutritionists approve of such a system of nutrition. It helps to eliminate excess weight, removes excess fluid from the body, normalizes metabolic processes, and all this without harm to the gastrointestinal tract. Within 2-3 days you need to follow a special diet: during the day you need to eat only 400 g of sour cream with a fat content of up to 30%. Also during the day you need to drink 500 ml of rosehip broth. This diet allows you to lose an average of 3 kg.
Read more: Matsoni - benefits and harms.
Application in traditional medicine
- Folk wisdom tells representatives of the strong half of humanity to eat a small amount of sour cream every day - this has a beneficial effect on male strength and helps to qualitatively improve the composition of the seed.
- To maintain vigilance, it is necessary to make it a habit to regularly consume sour cream mixed with grated carrots. This light salad contains a lot of eye health benefits. Moreover, it strengthens immune system and has a beneficial effect on the intestines, because it contains a lot of fiber and has mild cleansing properties.
- Fatty sour cream is extremely effective for injuries, frostbite and all types of burns. It relieves pain, gives inflamed skin a pleasant feeling of coolness, softens tissues, supplies protein and other beneficial substances to cells. To speed up the healing, it is advisable to use sour cream in combination with egg white and a small amount of vegetable oil.
- This fermented milk product is considered an antidepressant, which helps to improve mood, quickly restore strength and endure stress without serious consequences. Sour cream with the addition of cocoa powder and sugar copes especially well with a bad mood. This dessert goes well with black coffee. But it is quite satisfying, so you won’t eat a lot of it.
And what is the harm?
The product is undesirable to include in the diet of people with liver disease, obesity and hypertension. These diseases are direct contraindications for regular use.
Only fresh sour cream is suitable for food, the benefits and harms of which depend on individual physiological characteristics, medical history, as well as on the production technology of this wonderful fermented milk product.
Sour cream is a unique fermented milk dish, the result of the work of lactic acid streptococci on cream or milk. It is a tasty, healthy and nutritious product that is perfect as an addition to cabbage rolls, pasta, pancakes, acts as an ingredient in pastries, soups and desserts. As in the case of milk, the benefits of sour cream are undeniable: it contains a large set of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and thanks to the work of bacteria, it has other beneficial properties.
Village sour cream, or how our ancestors prepared the product
Both now and centuries ago, sour cream is made in the village in the same way - they “remove” cream from fresh milk and ferment it with lactic acid bacteria. It looks simple and natural: the cream is separated into a separate bowl, a little ready-made, fermented sour cream is added there and left to ferment for a while.
If it is not ready, then the cream is left in a warm place without additives - this method is longer, but the result is the same: under the action of bacteria, real sour cream is gradually prepared from the cream, the benefits and harms of which are one of the "hot" questions for scientists. It is also easy to regulate its fat content - the fattest is obtained from pure cream. Cream with milk, depending on the ratio, will give less fat content, but “pure” milk will turn into a skimmed product.
Industrial cream product
Today, you can see not only sour cream in stores: such names as “Sour cream”, “Smetanochka”, “Sour cream product”, “Sour cream paste” and so on are pleasing to the eye. What is the difference? It's simple: in addition to sourdough and cream, these products contain vegetable oils, stabilizers, and soy protein. This sour cream, the benefits (and harms as well) of which have not yet been studied, is considered by ordinary buyers rather harmful. Since the law prohibits deceiving consumers, manufacturers do not have the right to call such a product “sour cream”. So there are various diminutive names of goods.
How is sour cream and sour cream products made at the factory?
If you read the description of the production technology, it becomes clear that the goods sold in stores have little in common with their "older relative". Even sour cream made in accordance with GOST and meeting all quality standards is not the same as village sour cream. The benefits and harms of the latter, made in an artisanal way, may not be obvious to doctors and scientists, but they ate it, eat it and will eat it. Even the taste of the store and the village is different.
The production process looks like this: milk is delivered to a dairy factory, where it is sorted, cream is separated, they are “normalized” (that is, the fat content is brought to the desired level). Next comes pasteurization and homogenization. The result is poured into tanks and lactic acid bacteria are added.
In industrial production, various microorganisms are used, depending on what is needed in the end. For the buyer, such sour cream (the benefits and harms of which are the same as from homemade) has no difference in taste, color and smell, regardless of which bacteria were used.
Starter cultures are prepared on pure cultures of lactic acid streptococci - Lc. lactis, Lc. cremoris, Lc. lactis subsp. Diacetilactis, Lc. diacetilactis or Lc. Acetoinicus. The product is fermented at a certain positive temperature, then goes for packaging and “ripening” at a temperature between 0 and 10 °C. Or vice versa - first "ripening", then packaging. The resulting product is sent for sale.
In "sour cream products", in addition to cream and sourdough, there is soy protein, stabilizers, vegetable oils, reconstituted milk, etc. By themselves, these components do not make the product bad - it's just not sour cream anymore. The benefits and harms of such a product for humans are a moot point.
Thermization, or How much sour cream is stored
The shelf life of the finished product depends not only on the composition, but also on the packaging and production technology. Specifically, it depends on whether the sour cream has passed thermization or not.
Untermized sour cream in unsealed packaging is stored for three days; in sealed - up to seven, at a temperature of 4 ± 2 ºС.
Thermized sour cream is stored at a temperature of 4±2 ºС for up to 30 days.
Village sour cream: benefits and harms
“Russian cream”, as this product is called in the West, has many pluses and almost no minuses. Sour cream is better absorbed by the human body than milk, because milk proteins change during the fermentation process. It contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, ash, macro- (potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus) and microelements (iron, copper, zinc, selenium), vitamins (A, B 1, B 2, B 3, B 4, B 6, B 9, B 12, C, D, E, K). Chemical composition and the beneficial properties of sour cream depend, however, on the composition of the milk from which it is made, and it can be different, depending on how the cows that gave it were kept and what they ate.
"Russian Cream" regulates and improves digestion, is good for vegetovascular dystonia, to increase lactation in nursing mothers, and helps people who have had serious illnesses recover.
The benefits of sour cream for the skin are worth attention: this is a ready-made, balanced mask. It softens, nourishes and moisturizes the skin, has a tonic effect on it. It can be used for dry and tired skin, to get rid of wrinkles, you can make baths and hair masks with it.
Two healthy eating options
Store-bought sour cream can be very tasty, it is great for cooking and as a dish in its purest form. If the manufacturer made it according to technology, it contains all the required vitamins, micro and macro elements, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. And, of course, lactic acid bacteria. Sour cream, fully compliant with GOST, is good for the body.
"Pastes", "foods" and anything made with additives can also be tasty and nutritious. They may contain appropriate bacteria, micro and macro elements, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. But to equate them with sour cream is not worth it. They are something completely different.
And there is a third option: homemade sour cream. The benefits and harms of homemade "Russian cream" depend only on who prepares them. Special starter cultures are easy to buy at a pharmacy or order online, and cream can be found in almost any store. Those that are on sale are already sterilized or pasteurized, the village ones from the bazaar should be boiled first.
You can also cook sour cream with milk - for this it is also better to take fresh rustic.
Of course, sour cream is considered a high-calorie product. But, the daily norm of sour cream (2 incomplete tablespoons) is only 52 calories, which is half that in one tablespoon of mayonnaise.
But is it possible to have sour cream during a diet. How to eat a fermented milk product and not get better.
Sour cream is cream that has undergone lactic acid fermentation. Natural sour cream is cream and sourdough, and nothing else.
The benefits of sour cream for losing weight
About the benefits of fermented milk products in general, and sour cream, in particular, nutritionists can talk for hours.
Easily digestible, rich in vitamins and protein, organic acids, micro and macro elements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, chlorine and many others, restoring the intestinal microflora and regulating digestion due to the high content of bifidus and lactobacilli - these products are worthy in order to take the most important place in the diet of a modern person who adheres to the principles of rational nutrition.
Sour cream can be either very fat, up to 58%, or practically fat-free.
The minimum fat content of sour cream is 10%, which makes it, contrary to popular belief, an excellent product for those who watch their weight.
In addition, low-fat sour cream will not add centimeters to your waist, it will also bring considerable benefits to your body.
What sour cream can you eat during a diet
If for a person who is not burdened with the problem of excess weight, the choice of sour cream lies mainly in the plane of taste preferences, then people who want to lose weight need to take this issue more seriously.
- Shop sour cream. Sour cream should be chosen as the basis of dietary nutrition industrial production, with strict control of fat content and content of lactic acid bacteria, which the manufacturer indicates as an acceptable minimum at the end of the expiration date.
- Homemade sour cream. Yes, sour cream, cooked by a grandmother in the village from homemade milk, is undoubtedly very tasty. But a product of such a high fat content can only be afforded in the form of one spoonful of borscht and, of course, not every day.
- Sour cream product. However, in the pursuit of calorie reduction, one should not forget about the quality of the purchased product. So, for example, the so-called “sour cream product”, which is now widely represented on store shelves, although it has a low fat content, does not have much in common with natural sour cream. Often the only advantage in favor of purchasing such products is its low price. But in this case, you should not expect the same benefits from using a sour cream product as from using natural fermented milk products.
Is it possible to get better from sour cream
Is it possible to get fat from sour cream? Yes and no. The answer depends on the choice of product and the rate of consumption per day.
Daily rate. It is curious that nutritionists have calculated the annual rate of sour cream consumption. It is 6.5 kilograms per person. Of course, this norm is conditional and can fluctuate depending on many factors. On average, an ordinary person can eat 25 grams of sour cream per day, that is, one full tablespoon. Overweight people should choose varieties with a fat content of no more than 20%.
Best time to take sour cream is considered morning or afternoon. In this case, the calories received with a portion of this appetizing product will have time to be completely used up during the day. Accordingly, it is better not to use sour cream at night.
Combination with products. In addition to the usual and really healthy cottage cheese with sour cream, it is best to combine a fermented milk product with vegetables and fruits.
Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, sorrel, spinach, herbs and green onions are all great partners for sour cream on your menu. In this case, the fat-soluble vitamins found in many vegetables will be absorbed the best way, and the fat content of sour cream will be diluted with fiber, which will only benefit the body.
The same applies to the popular, especially among men, drink made from sour cream and tomato juice. Flavored with a pinch of spices, the drink, in addition to general medical benefits, also has positive influence on men's health.
Sour cream on an empty stomach with flax seeds(ground into flour). This common recipe for weight loss is worth mentioning separately.
The method really helps to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and to some extent lose weight, but it has a lot of contraindications.
In particular, due to the strong choleretic effect of flaxseed, the movement of stones and sand can occur, the presence of which people often do not know for the time being. In such cases, taking flaxseed flour runs the risk of ending up with an ambulance call.
Pure sour cream consumption is not recommended. The only exception is a special medical diet for people with diabetes, and a sour cream diet for weight loss, which has recently been gaining popularity.
Diet on sour cream
The essence of the diet consists in the fact that you need to eat 400 grams of sour cream per day, dividing this amount into 5 doses. This achieves a fivefold meal, the so-called fractional nutrition, the benefits and effectiveness of which no one doubts. In addition, it is recommended to drink 2 cups of rosehip broth on the day of the diet and limit this.
Of course, that sour cream is used in its pure form, without jams, fruits and sugar, rosehip broth should also not be sweet. Sometimes it is recommended to use a product with a 30% fat content, but it is more logical to limit the fat content to 10-15%, a maximum of 20%, in order to lose weight.
duration. The sour cream diet belongs to mono-diets, and, like any other mono-diet, should not last more than three days.
Result. Usually, weight loss during this time reaches 1 kilogram per day. Unfortunately, some of these kilograms are lost due to the loss of body fluid, due to the special properties of sour cream, and will return almost immediately after the end of the diet.
Nevertheless, weight loss will still be noticeable, and if you carry out such fasting days regularly, it will not be difficult to achieve positive changes in the fight against excess weight.
Contraindications. For all its usefulness and effectiveness, the sour cream diet also has a number of limitations. These include: allergy to sour-milk products, hypertension, diabetes, gastritis, ulcer in the acute stage. Therefore, in order for the diet to bring you only benefit, it is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor before starting it.