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Diet and pregnancy: thanks to Montasio Dop, cheese is no longer prohibitive.

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Pregnancy is certainly one of the most intense and exciting periods in the life of a woman but also of all the people around her. The health of the unborn child strictly depends on mother’s one and proper nutrition is essential for a correct development of the fetus, a good outcome in childbirth and for the prevention of neonatal diseases. All of this will also affect the growth of the little one for a long time after giving birth.

It is, therefore, necessary to carry on a balanced diet, based on the correct quantities of portions, respecting meal times.

Cheeses, in themselves, are excellent foods for a pregnant woman as they are rich of proteins, minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, which are essential for the mother’s bones and the growth of the baby’s one, as well as vitamins, essential for the bone marrow. However, not all cheeses are recommended during pregnancy, because of the possibility that they become a means of contamination.

In fact, aged cheeses are among the most easy to absorb and use. You shouldn’t give up on taste and moments to spend in company in front of a healthy, tasty and nutritious meal, in one of the most unforgettable moments of your life. And what’s better than the Montasio Dop cheese, with its four maturations, its local production, typical of the Alps, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Eastern Veneto, as well as its high nutritional value with a balanced composition. A semi-hard cooked cheese, with a soft characteristic and delicate flavor, balanced, without excesses, which thanks to its high digestibility adapts to the tastes of people of all ages, even for those who are celiac or lactose intolerant.

4 things you want to know about Montasio cheese.

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Montasio Pdo is a cooked curd, semi-hard mature cheese, with regular small eyes overall, this is well known, and nonetheless, some peculiarities of this Italian food excellence remain mostly untold.

First, the Montasio cheese is named after the plateau of the same name located in the Friulian Mountains. Therefore, it is widely believed that the production area includes the Friuli Venezia Giulia region only. On the contrary, it stretches to the provinces of Treviso and Belluno and, in part, in those of Venice and Padua.

Moreover, it is often thought that all the products deriving from milk contain lactose, but this is inaccurate. In fact, in the production of some aged cheese, batteria are added to milk, which eliminate lactose and transform it into lactic acid. This happens even for cheese aged for at least two months. This is naturally lactose-free; therefore, it suits to those who are intolerant to this milk sugar. In detail, laboratory tests show that Montasio contains values of lactose lower to 0.01 g for 100 g of cheese: more than 10 time less of the limit values set out by national and European legislation.

Few knows that Montasio cheese, like milk and yogurt, contains tryptophan, an amino acid precursor of serotonin. This neurotransmitter, together with melatonin carries out a relaxing action contributing to regulate the natural sleep pattern. Even calcium contained in Montasio helps to sooth the nervous system and reduce stress.

Finally yet importantly, it is important to dispel the myth that cheese makes people fat. As a matter of fact, according to a study of the University College of Dublin, based on a sample of 1500 people aged between 18 and 90 years, consumers of cheese and dairy products have a lower body max index and cholesterol levels with respect to those who don’t assume cheese or prefer low-fat dairy products. For the peace of mind of Montasio lovers: following proper eating habits as for caloric intake as indicated in the nutrition facts table you can find at this link: http://www.montasio.com/nutrition education/.

5 unique places to eat Montasio cheese: the ranking.

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Precious moments stolen from the everyday routine to have a break and relax mind and soul enjoying a small piece of Montasio Pdo. An excellence of Italy worth tasting in a unique scenery. Here follows the ranking of the weirdest “Montasio Moments”, to try at least once in life.

 

  • In a tree house. In the pristine woods around Ugovizza, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, appears a small tree house. Nothing exotic, but this house is pin-cone shaped and placed at an altitude of 10 m., at the same level of pine tree tops. An overnight in a magical place is to be celebrated with a Prosecco-based aperitif and cubes of Fresh Montasio.

 

  • Before practising bungee. It was born on the Pentecost Island (Pacific) as rite of passage for young men. The jump that originally took place from wooden towers, with men equipped with lianas at the ankles, and became a sport in 1993 only. From that date on, younger and older people challenge their fear of emptiness jumping from well-equipped installations with fit-for-purpose elastic supports. What would you eat best before jumping from an altitude of more than 100 meters? A chunk of Ripened Montasio, so rich in healthy nutrients like calcium and vitamins (further information at the following page: http://www.montasio.com/nutrition education/).

 

  • On a hot air balloon. “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return”. Said Leonardo Da Vinci. This is what they usually say when they try a hot air balloon flight, too. Since the balloon bends with the wind, it could happen to jolt during the trip. It is better to bring a snack you can keep in one hand so to have one free to hold at the handle of the balloon’s basket. A tasty tramezzino sandwich with cooked ham and Semi-aged Montasio.

 

  • After swimming with dolphins. In a marine park in Malta, accompanied by a professional dolphin trainer you can live the experience of diving in a pool together with these extraordinary sensible and intelligent mammals. Once out, and before meeting sea lions you have time enough to taste a hamburger with radicchio and Montasio, which is easy to digest and recharge energies without weighing down.

 

  • During a “bonfire night”. Why not to profit of a clear-sky night to try the typical American custom of gathering around a bonfire with friends? Instead of roasting marshmallows as cousins overseas do, you could dip toasted bread in a delicious Montasio fondue.

 

Fit over 50s, foods for a beautiful and healthy body.

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Metabolism changes over the years and body needs a particular attention on food intake. The need of nutrients such as calcium and vitamins increases, while the daily energy requirements decrease.

 

People over 50s need to think carefully about what they eat. The golden rule refers to a varied and balanced diet. You should eat a portion of fruits or vegetable per meal-according to season-a precious source of natural antioxidants. Consumption of red meat, especially sausages and cured meat, should be limited for the benefit of fish and legumes. These, in particular, contain phytoestrogens, helpful for menopausal women.

 

After the 50s, the muscle mass reduces of about 1-2% per year, therefore, it is important to ensure the body with an adequate amount of proteins. For this reason, you would rather introduce in your diet some products with a high nutritional value, as for example Montasio Pdo cheese, which entails up to 24-26% of proteins. One portion of 50 gr of Montasio aged for 2 months supplies about 12 gr of proteins, along with 370 mg of Calcium, 265 mg of Phosphorus and 209 mg of Vitamin A. These substances contribute in maintaining bones strong and healthy. To find out more about the nutrition facts table of the Montasio Cheese please consult the page: http://www.montasio.com/nutrition-education/.

 

However, the important is not only what you eat, but how and when, too. A correct chewing helps digestion and reduces appetite between one meal and the next one. Moreover, the caloric intake should be spread over the day. For example, assuming carbohydrates at breakfast and lunch allows the body to metabolize them into energy within the first part of the day. While a light, protein-based dinner accompanied with vegetables has significant benefits on digestion before sleeping.

 

Last, to be fit in your 50s you need to exercise, at least 5 days per week. From long walks in the countryside to yoga: the physical activity is fundamental to maintain a flexible and firm muscle structure, but event to prevent cardio-vascular problems. A regular physical exercise and healthy diet are the magic recipe for feeling good, no matter what is your age.

 

Summer food: when cheese helps to stay fit

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Green light for food rich in nutrients, but-nonetheless-highly digestible, such as Montasio cheese, better if combined with fruits or vegetables.

 

During summer season, diet experts recommend to prefer food rich in nutrients and highly digestible at the same time, in order to compensate the loss of mineral salts and vitamins due to copious perspiration, possibly without interfering with digestion. A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle can improve the mental and physical well-being even in the hottest summer days.

 

First of all, never miss breakfast: if you do not provide energy at the right moment, your body slows down the normal consumption because it has no “fuel”, and when it is supplied with energy it is keen to preserve it, creating body fat, instead of use it. What shall we eat in the morning? An option could be oat flakes or a yoghurt with a fresh fruit. What about a snack? A light and healthy possibility may be a whole-wheat sandwich with 50g of fresh Montasio cheese, this last supplies 192 calories, but 370 g of calcium, 265 mg of phosphorus and 209 mg of vitamin A.

Find out more on the nutrition facts table of Montasio: http://www.montasio.com/nutrition-education/.

 

Even lunch and dinner would be perfect with fresh ingredients and low-processed foods, as for example whole-wheat pasta (better at lunch), Montasio cheese and vegetables (even three times per week), eggs and vegetables (up to twice per week), legumes and cereals (at least 2 times per week), fish and vegetables (up to three times per week). Especially during summer, vegetable should be eaten raw; so to preserve precious nutrients. Moreover, avoiding hot foods helps regulating body temperature.

 

If you want to stay fit avoid packaged foods rich in simple sugars, salt, preserving agents, which increase the fat mass with respect to the fat-free mass favoring salt and water imbalance that give rise to problems of water retention. Therefore, it is essential reading carefully the food labels and purchasing fresh foods mainly.

 

Physical exercise in combination with a healthy diet-as for example a late afternoon bike ride-reinforces the muscle mass and puts endorphins into circulation for a general sensation of well-being. You can find many advices for living well and following a correct diet in our Facebook page: https://business.facebook.com/FormaggioMontasio.