Although some dairy products like milk and yogurt are high in carbs, the fermentation process required to produce cheese significantly reduces the amount of carbohydrates it contains to make it suitable for a low-carb diet. If you are also trying to increase your protein intake, some types of cheeses may be better options to add to your low-carb high-protein diet to help you meet your macronutrient goals.
Highest Protein Content
Cheese with a low moisture content tends to contain more protein per serving. Parmesan cheese has the highest protein content of all all cheeses, with 10 grams of protein per ounce. Most other cheeses contain an average of 6 to 7 grams of protein per ounce, whether you choose cheddar, Brie, Gouda, blue cheese or mozzarella. Don't rely on cheese spreads, cottage cheese and ricotta cheese to boost your protein intake because these foods have some of the lowest protein content, with less than 3 grams of protein per ounce.
Lowest Carb Content
The longer a cheese is aged, the lower its carbohydrate content will be. During the aging process, the bacteria ferment the carbohydrates found in milk to produce cheese. Avoid fresh cheeses, which still contain a significant portion of the carbohydrates naturally found in milk. The same cheeses that are high in protein also have the lowest carbohydrate content. For example, Brie and goat cheese have 0.3 grams of carbs per ounce. Blue cheese and cheddar cheese have around 0.4 grams of carbs per ounce, and Parmesan cheese has about 0.9 grams in the same serving size. Foods containing less than 1 gram of carbohydrates per serving are considered to be very low in carbs.
Cheeses To Avoid
To help you meet your goals in terms of macronutrient ratios, avoid cheese spreads, cream cheese, cottage cheese and ricotta cheese. These cheeses contain less than 3 grams of protein per ounce, which is less than half of what is found in most cheeses. Even though their carbohydrate content is still low, at about 1 gram per ounce, many people consume them in larger amounts, which could add up to a significant amount of carbohydrates. For example, although 1 cup of cottage cheese contains 14 grams of protein, it also contains almost 10 grams of carbohydrates.
High-Protein Low-Carb Cheesy Ideas
Cheese is a good food to add to your diet to increase your protein intake without affecting your carb intake. For example, you can melt a slice or two of cheddar cheese over meat patties, serve your steak with a blue cheese sauce or add grated cheese to your chicken salad. Try adding grated Parmesan to mashed cauliflower for a tasty high-protein low-carb substitute for mashed potatoes. You can also sprinkle Parmesan cheese over steamed broccoli or add mozzarella cheese to your morning vegetable omelet.
- New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great; Eric C. Westman, Stephen D. Phinney and Jeff S. Volek
- USDA: National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
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