A doctor has hailed a specific type of cheese for its health benefits, saying this tasty ingredient could help you reach your protein goals while aiding your gut. According to Doctor Karan Rajan, you should consider adding cottage cheese to your diet for this reason.

This creamy cheese contains more protein but fewer calories than most regular types of cheese. Dr Rajan, who is best known online as Dr Raj, advised eating cottage cheese in response to a content creator's video about getting enough protein.

Speaking on social media platform TikTok, he explained: "What if you could hit your protein and improve your gut health too? A cup of cottage cheese has over 20 grams of protein."

If you're able to find cottage cheese containing live cultures it can also help keep your gut microbiome healthy. Studies have linked a healthy gut microbiome to improved immunity, lower risk of certain diseases, and better mental health.

Dr Raj continued: "Since it's a fermented dairy product like yoghurt, it also has probiotic-like effects on your gut. To get the best gut health benefits look for cottage cheese that contains live and active cultures, which means it contains live bacteria or probiotics - usually things like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.

"Both of these can add diversity to your microbiome. Plus the fermentation process means it's generally lower in lactose than milk, making it easier to digest for those with lactose intolerance."

His advice is backed by registered dietitian Julia Zumpano. Writing for the Cleveland Clinic, she stipulated that you want to be choosing cottage cheese containing live cultures.

"If you want cottage cheese that provides probiotics," she said. "Check the label to see if it says it contains 'live and active cultures.'"

She further revealed that cottage cheese can support good bone health and can help with your blood sugar levels. It can also aid with weight loss efforts, due to the fact it is high in protein, low in fat and rich in calcium.

The Cleveland Clinic added: "Research finds that eating a high-protein diet helps curb your appetite and manage hormones associated with appetite, digestion and insulin release.

"Full-fat cottage cheese contains less fat than some other cheeses (four percent fat versus 30 percent fat in cheddar), and its high protein makes it an excellent low-fat option. Studies show that increasing calcium can help you lose weight when combined with a calorie-restricted diet."

According to Patient Info, 113 grams of one percent fat cottage cheese contains:

14g protein - 30 percent of your daily allowance 0.63µg vitamin B12 - 29 percent of your daily allowance 9 µg of selenium - 19 percent of your daily allowance 134mg phosphorus - 13 percent of your daily allowance 61 mg of calcium - five percent of your daily allowance 11µg vitamin A - 1.5 percent of your daily allowance 1g fat - four percent of your daily allowance 406 mg dietary salt - 20 percent of your daily allowance.

It also contains around 81 calories. In comparison, a standard cheddar contains 37 grams of fat and 455 calories.