Cheese Calories

Cheese contains fat and protein, with a very low percentage of calories from carbohydrates. A dairy product, the nutritional value of cheese is similar to that of milk, although cheese has greater calorie density. The ratio of fat to protein depends on the type of cheese, the animal from which the milk was derived, and whether it was made from full-fat or skim milk. On the calorie chart below, high-fat cheeses are indicated by a greater number of calories per ounce, or by a smaller serving size. Cheese is divided into several categories like fresh versus ripened, meaning the cheese undergoes an aging process of weeks to years. It is also classified by texture (in other words, moisture content): soft, semi-soft, and hard. In general, a ripened cheese such as Parmesan is more calorie dense than a fresh variety like cottage cheese. Processed products like American cheese contain a mix of milk fats, whey, cheese cultures, food coloring, and chemical emulsifiers; these are easily spotted by the long list of ingredients in the nutrition facts. Compared to natural cheeses, the processed kind can contain more sodium and saturated fat.