The healthiest sliced cheeses are generally unprocessed options like mozzarella, Swiss, cheddar, and feta, offering good protein and calcium with lower fat, while low-fat versions or natural slices (like Sargento Natural or Tillamook/Gouda) reduce calories and sodium, prioritizing fewer ingredients and less processing for overall better health.
What is the healthiest cheese?
What are the least processed cheeses?
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Swiss cheese:
Swiss cheese can be part of a healthy diet. It's a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin B12, and it's relatively low in fat and sodium compared to some other cheese varieties. Here's a more detailed look: Protein: Swiss cheese is a great source of protein, with about 8 grams per ounce.
Top 10 healthy cheeses
Any cheese with an ingredients list of only milk, salt, and enzymes/cultures (like cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, gouda, feta, goat cheese, cottage cheese, etc.) is 100% real cheese, while "American Cheese" or "cheese products" often contain added emulsifiers and flavorings, making them processed rather than purely natural cheese. Always check the label: if it lists more than milk, salt, and enzymes (like sodium citrate, whey, artificial flavors), it's a cheese product.
Five of the healthiest cheeses
The unhealthiest cheeses are typically highly processed varieties like American cheese slices, spray cheese, and cheese spreads/dips, due to high sodium, preservatives, and unhealthy fats; however, rich, creamy natural cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and triple-crèmes are also high in saturated fat, making them less healthy in large amounts, with blue cheeses like Roquefort topping salt content. The "unhealthiest" depends on your health goal, but generally, processed versions offer less nutritional value and more additives than natural cheese, even high-fat ones.
Dietitians recommend opting for feta, gouda, goat, fresh mozzarella or any grass-fed cheese. Pair these cheeses with lifestyle habits, like exercise and sleep, to help lower inflammation.
Ingredients: Natural cheese is made from fresh milk with no additives, while processed cheese contains emulsifiers and other additives. Process: Natural cheese only undergoes a clumping and curing process, while processed cheese goes through an additional process with heat and emulsifying agents.
For Less Cholesterol, Choose Low-Fat Cheese
Low-fat cheeses, like low-fat cottage cheese and ricotta cheese or nonfat cheddar, have very little cholesterol. In fact, low-fat cottage cheese has only 3.4 mg. Nonfat cheddar has a total of 5 mg (low-fat, on the other hand, has 6 mg).
It is clear that mozzarella is one of the healthiest cheeses out there, not to mention flavorful too! This may just be one of the best low calorie cheese options overall. This high-protein low calorie cheese option is a smart choice for those focused on weight loss.
These foods include:
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (PB&J) adds about 33 minutes to your healthy lifespan per serving, according to a University of Michigan study that measured life expectancy impacts of over 5,850 foods using the Health Nutritional Index (HNI). This sandwich tops the list for adding time, with nuts and seeds also being highly beneficial (around 25 mins) and processed items like hot dogs subtracting time.
Cardiologists generally advise avoiding processed meats, sugary drinks and sweets, and foods high in trans fats and sodium, like most fried foods and salty snacks, because they raise bad cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation, significantly increasing heart disease risk. Focusing on whole foods and limiting these culprits is key for heart health.
There are hundreds of cheeses, including those made with cow's milk, goat's milk, and sheep's milk. Some of the healthiest cheeses include feta, parmesan, cheddar, and manchego.
Some cheeses, however, can fit well into a heart-healthy diet. Two-percent cottage cheese, part-skim mozzarella, reduced-fat feta, ricotta, goat cheese and even grated Parmesan are better options because they contain less saturated fat per serving and still pack protein and calcium, the experts agreed.
Yes, feta cheese is generally a healthy choice in moderation, offering protein, calcium, probiotics, and vitamins, while being lower in calories and fat than many other cheeses, but its high sodium content requires mindful portion control, especially for those watching blood pressure. It supports bone health, gut health, and provides beneficial fatty acids like CLA, making it a nutritious addition to a balanced diet when consumed in reasonable amounts.
Edam cheese has around 25% less fat than tasty cheese, has a milder flavour and can be an excellent swap if you are after a lower fat option. Brie and camembert – these are great options when entertaining, added to crackers as a snack or an addition to a lunch.
Look for unprocessed cheese with simple ingredients that should be there in real cheese. Like milk, salt, culture and microbes. Opt for cheeses like feta cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, boccochini, real cream cheese and parmesan cheese. Even these mozzarella and cheddar greatest blends are a good option.