5 Ways Eating Cheese Can Help You Lose Weight (2024)

5 Ways Eating Cheese Can Help You Lose Weight (1)

It's no secret that cheese is pretty phenomenal. In fact, according to one survey, more people would give up oral sex than would give up cheese(that is, if they had to choose). If you're trying to drop pounds, then you probably expect a lot less cheese in your future—but we have some good news for you. The dairy product can actually help you slim down—particularly if you swap it into your diet in place of higher-calorie, less-nutritious options:

Top Your Toast With Mascarpone, Not Butter
Most people have only eaten mascarpone as an ingredient tiramisu—but it's actually a great butter substitute if you just can't part with the creamy stuff. Mascarpone tastes just as rich and indulgent, but it has 62 calories per tablespoon (compared to 102 calories per tablespoon in butter). That's 40 percent fewer calories!

Spread Sandwiches With Cream Cheese, Not Mayo
Each tablespoon of full-fat mayonnaise has 94 calories and 10 grams of fat. A tablespoon of whipped cream cheese, in comparison, has 30 calories and just two and a half grams of fat. If you eat sandwiches on the regular, that can add up to some huge caloric savings.

Snack on Fresh Mozzarella, Not Potato Chips
Even if you go with a version made from whole milk, you'll still only set yourself back 85 calories if you indulge in an ounce of fresh mozzarella (many bags of potato chips come in past 200). Plus, you'll be taking in more than six grams of filling protein. In fact, in , people who ate a high-protein, moderate-calorie cheese snack ate less during their next meal. (BelGioioso Cheese also makes fresh mozzarella snacking cheese that's conveniently packaged in one-ounce, 70-calorie servings.)

Dip Crudité in Cottage Cheese, Not Hummus
One percent fat cottage cheese contains 20 calories per ounce, versus 50 per ounce for hummus—all for virtually identical amounts of protein.

MORE: Protein: Your Secret Weight-Loss Weapon

Top Fruit With Ricotta, Not Crème Fraîche
We get it—crème fraîche makes fruit feel more like a dessert. But each ounce packs 110 calories, 11 grams of fat, and just one gram of protein. Part-skim ricotta, meanwhile, contains 39 calories, two grams of fat, and three grams of protein—and it still tastes indulgent.

MORE: 7 Research-Backed Breakfast Tips for Faster Weight Loss

5 Ways Eating Cheese Can Help You Lose Weight (2)

Robin Hilmantel

Digital Director

Robin Hilmantel is the digital director at Women's Health, where she oversees the editorial strategy for WomensHealthMag.com and its social platforms. She has almost 10 years of experience writing and editing for national publications, and more than 8 years of experience writing and editing health, fitness, and nutrition content specifically. In addition to Women's Health, her work has also appeared in TIME, Food Network Magazine, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine, SELF, Glamour.com and other publications.

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5 Ways Eating Cheese Can Help You Lose Weight (2024)

FAQs

What are 5 benefits of eating cheese? ›

7 Health Benefits of Cheese
  • High in protein. One itty bitty ounce of cheese contains on average 7 grams of protein (that's 14 percent of your daily value). ...
  • Lactose-free. ...
  • Low in carbohydrates. ...
  • Lowers your risk of diabetes. ...
  • Good for your heart. ...
  • Packed with bone-healthy nutrients. ...
  • Counts as a fermented food.

Can eating cheese help with weight loss? ›

Some people are concerned that cheese is high in fat, sodium, and calories. But cheese is also an excellent source of protein, calcium, and several other nutrients. Eating cheese may even aid weight loss and help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis. However, some cheeses are more nutritious than others.

Is cheese healthy or not for weight loss? ›

Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium but is often high in saturated fat and salt. This means eating too much could lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

How can cheese fit into a healthy diet? ›

Bottom line: Although cheese is high in saturated fat and sodium, it is also rich in calcium and protein, and some fermented types contain probiotics. One can enjoy a modest amount of cheese as part of a healthful diet, but how it is eaten is key.

How much cheese per day for weight loss? ›

If you're trying to lose weight, you may think that cheese is off your list, but that's not the case. Depriving yourself of a food that you love is always a recipe for disaster. What's more, studies have shown that eating more than 3 servings of dairy per day can reduce the risk of obesity.

What 5 nutrients is cheese high in? ›

Source Of
  • Calcium.
  • Protein.
  • Phosphorus.
  • Vitamin B12.
  • Vitamin A.

Can I eat cheese at night for weight loss? ›

String cheese is a recommended night snack for weight loss. Because being a dairy product, string cheese supplies protein along with calcium. String cheese is also rich in tryptophan. But to “empty the tryptophan tank”, pair with whole-grain crackers for added fiber.

What cheese has no fat? ›

Fat-free Swiss cheese contains, as the name implies, zero grams of fat. Because of the lack of fat, this cheese variety is typically lower in calories than its full-fat counterpart as well.

Is egg good for weight loss? ›

Are eggs good for weight loss? Yes, eggs have a useful role to play in a healthy balanced diet for weight loss. Eggs are relatively low in calories (there are 66 calories in a medium size egg) and are nutrient-dense, providing high quality protein as well as a range of vitamins and minerals.

Does cheese burn belly fat? ›

Cheese variants such as Feta, low-fat cottage cheese, cheddar, swiss, and parmesan are excellent choices for weight loss, especially regarding reducing belly fat. Not only are these cheeses full of beneficial nutrients, but they also come in low-calorie servings.

What is the unhealthiest cheese? ›

The least healthiest cheese overall is Double Gloucester, which contains the highest amount of calories (415 per 100 grams) and a whopping 21.9g of saturated fat – which is more than the NHS's recommended daily saturated fat limit for women.

Does cheese stall weight loss? ›

Dairy naturally contains lactose, which is an insulin-spiking sugar that can lead to long term weight gain. The acidic nature of conventional dairy products also leads to internal inflammation, which interferes with losing weight.

Why shouldn't you eat cheese at night? ›

Strong or aged cheese, as well as preserved meats such as bacon, ham and pepperoni, contains naturally high levels of the amino acid, tyramine, which make us feel alert. Tyramine causes the adrenal gland to release the 'fight or flight' hormone, which increases alertness for a number of hours.

Is cheese good for your teeth? ›

Cheese is great for your teeth. Not only does it have high levels of phosphate and calcium, which naturally strengthen teeth and bones, but it also helps balance the pH level in your mouth, which means less harmful acid, more cleansing saliva and fewer cavities.

Is cheese healthier than meat? ›

However, newer research suggests that the saturated fat from cheese does not contribute to heart disease in the same way as saturated fat from red meats. A 2021 study found that saturated fat from cheese intake was associated with a lower incidence of heart disease. Learn about the healthiest cheeses.

What does cheese do to the human body? ›

Research has shown that dairy products like cheese can help keep you from getting cavities in your teeth. Other health benefits of cheese include: Bone and muscle health. The calcium and protein in cheese are great for building strong bones and muscle.

What are the hidden benefits of cheese? ›

Health Benefits of Cheese
  • You May Reach Your Daily Calcium Intake.
  • You May Have a Healthy Gut.
  • You Might Improve Your Oral Health.
  • You Might Have a Lower Risk of Heart Disease.
  • You Might Increase Your Sodium Intake.
  • You Might Trigger Digestive Issues (but You Might Not!)
Apr 30, 2024

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