In the stores we are offered sterilized milk, pasteurized, reconstituted milk. Recovered is called milk, prepared by adding water to the powder of milk powder. Dry milk is prepared from the whole by removing moisture. So in it there are all useful vitamins and microelements. Normalized milk is milk, in which the fat content is brought to the correct proportions. Doctors recommend using milk with a fat content of not more than 3.5%.
In order to increase the shelf life of milk, it is subjected to heat treatment. Heating up to 135 degrees Celsius and sharp cooling is a sterilization. With this treatment, all the harmful bacteria, along with the bacteria useful to the organism, die. By the way on such milk it is impossible at home to prepare neither yogurt nor kefir from starter cultures. But there are vitamins. The shelf-life of sterilized milk can last up to six months.
In the process of pasteurization, milk is heated to 80 degrees Celsius. It can be stored much less - up to 5 days. But most vitamins and trace elements are stored in the product. In addition, there is such a thing - "ultrapasterization". This heating up to 120-140 degrees. This process differs from sterilization in the retention time of the product at a high temperature: for ultra-pasteurization it is a few seconds, and for sterilization it takes several minutes, after which the milk is packed in a special aseptic container. Much more vitamins remain in the milk after ultrapasteurization.
Among sour-milk dairy products the most used is kefir. Its merits include a significant amount of trace elements contained in it. It is also rich in vitamins A, B, D, folic acid. By the way, in fat-free yogurt, useful substances are much less than in fat.
Kefir is a unique product. In our intestines accumulate a lot of pathogenic bacteria, which are considered the cause of premature aging of the body, and also is the cause of many diseases. When ingested into the intestine, kefir suppresses the activity of extraneous pathogenic microflora. And supplements also strengthen immunity. The Japanese, for example, consider kefir a remedy for cancer. And among Caucasian peoples, consumption of fermented milk products is considered one of the reasons for longevity. Kefir also has the ability to influence intestinal motility. Fresh one-day kefir enhances peristalsis and has laxative properties. Kefir three - four days - strengthens.
If the kefir has an inhomogeneous structure, that is, flakes or lumps are observed, it means that the product is of poor quality: there was a violation of the manufacturing or storage technology. It is better not to use this kefir.
When choosing kefir in the store, pay attention to the inscription on the package. There must be specified components. On packages with natural kefir - milk and kefir leaven. If bifidobacteria are added to the formulation, then the product bears the name biochemical. And bifidobacteria accelerate the absorption of milk by the body of an adult. But if the package says that the composition includes milk and sour-milk bacteria, this is curdled milk, which can be cooked at home by simply souring milk, but this is not kefir. In this product there is nothing wrong, it is useful in its own way, but write on the label that this kefir is no longer possible. Well, remember that the less the shelf life of a particular product, the better.
Experts believe that for a year each person should eat about 10 kg of cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is the main product that delivers calcium to the body. There are so many in the product, and it is so easily absorbed by the body that it is very difficult to find a substitute for cottage cheese.
When choosing cottage cheese, pay attention to the inscriptions on the package. If it is written that it is a dairy product, then it is not a natural curd, but a fake for it. When making such a product, milk is used specifically: it replaces expensive proteins and fats with inexpensive vegetable oil. This cottage cheese can be both fatty and fat-free.
With all the variety of dairy products offered on the market from a huge number of manufacturers - the choice is yours.