Cheeses Lowest in Cholesterol and Fat (2024)

Heart Health

High Cholesterol

Nutrition

ByJennifer Moll, PharmD

Updated on January 06, 2024

Medically reviewed byJeffrey S. Lander, MD

Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium, but many cheeses are also high in cholesterol and saturated fat. In fact, Americans consume more fat from cheese than any other food,according to the National Cancer Institute.

Eating too much cholesterol or saturated fat increases your risk of high LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. But while cheese can be a part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, which cheeses you choose and how much you eat matters.

This article highlights which types of cheese are low in fat and cholesterol and also includes several tips for how to enjoy cheese in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

Cheeses Lowest in Cholesterol and Fat (1)

What Is Low Fat Cheese?

Low-fat cheeses are low in saturated fat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines foods as "low-saturated fat" if they have no more than one gram of saturated fat per serving.

The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 5% to 6% of your daily calories in saturated fat. For a person who eats 2,000 calories per day, this means they should eat no more than 13 grams (120 calories worth) of saturated fat per day.

As for cholesterol, people who have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, should eat no more than 200 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per day. People who do not have risk factors for heart disease should eat no more than 300 mg of cholesterol per day.

Heart Disease Statistics and Risk Factors

Best Low Saturated Fat Cheeses

A poll of 8,815 American adults revealed the most and least popular cheeses in the United States. The following shows the percentage of people who favored which cheeses:

  • Cheddar cheese: 19%
  • American cheese: 13%
  • Mozzarella: 9%
  • Swiss: 8%
  • Pepper jack: 7%
  • Colby jack: 7%

Unfortunately, none of these cheeses are low in saturated fat because they're made from whole milk. However, several fat-free and low-fat versions of most popular types of cheese are widely available in supermarkets and contain far less saturated fat and cholesterol than their whole-fat counterparts.

The following chart lists the saturated fat and cholesterol content of numerous low-fat and fat-free cheeses.

Fat and Cholesterol Content in Various Cheeses (per standard serving)
Type of CheeseSaturated Fat (g)Cholesterol (mg)
Cream cheese, fat-free0.234.3
American cheese, fat-free0.09.9
American cheese, low-fat1.29.8
Cheddar cheese, fat-free0.05.0
Cheddar cheese, low-fat1.26.0
Swiss cheese, fat-free0.05.0
Swiss cheese, low-fat0.99.8
Cottage cheese, fat-free0.010.2
Cottage cheese, 1% milkfat0.74.5
Cottage cheese, 2% milkfat1.413.6
Mozzarella cheese, fat-free0.05.1
Parmesan cheese topping, fat-free0.96.0
Ricotta cheese, fat-free0.05.0

Altogether, you can't go wrong with choosing low-fat or fat-free cheeses instead of their whole-milk counterparts. Any type of cheese made with nonfat or skim milk will have notably less saturated fat and cholesterol.

Cheese Tips for a Low-Cholesterol Diet

From pizza and pasta to salads and charcuterie, cheese is a staple in diets all around the world, and many meals wouldn't be the same without it.

Fortunately, you don't have to entirely remove cheese from your diet when watching your saturated fat and cholesterol intake. You should, however, pay close attention to how much cheese you are eating and stay within the recommended daily amount.

If you are limiting your cholesterol or saturated fat intake, or simply want to eat a more heart-healthy diet, the following tips might help:

  • Do a cheese swap: Try using cottage cheese or ricotta instead of high-fat cheeses in your recipes. You may discover that these taste just as good.
  • Look for low-fat cheese: Search for low-fat versions of your favorite cheese and always double-check the food label for cholesterol and saturated fat content.
  • Opt for vegan cheese: Try a cheese substitute made from plant products, such as soy. Vegan cheeses lack the saturated fats that full-fat dairy products contain.
  • Use smaller portions: Instead of placing three slices of cheese on your sandwich, stick to one. Look for thin pre-sliced cheeses that allow you to enjoy a full slice of cheese without as much cholesterol and saturated fat.
  • Stop eyeballing: When adding shredded cheese, use a measuring cup or spoon instead of portioning cheese by hand.
  • Maximize flavor: Look for hard cheeses and "stinky cheeses" that are more flavorful. You can grate just a small bit of aged Parmesan or Asiago onto your pasta or crumble flavorful blue cheese on a salad to satisfy a cheese craving.

Summary

While cheddar cheese and American cheese are the two most popular cheeses, they are also among the highest in cholesterol and saturated fat. Ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, and fat-free cheeses are not as popular, but they are much healthier.

Limiting how much cholesterol and saturated fat you consume is important for keeping your heart healthy. If you don't want to stop eating cheese, you don't have to; eat smaller portions, choose vegan or reduced-fat versions, or save your favorite cheese for special occasions.

Preventing Heart Failure With Lifestyle Changes

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences. Table 1. Top food sources of saturated fatamong U.S. population, 2005-2006 NHANES.

  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Guidance for industry: food labeling guide.

  3. American Heart Association. Saturated fat.

  4. UCSF Health. Cholesterol content of foods.

  5. YouGov America. This is America's favorite cheese.

  6. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.

By Jennifer Moll, PharmD
Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention.

See Our Editorial Process

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Cheeses Lowest in Cholesterol and Fat (2024)

FAQs

Cheeses Lowest in Cholesterol and Fat? ›

Nonfat cheddar cheese: It contains 5mg of cholesterol and 0g of saturated fat per one-ounce serving. Ricotta cheese: This lasagna staple has under 9mg of cholesterol and 1.4g of saturated fat per ounce. Swiss cheese: One slice of Swiss has less than 1g of saturated fat and 10mg of cholesterol.

What is the best cheese to eat if you have high cholesterol? ›

Using lower-fat cheeses – such as mozzarella, feta, cottage cheese or reduced-fat cheeses – will provide less saturated fat.

What is the healthiest cheese to eat? ›

What are the top 10 healthiest cheeses?
  1. Gouda. A traditional washed-curd cheese made from cow's milk and brined before ripening, gouda is instantly recognised by its signature holes that are formed by gasses released during fermentation. ...
  2. Edam. ...
  3. Goat's cheese. ...
  4. Parmesan. ...
  5. Paneer. ...
  6. Mozzarella. ...
  7. Ricotta. ...
  8. Cottage cheese.
Apr 14, 2024

Will cutting out cheese lower cholesterol? ›

You can eat cheese and still maintain healthy cholesterol levels. One study reported that cheese intake, compared with the same amount of fat from butter, didn't increase LDL. While you may not want to eat tons of cheese, there's no reason you need to totally cut it out of your diet.

Is blue cheese bad for cholesterol? ›

Overconsumption of blue cheese can add excess calories and saturated fat to the diet. 1 oz of blue cheese contains 8.14 g of fat, of which 5.3 g is saturated fat. This type of fat can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.

Which cheeses are lowest in fat and cholesterol? ›

Nonfat cheddar cheese: It contains 5mg of cholesterol and 0g of saturated fat per one-ounce serving. Ricotta cheese: This lasagna staple has under 9mg of cholesterol and 1.4g of saturated fat per ounce. Swiss cheese: One slice of Swiss has less than 1g of saturated fat and 10mg of cholesterol.

What cheese is good for high blood pressure and cholesterol? ›

Some types are more likely to raise your blood pressure than others. Keep it down with cheeses that are naturally low in sodium, like Swiss, which has 75 milligrams per 1-ounce serving. Goat, ricotta, and fresh mozzarella are good, too. Processed and hard cheeses such as American and cottage cheese have more sodium.

What is the most unhealthiest cheese? ›

The 10 Unhealthiest Cheeses You Can Buy
  • American cheese. It's heavily processed, full of preservatives, and loaded with salt. ...
  • Mascarpone. A soft, spreadable cheese that's used in a lot of desserts. ...
  • Double Gloucester. ...
  • Brunost. ...
  • Any cheese that comes in a can or jar. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Stilton. ...
  • Pre-grated parmesan cheese.
May 16, 2024

What is the healthiest cheese for seniors? ›

Cottage Cheese

This power cheese is packed with nutrients like protein, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. It's also low in cholesterol and a good source of riboflavin.

Is mozzarella cheese good for cholesterol? ›

It is approximately 15% of the daily allowance for those on a low-cholesterol diet. An ounce of whole mozzarella has 22 mg of cholesterol. In comparison, part-skim mozzarella cheese has only 15 mg of cholesterol. Therefore, low-fat semi-hard cheeses have the lowest cholesterol levels.

Are eggs bad for your cholesterol? ›

Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D. Chicken eggs are an affordable source of protein and other nutrients. They're also naturally high in cholesterol. But the cholesterol in eggs doesn't seem to raise cholesterol levels the way some other foods, such as those high in trans fats and saturated fats, do.

Are potatoes bad for cholesterol? ›

Potatoes are rich in soluble fibre, which can be consumed by high cholesterol patients without any confusion. Consuming potatoes not only maintains the cholesterol level, but the body also gets many health benefits. Consumption of potatoes in cholesterol is safe only if you consume it properly.

What is the best cheese to eat with high cholesterol? ›

Choose cheeses that are lower in saturated fat and sodium. (Though sodium does not affect your cholesterol levels, excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.) Examples include reduced-fat Swiss, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.

Is banana good in high cholesterol? ›

However, cholesterol can be bad if too much comes from foods high in saturated fat. This is why it is important to eat foods to help lower your cholesterol, such as those high in soluble fiber. Fruits like avocados and apples, and citrus fruits like oranges and bananas are foods that can help lower cholesterol.

Is coffee bad for cholesterol? ›

Unfiltered and French press coffee may raise cholesterol levels, while instant and filter coffee are less likely to affect them. The risk of heightened serum cholesterol levels also depends on how much coffee a person drinks and how sensitive they are to caffeine.

What are three best foods for lowering cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol-lowering foods
  • Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods. Foods high in soluble fiber help reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. ...
  • Fish and omega-3 fatty acids. ...
  • Walnuts, almonds and other nuts. ...
  • Olive oil. ...
  • Foods with added plant sterols and stanols.

Which is worse for cholesterol butter or cheese? ›

Despite eating more fat than had been in their normal diet, the cheese eaters showed no increase in LDL or total cholesterol. While eating butter, however, the same subjects had LDL levels about seven percent higher on average.

Is mozzarella cheese bad for cholesterol? ›

It is approximately 15% of the daily allowance for those on a low-cholesterol diet. An ounce of whole mozzarella has 22 mg of cholesterol. In comparison, part-skim mozzarella cheese has only 15 mg of cholesterol. Therefore, low-fat semi-hard cheeses have the lowest cholesterol levels.

What drinks should you avoid if you have high cholesterol? ›

People who wish to improve their cholesterol levels or maintain moderate levels may wish to avoid drinks high in saturated fats, such as:
  • coffee or tea with cream, high fat milk, or creamer.
  • drinks or smoothies containing coconut or palm oils.
  • pressed coconut drinks.
  • ice-cream-based drinks.
  • high fat milk products.
Oct 27, 2023

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