21/05/09 Hispanic style cheese known as Queso Fresco or "fresh cheese" may contribute to preventing and fighting obesity and other related health problems.

Several studies have demonstrated that eating dairy foods while consuming a low-calorie diet can work together to speed up metabolism and as a result help reduce fat and body weight.

According to these studies, adults who consumed the recommended daily intakes of calcium in dairy products while consuming a low-calorie diet tended to lose significantly more body weight and body fat than those who consumed only a balanced, reduced-calorie diet with little or no dairy foods.

The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend children and adults consume three servings every day of calcium-rich foods, such as Queso Fresco cheese.

"Queso Fresco contains less calories, fat and cholesterol than other cheeses such as Cheddar, Mozzarella, or processed cheese products like Velveeta while providing the recommended daily calcium intake," said Elizabeth Castro, VP of Sales and Marketing at Houston-based Castro Cheese Company. "It's an excellent option for those who want or need to reduce weight."

"There's great interest in exploring the benefits of Hispanic cheeses because of obesity problems that children and adults face," continued Castro.

"Fresh cheese" or Queso Fresco is one of the most commonly used ingredients of Hispanic foods, and it is becoming increasingly popular on American tables. It has a soft, mild flavor and firm but creamy consistency that puts it somewhere between ricotta, mozzarella, and white cheddar.