Good cheese is a high-fat cheese that is actually beneficial for your health. You probably think you should say goodbye to your favorite cheese if you want to drop a few pounds or eat healthier. But don’t totally restrict yourself from the slushy goodness just yet. High-fat cheese may get a bad rap for being high in fat or calories, but scientists say it’s actually an amazing source of vitamin D, protein, and calcium.
The Good Cheese Guide
Here is a roundup of your favorite cheeses and how vigorous they are. All facts are based on a healthy serving size of 30 grams.
- Brie
96 calories, 162mg calcium, 8g fat
Many people assume it’s one of the fattiest cheeses, but it has lower levels than stilton or cheddar and a good amount of calcium. It’s also a good source of zinc and the rind is rich in vitamin B1 – vital for cells to release energy.
Health score: 6/10
- Swiss cheese
120 calories, 290mg calcium, 9g fat
Very high protein and high-mineral content. A 30g serving of Emmenthal delivers more than 1/3 of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of calcium and almost a 1/10 of the RDA for zinc – crucial for reproductive health, healthy skin, and the immune system.
Health score: 8/10
- Camembert
89 calories, 105mg calcium, 7g fat
Camembert has 1/3 less fat and 1/4 fewer calories than many hard kinds of cheese. It’s high in folic acid that our bodies need to make red blood cells, although pregnant women (that require a higher intake of folic acid) need to avoid Camembert.
Health score: 5/10
- Cheddar
124 calories, 216mg calcium, 10.3g fat
Cheddar is one of the highest-fat cheeses, however, it is also a great source of zinc and calcium. A national favorite, nevertheless.
Health score: 6/10
- Cottage Cheese
29 calories, 22mg calcium, 1.2g fat
This is the only really low-fat cheese, making it perfect for slimmers. However, the disadvantage is a low calcium content that reduces its nutritious rating compared with other cheeses.
Health score: 5/10
- Parmesan
136 calories, 360mg calcium, 9.8g fat
Abundant in calcium, just 1 tablespoon of Parmesan grated over pasta provides 15% of the RDA. It’s also the finest cheese for zinc, though it’s high in salt.
Health score: 9/10
- Half-fat cheddar
78 calories, 252mg calcium, 4.5g fat
Also higher in zinc, calcium, and protein than normal cheddar. However, on the downside, it is a bit lower in vitamins D and A.
Health score: 9/10
- Cream cheese
132 calories, 29mg calcium, 14.2g fat
The unhealthiest cheese as it’s close to 50% pure fat and has just a segment of the calcium content of many hard kinds of cheese.
Health score: 2/10
- Edam
100 calories, 231mg calcium, 7.6g fat
Edam is rich in calcium and contains a medium quantity of fat. But it’s high in salt, therefore, is not recommendable for people who suffer from high blood pressure.
Health score: 8/10
- Feta
75 calories, 108mg calcium, 6g fat
Feta is originally made with the milk of sheep. This cheese has a moderate quantity of calcium and fewer calories than cheddar. It’s also a superior source of vitamin D than cow’s milk cheese, however, is the saltiest variety as well – a 30g serving has 1/5 of the daily guideline intake for women. Feta cheese has amazing health benefits for treating many illnesses. Find out more: LINK
Health score: 7/10
- Goat’s cheese
59 calories, 57mg calcium, 4.7g fat
It’s richer in vitamin D (an essential bone strengthener) compared with cow’s milk cheeses. Goat’s cheese is low in calories and therefore, is not a good source of zinc and calcium.
Health score: 6/10
- Processed cheese slices
78 calories, 213mg calcium, 5.6g fat
It is rich in calcium and poorer in unhealthy saturated fats than many unprocessed kinds of cheese. Gets its doubtful ‘plastic appeal’ from modified starch, added milk proteins, emulsifiers, and preservatives.
Health score: 6/10
- Mozzarella
90 calories, 155mg calcium, 7.5g fat
Mozzarella is a medium-fat cheese that can be excessively high in unhealthy saturates. Though, it has a great calcium content.
Health score: 7/10
- Stilton
123 calories, 96mg calcium, 10.7g fat
Related to cheddar in calories and fat, however, has a much lower content of calcium. It’s high in folic acid, however, like all blue-veined cheese, it’s not appropriate for pregnant women as it carries a risk of listeria.
Health score: 4/10
- Ricotta
56 calories, 63mg calcium, 4.4g fat
Fairly low in salt and fat, and contains low to medium quantities of calcium.
Health score: 7/10
Conclusion:
Many people shy away from good cheese, but there are other essential nutrients this dairy can provide. High-fat cheese is an incredible source of calcium, protein, and Vitamin D. Plus, it may benefit your weight loss process, improve your immune system, and prevent diabetes. Italians are big fans of cheese – especially parmesan and mozzarella – that are a great part of the Mediterranean diet.