Cream: benefits and harms, composition, preparation

The benefits and harms of cream are scientifically substantiated and their quality largely depends on milk. Cream is widely used in cooking, as an additive to drinks, home cosmetics and during the diet. The beneficial properties of the product have made it very popular.

Chemical composition of cream

The beneficial properties of cream are due to the rich chemical composition that preserves the benefits of milk. An amazing property is the easy digestibility of the components of the cream by the human body: useful substances are in a more accessible form here than in milk.

The chemical composition of the product is represented by groups of saturated mono- and polyunsaturated fats, nonessential and essential amino acids, vitamins A, groups B, C, E, macroelements (phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium), microelements (iron).

Nutritional value and calorie content of cream

Nutritional parameters of a product depend on its specific type.

Cream 10%

The calorie content of the product is only 119 kcal. The nutritional value is shown in the table.

Cream 10% is called low-fat.

Cream 15%

Caloric content is 161 kcal per 100 g of product.

Cream 15% is low-fat.

Cream 30%

The calorie content of the product per 100 g is 293 kcal.

Cream 30% is called classic.

Why cream is useful for the body

The beneficial properties of the product are manifested:

• in the treatment of gastric diseases (gastritis, ulcers), duodenal ulcers;
• in the fight against depression;
• in improving the absorption of vitamins contained in fruits, therefore fruit and cream desserts are useful;
• in lowering cholesterol levels, cleaning blood vessels;
• in improving the functioning of the nervous system.

In addition, the cream is beneficial for the human body, leading an active mental and physical lifestyle, due to the easy and rapid absorption of nutrients.

Is cream good for pregnancy

Drinking a dairy product during pregnancy is limited. Due to the high calorie content, there is a risk of quickly gaining excess weight. In addition to the main benefits for appearance and health, the cream will help get rid of heartburn, which often torments the expectant mother. The alkaline environment quickly extinguishes internal burning sensation and discomfort.

Can lactating women drink cream

Women during lactation are especially careful in choosing products for their daily diet. Eating cream can be beneficial: it will help increase the fat content of breast milk, increase its production.It is recommended to drink a mug of green tea with cream 15 minutes before feeding the baby.

When choosing a product, it is important to pay attention to its fat content, it should not exceed 15%. Eating a too fatty product will harm the newborn - fermentation processes occur in the tummy, leading to colic, diarrhea. Nursing mothers should not drink cream in its pure form - the baby will have a digestive upset.

At what age can cream be given to children

Young children, according to most pediatricians, are allowed to give low-fat cream (10%) from the age of two. At an earlier age, the child's body is not able to digest such heavy food, since the production of enzymes is not adjusted.

From 2 years old, you can offer your child cream as one of the additional components in the diet: add to mashed potatoes, porridge, and other dishes in small quantities. At the first signs of allergy, intolerance to the product in a child, it is necessary to exclude cream from the children's menu.

Slimming cream

Despite the fact that milk cream is considered one of the most fatty foods, its low-fat varieties can be used in a diet for weight loss. There are special types of diets: egg, grain, vegetable, in which the body does not receive the required amount of certain elements. Mono diets can be harmful to the body. The use of 10% cream, low-fat, but rich in vitamins and macronutrients will help to fill the lack of necessary substances.

A particularly interesting way to lose weight is the ketogenic diet, during which it is possible to get rid of extra pounds by consuming fatty foods. It is satisfying, so a person does not feel a constant feeling of hunger and at the same time loses weight. One of the components of the diet is cream.

Benefits of face cream

The use of cream for women is to preserve their beauty. The rich chemical composition of the product allows its use in facial skin care.

The table summarizes the vitamins that make up the cream and their effect on the skin condition.

In addition to vitamins, fatty acids, potassium, calcium contained in milk cream are beneficial for the skin.

There are several general rules for the preparation and use of masks based on this dairy product.

1. Unpasteurized heavy cream is especially beneficial for the skin.
2. It is not recommended to use dry cream in masks.
3. Before preparing the masks, the cream stored in the refrigerator is warmed up.
4. For women with oily skin, it is recommended to apply cream 10-15%, with dry and normal - 30-35%.
5. Good results are achieved by applying the mask 2 times a week. The effects become noticeable after 10-12 applications.

The cream itself can be a good substitute for many cosmetic products for face care, by adding other ingredients to the mask, the effect can be improved and accelerated.

Cream face mask recipes

The beneficial properties of cream for the skin of the face are manifested when using masks based on them. Below are a variety of masks that improve the condition of the facial skin.

Anti-wrinkle cream mask

A mask will help to fight fine wrinkles, give the skin a fresh, radiant look, firmness, elasticity, for which you will need:

• cream 30% - 30 ml;
• cottage cheese - 20 g;
• honey - 20 g;
• banana - 1 pc.

The banana pulp is crushed with a fork, the remaining ingredients are added to it. The resulting mass is mixed in a mixer, applied to the face, not excluding the area around the eyes. The duration of action is about 40 minutes. At the end, the mask is washed off with running water, alternating the temperature from warm to cool.

Acne Cream Mask

A mask prepared according to this recipe will get rid of acne, acne, relieve itching, irritation, and reduce inflammation.

Components:

• cream 10% - 50 ml;
• tincture of propolis - 20 drops;
• aloe juice - 10 ml.

The ingredients are mixed, evenly applied to the skin. After half an hour, the remnants of the product are removed with a damp cotton pad, the face is washed with cool water.

Whitening mask for age spots

You can get rid of pigmentation and refresh the appearance of your skin with a mask made from the following ingredients:

• cream - 30 ml;
• fresh cucumber - 1 pc .;
• lemon essential oil - 3 drops.

First, on a fine grater or in a blender, grind the cucumber to the consistency of gruel, then add lemon oil and cream to it. The mixture is stirred, evenly applied to the face. The duration of the mask is 30 minutes. The remains are removed with a cotton pad moistened with water.

Universal mask for all skin types

A cream and honey based mask suitable for all skin types. Ingredients are taken in the following quantities:

• cream - 1 tbsp. l .;
• honey - 1 tsp.

The components are mixed, the mass is evenly applied to the face, and left for 25 minutes. Finally, the mask is washed off with cool water.

The benefits and harms of dry cream

It is not necessary to compare the benefits of village cream and dry product produced in factory conditions. The usual dry cream is made from vegetable fats, not milk. On store shelves, you can also find a product based on milk fats, but its price is very high.

Powdered vegetable cream is actively used in cooking, but it is produced with the addition of preservatives and food additives.

Homemade cream recipe

The benefits of homemade cream are obvious, since the quality of the ingredients used and the preparation technology are monitored at home.

Separation of cream from milk.Here you can go in two ways: separate the cream from the whole milk manually or using a special separator. In the first method, milk is poured into a wide bowl and left in the refrigerator for 15-20 hours. During this time, the cream will be in the top layer, so it can be easily removed. The second method involves the presence of a separator, which is fed heated to 35⁰With whole milk. At the end of the separation, a little more skim milk is passed to release the remaining cream.

Heat treatment.To increase the shelf life of the product, as well as its disinfection, it is necessary to carry out heat treatment - pasteurization or sterilization. These operations differ in the processing temperature of the product. Sterilization is heating the product for 15 minutes to 117⁰With a holding time of 25 min and subsequent slow cooling to 20⁰C. The shelf life of the product is 4 months.

Pasteurization of cream is carried out in a pasteurizer with heating to 90⁰C. Shelf life is 3 days, after which they turn into sour cream.

For storage in the freezer, the cream is frozen in ice cube trays.

The use of cream in cooking

Cream is widely used in cooking. They are one of the main ingredients in many sauces, dressings, mousses and creams. From fatty varieties, you can make whipped cream, the benefits and harms of which are ambiguous due to the high sugar content, as well as butter, sour cream, ice cream. They give a delicate creamy taste to drinks.

The harm of cream and contraindications to use

Cream can not only be beneficial to the body, but also harm. Possible harm lies in their high calorie content, cholesterol content.There are groups of people who should refrain from using it. This includes people who have:

• intolerance to milk proteins;
• liver disease;
• high blood pressure;
• allergy to dairy products;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• high cholesterol.

Everyone else can drink cream in moderation, it will only benefit.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of cream determine whether it is worth consuming it or not. Although they are not contraindicated for most people, they should only be drunk in moderation. Despite all the benefits, they are fatty foods, which means they contain a lot of calories.