You’ve probably heard the motto, “Everything in moderation”. Of course, this applies to all foods, but also (unfortunately) to cheese. According to nutritionists, those who love cheese and can’t satisfy themselves with this popular dairy product should be aware that most cheeses are high in saturated fat and sodium, and they should avoid eating cheeses that are high in cholesterol. It seems that it is not the best choice for those who are level.
Just because you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels doesn’t mean you should eliminate cheese from your diet. Many cheeses, such as Parmesan and blue cheese, tend to have high fat and cholesterol content per ounce. The good news is that these cheeses are usually rich and very flavorful, so you don’t need much to feel full.
Just grate or crumble a tablespoon of these flavorful cheeses to add a wow factor to your dishes. But if you’re seeking for a cheese you can enjoy in bigger portions and consume on a regular basis—especially if you have high cholesterol—you’ll find six cheeses below that dietitians recommend are superior.
Once you know which cheeses are better to consume if you have high cholesterol, you can also read Our Guide to the Best Healthy Cheeses to learn which cheeses are generally healthier choices.
1. Mozzarella
White’s favorite cheese is mozzarella, which has just 3 grams of saturated fat. The best part is that mozzarella has very little cholesterol—just 15 milligrams, as opposed to many other cheeses. But the delicious, fresh, partially skimmed cheese offers healthy active bacteria like Lactobacillus, which is fantastic for gut health and also helps to reduce inflammation, which is ideal for blood vessels and heart health.
2. Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is high in protein and low in fat, making it ideal for cardiovascular health. Choose cultured cottage cheese to reap the benefits of live, active cultures for your gut microbiome, which studies have shown to be associated with heart health.
3. Feta
Feta cheese has only 25 milligrams of cholesterol per ounce and is low in saturated fat (3 grams) compared to most cheeses. Feta’s rich flavor means a little goes a long way. You can reduce the overall amount you use in your dishes and still enjoy great flavor.
4. Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese
Another cheese, part-skim ricotta, contains 19 milligrams of cholesterol and 3.5 grams of saturated fat per 1/4 cup, lower than other cheeses. Partially skimmed ricotta provides a creamy mouthfeel and is a great addition to pasta in place of cream. Ricotta cheese is easy to spread and can be used on celery sticks in place of cream cheese to increase protein content and reduce total fat and saturated fat content.
5. Cheese Spread
People with high cholesterol levels should definitely reduce their intake of saturated fats. To accomplish this, choose a low-fat spreadable cheese, such as part-skim mozzarella or his 2% cheddar, the Colby Jack variety. Most string cheeses have 70 to 80 calories and only about 5 grams of total fat (3 grams of saturated fat) per piece.