Top 10 healthiest cheeses

Discover our full range of health benefit guides or check out some of our best cheese recipes, from cheese, oat & spring onion soda bread to tandoori paneer skewers with mango salsa.

The healthiest cheeses at glance:

1. Gouda
2. Edam
3. Goat’s cheese
4. Parmesan
5. Paneer
6. Mozzarella
7. Ricotta
8. Cottage cheese
9. Cheddar
10. Feta

Top 10 healthy cheeses

1. Gouda

A traditional washed-curd cheese made from cow’s milk and brined before ripening, gouda is recognisable by its signature holes that are formed by gasses released during fermentation.

Being a semi-hard cheese, gouda is especially rich in calcium, and an exceptionally good source of vitamin K2, nutrients needed for healthy bones and teeth. It’s also a source of compounds that inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by relaxing veins and arteries with the potential to help lower blood pressure.

Gouda contains antioxidants that appear to protect the cardiovascular system from the effects of high levels of salt; this is especially relevant for those who are salt-sensitive.

A 25g serving of gouda provides:

• 94kcals/390kJ
• 6.3g protein
• 7.7g fat
• 5.1g saturated fat
• 193mg calcium
• 0.578g salt

Check out our recipe for roast Jerusalem artichokes & leeks with crème fraîche, shaved gouda & hazelnuts.

2. Edam

Originating from the Netherlands, edam is made from semi-skimmed cow’s milk. It has a lower calorie and fat content than many other cheese varieties, and an impressive calcium contribution.

Like gouda, edam contains the same compounds that have a blood pressure-lowering effect, as well as antioxidants that protect the cardiovascular system from the effects of high levels of salt.

A 25g serving of edam provides:

• 85kcals/354kJ
• 6.7g protein
• 6.5g fat
• 4.0g saturated fat
• 199mg calcium
• 0.623g salt

Check out our recipes for autumn vegetable soup with cheesy toasts and sweet potato & shallot quesadillas.

3. Goat’s cheese

This tangy soft cheese is made from goat’s milk and has a higher medium-chain fatty acid content than cheese made from cow’s milk. These types of fats are more rapidly absorbed during digestion, making them less likely to be stored as body fat.

Goat’s milk has lower levels of the milk sugar lactose, making it generally easier to digest for those with lactose intolerance. It also contains A2 casein, a protein that some people find easier to digest than cow’s milk, which contains A1 casein.

A 25g serving of goat’s cheese provides:

• 80kcals/332kJ
• 5.3g protein
• 6.5g fat
• 4.5g saturated fat
• 33mg calcium
• 0.375g salt

Try our recipes for goat’s cheese & caramelised onion frittata with a lemony green salad and goat’s cheese, pear & walnut tartines.

4. Parmesan

A hard cheese, parmesan is made from unpasteurised cow’s milk and aged for at least 12 months. The names parmesan and Parmigiano Reggiano are protected under Italian and European law, so any cheese carrying the name must originate from designated provinces in Italy.

Parmesan has mineral-binding compounds that make it an especially useful source of bone-building minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. It also contains proteins that may modulate the immune system as well as having blood pressure-lowering effects.

Thanks to its long aging process, parmesan has very low levels of lactose, making it a potential option for those with lactose intolerance. However, since it contains cow’s rennet, it’s not suitable for those following a vegetarian diet.

A 25g serving of parmesan provides:

• 104kcals/432kJ
• 9.1g protein
• 7.4g fat
• 4.8g saturated fat
• 256mg calcium
• 0.412g salt

This versatile cheese works in so many different recipes, our favourites include parmesan spring chicken and pea, mint & spring onion soup with parmesan biscuits.

5. Paneer

An Indian cheese made from whole cow’s milk combined with a fruit or vegetable acid, such as lemon juice. Being made without the use of animal rennet makes paneer suitable for lacto-vegetarians.

With its relatively high fat content, paneer is a useful source of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A and D. It’s also significantly lower in salt than most other varieties of cheese.

Eating cheese, such as paneer, as the final component of a meal may help reduce dental caries.

A 25g serving of paneer provides:

• 82 kcals/341 kJ
• 6.5g protein
• 6.1g fat
• 3.9g saturated fat
• 34mg calcium
• 0.02g salt

Paneer is a non-aged, non-melting soft cheese with mild flavour, and it keeps its shape when cooked, making it perfect in curries and side dishes.

Check out our top paneer recipes, including paneer korma, spiced broccoli, paneer & peas with garam masala cashews, and paneer with broccoli & sesame.

6. Mozzarella

A soft white fresh cheese with a high moisture content, this Italian cheese is typically made from buffalo or cow’s milk. It has a low calorie, fat and salt content, and is a source of beneficial microbes, although this may vary depending on the milk source used.

A 25g serving of mozzarella provides:

• 64 kcals/267kJ
• 4.7g protein
• 5.1g fat
• 3.4g saturated fat
• 90mg calcium
• 0.30g salt

Mozzarella works well in cooked foods because of its ability to melt, stretch and brown when heated.

Use mozzarella to make our mozzarella with tomato & chilli salsa, roast aubergine parmigiana and summery stuffed squash.

7. Ricotta

This creamy Italian cheese is made from the watery by-product of other cheeses, including mozzarella. The easily digestible protein in ricotta comes mostly in the form of whey, which studies suggest may play an immune-supportive role.

A 25g serving of ricotta provides:

• 36kcals/150kJ
• 2.4g protein
• 2.8g fat
• 1.7g saturated fat
• 60mg calcium
• 0.06g salt

Ricotta is significantly lower in fat and calories, yet has a deliciously creamy texture that works well in both sweet and savoury dishes.

Enjoy ricotta in our herb & ricotta chicken with mushroom rice, fig, nut & seed bread with ricotta and fruit & white chocolate & ricotta cheesecake.

8. Cottage cheese

A soft white cheese made from the loose curds of cow’s milk, cottage cheese has a unique protein-to-calorie ratio. It’s this high protein combined with low calorie content that makes cottage cheese a good choice for weight management, with studies suggesting it may even be as satiating as eating an egg.

Cottage cheese is a valuable addition to the diet of women at risk of osteoporosis, for those whose diet is generally low in calcium, and athletes looking to increase their protein intake through whole food.

A 25g serving of cottage cheese provides:

• 26kcals/108kJ
• 2.4g protein
• 1.5g fat
• 0.8g saturated fat
• 32mg calcium
• 0.15g salt

Find inspiration with our tasty recipes, including cottage cheese fritters, spicy tuna & cottage cheese jacket, and open cottage cheese & pepper sandwich.

9. Cheddar

An English semi-hard cheese, cheddar is made from cow’s milk. It’s rich in protein and calcium, and a good source of vitamin K2, which we need for healthy bones and teeth. This vitamin also plays an important role in how we use calcium, and prevents it from being laid down in arteries and veins, which can inhibit blood flow and lead to an increased risk of heart disease.

High in the amino acid leucine that stimulates muscle synthesis, cheese like cheddar increases muscle protein manufacture both at rest and during recovery from exercise.

A 25g serving of cheddar provides:

• 104kcals/431kJ
• 6.3g protein
• 8.7g fat
• 5.4g saturated fat
• 185mg calcium
• 0.453g salt

Try cheddar in our easy recipes courgette, potato & cheddar soup, and tomato & harissa stew with cheddar dumplings.

10. Feta

Typically made from sheep's or goat’s milk combined with rennet, this Greek cheese is soft and tangy to taste. Typically packaged in a brine to help preserve its freshness, feta is comparatively high in salt.

Like other full-fat dairy products, feta is a source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which is associated with improvements in body mass composition and cardiovascular disease. However, although CLA levels increase during ripening, they decrease as the cheese ages.

A 25g serving of feta provides:

• 62kcals/259kJ
• 3.9g protein
• 5.0g fat
• 3.4g saturated fat
• 90mg calcium
• 0.625g salt

Check out our favourite feta recipes: baked feta with sesame & honey, and crispy grilled feta with saucy butter beans.

Overall, is cheese good for you?

With so many cheeses on the market, there’s a wide choice, and with a high protein and calcium content, all can have a role to play in a healthy diet. Be aware of the saturated fat content, however – balance will be key to reap the health benefits of cheese. If you’re looking for weight management, cottage cheese, ricotta, edam or mozzarella could be your go-to choices, while goat's cheese and parmesan have a lower lactose content, so could be more suitable for those sensitive to lactose.

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This page was reviewed on 12 February 2024 by Kerry Torrens.

Kerry Torrens BSc. (Hons) PgCert MBANT is a registered nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in personalised nutrition & nutritional therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including Good Food. Follow Kerry on Instagram at @kerry_torrens_nutrition_

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