Is Cheese Bad For You? Benefits, Risks, Nutrition Facts - Healthline

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Nutrition

Is Cheese Bad for You?

Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, RDN, CDCES — Written by Anna Schaefer — Updated on May 8, 2023

Health benefits
Risks
Allergies and intolerances
Types
Nutrition facts
Takeaway

In general, cheese is a healthy and delicious source of many nutrients. But there are a few exceptions.

When it comes to cheese, people often say they love it so much they can’t live without it — but worry that it could cause heart disease or unwanted weight gain.

The truth is that cheese is what’s known as a whole food. Whole foods are generally good for you, as long as you don’t eat too much of one thing.

In this article, we’ll give you all the information you need to make healthy choices about eating cheese.

Health benefits of cheese

There are many healthy options to choose from when it comes to cheese, and many potential ways it can benefit your health.

It’s a good source of nutrients

Cheese is a great source of calcium, fat, and protein. It also contains high amounts of vitamins A and B12, along with zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin.

According to U.S. Dairy, the overall nutritional profile of conventional, organic, and grass-fed dairy products is similar.

Grass-fed cheese is made from the milk of 100 percent grass-fed animals. A diet high in grass-fed dairy may provide a healthier balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids than diets that rely on conventional dairy. Omega-3 fats are important for heart and metabolic health.

While grass-fed dairy products cost more than standard versions, some people may choose to purchase them for their higher omega-3 content. More research is needed to understand if this difference in nutrients is large enough to have significant benefits in an average U.S. diet.

It could protect your teeth from cavities

According to some studies, cheese — and dairy products in general — could work to protect your teeth from cavities. In a Danish study from 2015, children with an above-average dairy intake were more likely to be cavity-free after 3 years than those with a below-average intake.

It’s a source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

High-fat cheeses like blue cheese, Brie, and cheddar contain small amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA is a healthy fat that may help prevent obesity and heart disease, and may reduce inflammation.

Cheddar cheese sourced from 100 percent grass-fed animals was found to contain twice as much CLA as conventional cheddar. But it’s not clear whether switching to grass-fed cheese would have overall nutritional benefits in an average U.S. diet.

It could be good for your heart

According to 2018 research, fermented dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, have a positive effect on cardiovascular health. In the same study, full-fat dairy products appeared to provide greater nutrition and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Health risks

Is a cheese addiction unhealthy?

Knowing the benefits and the risks associated with eating cheese can help you to make more informed choices. Cheese may have undesired effects if it’s contaminated, or if you have certain health conditions or dietary needs.

Listeria contamination

Soft cheeses and blue-veined cheeses can sometimes become contaminated with listeria, especially if they are made with unpasteurized or “raw” milk. Eating listeria-contaminated foods can cause illness.

Examples of at-risk cheeses include:

Brie
Camembert
queso fresco
queso blanco
queso panela
blue-veined cheeses
feta

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding eating soft cheeses unless the label clearly states that the product was made with pasteurized milk. This is especially important for:

pregnant people
babies and children
older adults
people with immune deficiencies

Health conditions and special diets

Cheese contains many important nutrients. But it is also:

High in calories. Cheese is a calorie-dense food. Depending on the variety of cheese you eat, you’re getting about 100 calories per ounce.
High in saturated fat. Cheese in high in fat, including saturated fat. Some experts, though not all, advise limiting your intake of saturated fat.
High in salt. It’s also usually loaded with sodium, which can be an issue for people with high blood pressure.
Low in fiber. Cheese contains no fiber, and eating a diet containing very high amounts of dairy may cause constipation.

Some people may limit or avoid cheese due one or more of these factors. If you aren’t sure whether cheese is appropriate for your diet, a registered dietitian can help.

Allergies and intolerances

Some people avoid cheese due to conditions such as lactose intolerance or a milk allergy.

Lactose intolerance

Cheese contains lactose, a sugar that can’t be digested by lactose intolerant people because their bodies lack the enzyme that breaks it down. In these cases, eating lactose can lead to digestive problems including gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Fortunately, many firm, aged cheeses are low in lactose. Examples include Parmesan, Swiss, and cheddar. People with lactose intolerance may be able to tolerate these cheeses in small amounts.

Some people can use lactase pills or drops to prevent symptoms, but it’s best to talk with a doctor before trying it. If you decide to try lactase supplements, a pharmacist or registered dietitian can help you get started.

Milk allergy

People who are allergic to milk are unable to eat cheese or other foods containing dairy. A milk allergy means that your body has an immune reaction to one or more proteins in milk, such as casein. Casein is one of the main proteins found in milk, and it’s also an ingredient in some soy-based cheeses.

Milk allergy symptoms can appear early in life, before age 1. While symptoms vary, it can be a life-threatening condition for some people.

Types of cheese

There are thousands of different varieties of cheeses made around the world. Many cheeses made in the United States use cow’s milk, but cheese can also be made from the milk of goats, sheep, and other animals.

Whole milk. Whole milk cheeses are made from regular, unskimmed milk. They can be high in saturated fat, so people with cardiovascular disease or high cholesterol may choose to limit their intake.
Low-fat and reduced-fat. In the United States, cheeses labelled “low-fat” must contain 3 grams of fat or less per serving. A “reduced-fat” cheese has at least 25 percent less fat than the regular version of the cheese.
Aged. Aged cheeses include cheddar, Parmesan, and Swiss. They are firm in texture, and some can be high in salt. Aged cheeses are stored before they are ready to sell, so they have time to mature. The aging process tends to create stronger flavors.
Fresh. Fresh cheeses such as ricotta and cottage cheese are generally high in moisture and soft in texture. They’re ready to be eaten quickly, without needing time to age, so they are known as “fresh” cheeses.

“Cheeses” that aren’t really cheese

You might be surprised to learn that some foods that we commonly refer to as cheese, are not actually cheese.

Processed. Processed cheese products like American cheese are made by mixing a cheese with other cheeses or dairy products. Other ingredients may be added in small amounts to enhance flavor, texture, or storage time. While they are made with cheese, they are actually called “pasteurized process cheese food.” Processed options tend to be higher in sodium than other cheeses.
Non-dairy. Non-dairy cheeses are made from plant-based ingredients, like nuts, soy, and coconut. A 2021 Spanish study of store-bought vegan cheeses recommended opting for cashew-based and tofu-based products. Coconut-based cheeses, although popular, are highly processed and much less nutritious.

Nutrition facts

Nutrition profiles vary widely from one type of cheese to the next. For example, mozzarella contains 85 calories and 6.3 grams of fat per ounce.

Compare that to Brie, which has 95 calories and 7.9 grams of fat per ounce, and cheddar, which has 114 calories and 9.4 grams of fat.

If you want to stick with lower-calorie cheeses, try part-skim mozzarella, Swiss cheese, and feta cheese.

If sodium is a concern, try Swiss, which contains only 53 milligrams per ounce. You may want to avoid feta, which has 323 milligrams of sodium per ounce.

In general, sodium is higher in harder cheeses, as they require more salt in the aging process. But you can look for lower-sodium varieties of your favorite cheeses.