Paneer
Paneer
Paneer is an animal product which is prepared by curdling hot milk using lime juice, vinegar or citric acid. It can be eaten raw as well as to prepare a variety of dishes. There are various types of Paneer such as conventional Paneer, low fat Paneer, soy Paneer, filled Paneer and vegetable stuff Paneer[1][2].
What are the synonyms of Paneer?
Cottage Cheese
What is the source of Paneer?
Animal Based
Benefits of Paneer
1. Obesity
An increase in weight is due to unhealthy food habits and lifestyle which leads to a weak digestive fire. This increases accumulation of Ama causing an imbalance in meda dhatu. Paneer can help control weight by controlling your appetite and craving. This is due to its Guru (heavy) property.
2. Strengthen bones and teeth
Paneer is a high protein food rich in calcium and phosphorus. It helps in building strong bones and teeth. Regular use of Paneer helps to make the body strong and is good for growing children.
3. Joint pain
According to Ayurveda, the bones and joints are considered a site of Vata in the body. An imbalance in the Vata dosha causes joint pain. Regular use of Paneer prevents joint pain because it has Vata balancing property. Paneer is also rich in protein, calcium and phosphorus which helps in building strong bones and thus reduce joint pain.
4. Malnutrition
Malnutrition can be correlated to Karshya disease in Ayurveda. This is due to lack of nutrients and improper digestion. Regular use of Paneer helps to fight against malnutrition. This is due to its Kapha increasing property which gives strength to the body. Paneer provides instant energy and fulfills the calorie requirement of the body. It also helps in growth and development of the bones.
An increase in weight is due to unhealthy food habits and lifestyle which leads to a weak digestive fire. This increases accumulation of Ama causing an imbalance in meda dhatu. Paneer can help control weight by controlling your appetite and craving. This is due to its Guru (heavy) property.
2. Strengthen bones and teeth
Paneer is a high protein food rich in calcium and phosphorus. It helps in building strong bones and teeth. Regular use of Paneer helps to make the body strong and is good for growing children.
3. Joint pain
According to Ayurveda, the bones and joints are considered a site of Vata in the body. An imbalance in the Vata dosha causes joint pain. Regular use of Paneer prevents joint pain because it has Vata balancing property. Paneer is also rich in protein, calcium and phosphorus which helps in building strong bones and thus reduce joint pain.
4. Malnutrition
Malnutrition can be correlated to Karshya disease in Ayurveda. This is due to lack of nutrients and improper digestion. Regular use of Paneer helps to fight against malnutrition. This is due to its Kapha increasing property which gives strength to the body. Paneer provides instant energy and fulfills the calorie requirement of the body. It also helps in growth and development of the bones.
How to use Paneer
1. Cooked Paneer
Paneer can be fried, grilled or baked alone or along with other vegetables like spinach, peas, corn etc.
Paneer can be fried, grilled or baked alone or along with other vegetables like spinach, peas, corn etc.
Frequently asked questions
Modern Science View
Paneer is an Indian cheese that is rich in many nutrients such as calcium and protein. It helps in many body processes and also prevents tooth decay. Paneer provides instant energy to the body. Hence, making Paneer an essential part of the diet may fulfill the need of a lot of nutrients as well as protein, especially if you are a vegetarian.
Ayurvedic View
Yes, you can add Paneer in your diet if you face some nutritional deficiency. This is because regular use of Paneer provides instant energy and fulfill calorie requirement of the body and improves the growth due to its Balya (tonic) property.
Modern Science View
Yes, Paneer is light on the stomach and easy to digest. However, uncooked Paneer or large amount of it can cause bloating and and slight indigestion problems.
Ayurvedic View
Uncooked Paneer has Guru (heavy) property that makes it heavy to digest and thus takes time to digest completely. When Paneer is cooked with spices like turmeric, ginger and cardamom it becomes easy to digest.
Modern Science View
Paneer may be useful in losing weight while cheese may be useful for making the bones healthier. A 28g serving of Paneer contains about 82.5 calories while the same amount of cheese contains about 97.4 calories. However, Paneer is much healthier than processed cheese.
Modern Science View
Yes, Paneer is a rich source of protein. About 100g of Paneer contains about 18.3g of protein. It is also rich in selenium, potassium and calcium.
Modern Science View
Fresh Paneer can be wrapped in a moistened muslin cloth and stored in the refrigerator for about 3 days. If you want to store it for a little longer, put the Paneer wrapped in muslin cloth in a bowl of water. Make sure to change the water everyday. In this way, Paneer can be stored for upto 5-6 days.
Modern Science View
Not enough scientific information is available to support the role of Paneer in the case of fever.
Ayurvedic View
Paneer should be avoided during fever as during this condition the digestive fire gets disturbed resulting in poor digestion. Paneer being heavy and rich in protein and fat becomes difficult to digest. This results in poor digestion which might further worsen the condition.
Ayurvedic View
Yes you can take Paneer if you have indigestion but only in cooked form. This is because uncooked Paneer has Guru (heavy) property that makes it heavy to digest and takes time to digest completely. This might worsen your problem of indigestion.
Modern Science View
No, Paneer is not considered to be a good option to lose weight because of its high-fat content[2].
Ayurvedic View
Paneer should be avoided if somebody is trying to lose weight because Paneer has the property of aggravating Kapha dosha due to which fat increases.
Modern Science View
Paneer might increase body heat due to the presence of calcium. Calcium increases heat production and also the core temperature of the body[2].
Ayurvedic View
Paneer is rich in fats and proteins and is helpful in increasing weight due to its Kapha aggravating property. This might help increase the heat inside the body.
References
- Khan SU, Pal MP.Paneer production: A review.J Food Sci Technol. 2011; 48(6): 645–660.
- Kumar S, Rai DC, Niranjan K.Paneer—An Indian soft cheese variant: a review.J Food Sci Technol. 2014; 51(5): 821–831.
- Deshmukh S, Vyas MK. Review of Curd, Paneer and Cheese as Nitya Asevaniya Ahara Dravya w.s.r. to Dadhi, Kilat and Kurchika.Journal of Ayurveda and integrated medical sciences.2017;2(1):220-222.
Disclaimer
The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.