Top Cheese Recommendations

We all love cheese, but which cheese is the absolute healthiest? Well…it depends on your specific nutritional needs and health goals. If you’re looking for more protein in your diet, raid your local grocery store for cottage cheese and Parmesan. If you’re concerned with the amount of sodium in your diet, grab a ball of mozzarella. And if you want to feel stronger, healthier, and possibly even live longer, reach for that block of Swiss cheese!

Mozzarella

Mozzarella is a shoo-in in this healthy cheese bracket, boasting six grams of protein in just a one-ounce serving.

In addition to being high in protein, it’s also “lower in saturated fat and sodium” and “a good source of calcium, phosphorus, and zinc, all essential nutrients for good bone health.” Mozzarella also contains bacteria Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus fermentum, two valuable probiotics that promote good gut health.

Goat Cheese

Its flavor might be divisive for some, but this fresh, creamy cheese brings a host of health benefits, mostly because it’s made with goat’s milk.

High in Vitamin A and Vitamin B2, goat’s milk also contains less lactose than cow’s milk, making it easier to digest for those with lactose sensitivity.

Additionally, goat milk cheese is more “metabolically reactive,” meaning it’s less likely to be stored as excess fat on the body. This is due to goat milk’s “higher concentration of short-chain fatty acids compared to bovine milk.

Cottage Cheese

High in protein and loaded with valuable Vitamins B and B12, this creamy cheese has been a well-known health food for years.

One cup…contains 24 grams of muscle-building, belly-filling protein,” making it a great option for people looking to double down on protein.

Many cottage cheese brands contain bacteria that can help bolster your immune system and improve digestion.

Parmesan

Packing a whopping 10 grams of protein per ounce, Parmesan cheese is also very low in lactose, making it easier to digest than most cow’s milk cheeses. It’s also high in calcium, with 335 mg per ounce serving.

Swiss Cheese

This famous holey cheese was shortlisted as a superfood in 2017 for containing a healthy probiotic bacterium called Propionibacterium freudenreichii and this probiotic can help decrease inflammation, fight off infection, and even slow the aging process. Beyond the benefits of this probiotic, Swiss cheese is also high in other key nutrients, including “Vitamin B12, calcium, and phosphorus.” It’s also “a good source of protein and calcium, which are good for bone health.”