There is no doubt about the benefits of cheese today. This food product generously gives its connoisseurs vitamins and minerals, helps prevent many ailments and improves the functioning of the whole body. And thanks to a rich palette of tastes and excellent compatibility with other products, cheeses claim the role of the most sought-after delicacies. The product has a high calorie content, so a slimming cheese lover raises a completely logical question, is it possible to eat cheese on a diet? According to the conclusion of most experts, it is not only possible to eat, but also necessary, observing some rules.
Cheese - yes
The body will be grateful if cheese becomes part of your diet, because:
- The main building material of our body is protein. Cheese is considered one of the best suppliers of protein, so inclusion of it in the list of regular products is simply necessary.
- Cheese contains essential amino acids, in particular an amino acid that acts as a mood regulator (tryptophan) and helps in the fight against stress.
- The vitamins that are in the cheese improve the metabolism, the condition of the skin, hair and nails, strengthen the human immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems.
- Cheese provides the body with calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
- The use of this product helps to reduce the risk of cancer due to the presence of linoleic acid, sphingolipids and vitamin B.
- Cheese helps lovers of an active lifestyle to quickly return to normal after training, to reduce muscle pain. The product also replenishes energy costs after nervous strain, mental overload and past illnesses.
No cheese
If you consume large quantities of cheese daily for a long time, it can harm the body.
- High milk fat levels increase cholesterol and increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
- The high calorie content of hard cheese contributes to weight gain, so with obesity and overweight it is better to limit your diet to low-fat varieties of cheese.
- Excessive consumption of cheese can lead to an excess of calcium, which in turn adversely affects the musculoskeletal, nervous and cardiovascular systems, digestive organs and urinary tract, as well as skin integument.
- Cheese should be used with caution for allergy sufferers, especially when it comes to blue cheese. The bacteria contained in it can provoke a strong negative reaction of the body.
- An increased amount of tryptophan can cause drowsiness, headaches, and in case of congenital diseases associated with metabolism, worsen the general condition of the body.
- People with kidney disease need to limit the consumption of salted cheese, because salt refers to substances that are poorly absorbed and filtered by the kidneys. The accumulation of salt exacerbates the current disease. Also, salt retains water in the body, contributes to the occurrence of edema. And with kidney problems, water metabolism should be active.

Cheese classification
To understand whether all types of cheese can be eaten on a diet, it is necessary to consider their main classification. By density and method of preparation, cheeses are divided into several types.
Soft ones have a creamy / curd texture and are produced without additional processing (ricotta, feta, mozzarella, camembert, brie, etc.). Semi-hard cheeses have a dense creamy consistency. They also do not need additional processing (Edam, Gouda, Russian, Dutch, Kostroma, Roquefort, Dor Blue, etc.). Hard cheeses have a dense consistency and differ from semi-hard cheeses in the way of pressing and ripening time (emmental, parmesan, maasdam, etc.).
Smoked cheeses relate to hard cheeses in terms of density, but they differ significantly in the method of preparation: smoking gives such cheeses a special taste. Processed species have additional vegetable fats in their composition, so they can not be called full-fledged cheeses. Like soft ones, they have a creamy consistency, but during cooking they undergo additional processing (melting).
Cheeses are made from the milk of various animals: varieties from cow have the lowest fat content, from sheep - the highest. Is it possible to eat cheese on a diet?
Calorie Cheese
Everyone who wonders if it is possible to eat cheese during a diet should represent the approximate energy value of your favorite varieties. The average calorie content of cheese is approximately 315 Kcal, depending on the variety, and a small slice contains about 65-70 Kcal. At the same time, in most curd cheeses, the energy value is less than that of hard species. For example, 100 grams of ricotta contains 174 kcal, and in Russian - 364 kcal. Parmesan is considered one of the most high-calorie varieties - 392 Kcal.
Name | Kcal (per 100 grams) |
Adyghe | 264 kcal |
Bree | 291 kcal |
Cow's milk feta cheese | 260 kcal |
Sheep's feta cheese | 298 kcal |
Gouda | 356 kcal |
Dutch | 356 kcal |
Dor blue | 354 kcal |
Camembert | 324 kcal |
Sausage | 271 kcal |
Kostroma | 343 kcal |
Lambert | 377 kcal |
Lithuanian | 250 kcal |
Maasdam | 350 kcal |
Moscow | 356 kcal |
Mozzarella | 240 kcal |
Parmesan | 392 kcal |
Fused | 235 kcal |
Poshekhonsky | 344 kcal |
Ricotta | 174 kcal |
Russian | 364 kcal |
Roquefort | 335 kcal |
Soviet | 385 kcal |
Suluguni | 290 kcal |
Tilsiter | 334 kcal |
Tofu | 73 kcal |
Feta | 290 kcal |
Cheddar | 380 kcal |
Chechil | 313 kcal |
Smoked pickled cheese | 320 kcal |
Swiss | 380 kcal |
Edam | 330 kcal |
Emmental | 380 kcal |
Estonian | 350 kcal |
Yaroslavsky | 350 kcal |
Weight Loss Cheese
Is it possible to eat cheese on a diet? Everyone probably heard about the importance of protein in the diet. This is no coincidence, because food rich in protein quickly satisfies hunger and increases the stamina of the body, and most importantly - reduces cravings for sweets and does not turn into fats in the body. An essential building component is found in cheese. Therefore, to the question whether it is possible to eat cheese on a diet, we answer that it is possible, however, with some exceptions:
- To minimize the amount of fat in the diet, it is necessary to switch to low-calorie cheeses (up to 300 Kcal and with a fat content of not more than 20%). Nutritionists recommend light varieties of the following varieties: feta cheese, Adyghe cheese, mozzarella, brie, ricotta, tofu and feta.
- If the diet is based on counting calories, then hard and semi-hard cheeses are quite acceptable, only their consumption should be limited (eat 1-2 medium slices per day, and ideally every other day).
- It is necessary to abandon seasoned varieties and varieties with fillers.
- It is necessary to carefully study the composition on the package: if there are impurities of vegetable fats, in particular palm oil, then it is better to refuse the purchase. It is also necessary to pay attention to the timing of production and take into account that only high-quality and fresh products can benefit the body.
Can curd cheese be on a diet?
Since many curd cheeses are high in calories, their use during the diet is undesirable. Nevertheless, in small quantities, curd cheese can be included in the diet, but not daily and in the morning. And if you combine such cheese with fiber-rich foods (vegetables, grain bread), then you can neutralize the high fat content. Among the curd cheeses there are low-fat and low-fat varieties. They are recommended to be used when dieting.
Cream cheese for weight loss
Cream cheese contains many of the beneficial properties of regular cheeses and even has some advantages. For example, it has less cholesterol, the product is completely absorbed by the body. Of the minuses, we note an increased sodium content and the presence of citric acid in the composition, therefore, people with diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal problems should better refrain from consuming processed cheese. It is also necessary to remember that this product is quite high-calorie, so it is advisable to exclude it from the diet when losing weight. Is it possible to eat processed cheese on a diet?
There are cheese diets, including processed cheese. For example, in the “5 processed cheeses” diet, processed cheese is a key component in conjunction with dry white wine. It is quite possible to lose 5 kg in 5 days, but not everyone can use this diet. In particular, the diet is contraindicated in people with diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, as well as addicted to alcohol.
Sausage Cheese Information
Is it possible to eat sausage cheese on a diet? Despite the fact that the calorie content of sausage cheese is slightly lower than that of its hard counterparts, this product contains many different additives, so doctors recommend abandoning it during the diet. The smallest servings of high-quality sausage cheese will not hurt the figure, but since it is now extremely difficult to find a product of natural production, the question arises of its usefulness in principle, not to mention dietary nutrition.
Russian cheese
One of the most popular and sought-after semi-hard cheese varieties in our country is Russian cheese. It is very useful, and its moderate consumption favorably affects the entire body. Can Russian cheese be on a diet?
Relatively high fat content and calorie content do not allow attributing Russian cheese to dietary products, and therefore, anyone who wants to lose weight should not include it in the daily menu. But you shouldn’t refuse it at all: if you use Russian cheese every other day for 1-2 slices, then this will only contribute to weight loss. True, this must be done during the period of active natural metabolism, i.e., for breakfast or afternoon snack.
Is cheese allowed to eat at night?
Since cheese is a high-calorie product, which takes time to assimilate, the question arises: is it possible to cheese at night with a diet? Most experts respond negatively and advises eating cheese in the morning. However, if hunger keeps you awake, you can eat a piece of tofu. This low-calorie product contains high-quality protein, helps to quickly get enough, and most importantly - does not harm the figure.
Summarize
We will draw key conclusions on the question of whether it is possible to eat cheese on a diet? This product is acceptable when losing weight, moreover, there are special cheese diets.
When choosing cheese, two characteristics must be considered: fat content and calorie content. Fat content should not exceed 20%, calorie content should be in the range of 200-250 Kcal. If the indicators are greater, then consumption should be minimal - 1-2 pieces per day, or better every other day. When dieting, it is recommended to use light varieties of feta cheese, ricotta, tofu, mozzarella, feta, brie and Adyghe cheese. The taste characteristics of these cheeses are different, so everyone can choose the most suitable option for themselves. And, of course, do not forget about physical activity. Moderate nutrition and sports are the key to a successful result.