When you first learn about how good the keto diet is and suddenly think of your favorite food, cheese, you may worry. Is cheese keto friendly? I can tell you some good news! Cheese is great for a ketogenic diet! But what kinds of cheese should you choose? Let’s dive in!
What Is Keto Diet?
Keto diet is a short form of ketogenic diet. It is a high fat, moderate protein and low carb diet.
The aim of intaking much less carb (sugar) is to break down fat as the main source of energy. The principle is that when the body lacks sugar to provide energy, it will start to break down fat as the main source of energy. This process is called ketosis, hence the name of the ketogenic diet.
This style of diet helps burn fat and so it has become a popular weight loss method. Also, many studies show that it can improve health by reducing the level of blood sugar and insulin. It may even help against diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
► Read More: What & How Cheese Is Made? | Cheese Beginner’s Guide
► Read More: 23 Types of Cheese Must To Know | From Soft to Hard
Is Cheese Keto Friendly?
We’re glad to say that cheese is keto-FRIENDLY!
Cheese is a very nice kind of food for the ketogenic diet. It is a very good source of fat and protein with low carb content. There is only 3.2 g of carbohydrate per 100 g of cheese. That’s why cheese is keto-friendly. Check the complete nutrition facts of cheese below:
| Per 1 oz (28 g) | Per 100 g | |
| Calories | 113 | 403 |
| Total fat | 9.3 g | 33.2 g |
| Protein | 6.4 g | 22.9 g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0.9 g | 3.2 g |
| Cholestrol | 28 mg | 100 mg |
| Sodium | 183 mg | 654 mg |
| Potassium | 21 mg | 75 mg |
► Read More: Is Cheese Healthy or Unhealthy? | Which Cheese Is Healthy?
What Kinds of Cheese Is Keto Friendly?
But do note that the above nutrition facts are just about the cheese on average. They may vary from different kinds of cheese. The highly processed cheese and the flavored cheese are added with some additives. This may increase the net carb content. Therefore, remember to check the nutrition labels beforehand. Also, cottage cheese is low in fat and relatively high in carb, not a good choice for a ketogenic diet.
Better to choose plain cheese for a keto diet. Cheddar, Gouda, Parmesan, goat cheese, cream cheese and blue cheese are keto-friendly. Here is the short list of best and worst kinds of cheese for a keto diet:
| ✅ Cheddar ✅ Gouda ✅ Parmesan ✅ Mozzarella ✅ Goat Cheese ✅ Cream Cheese ✅ Provolone ✅ Brie Cheese ✅ Camembert ✅ Blue Cheese | ❎ Highly Processed Cheese ❎ Flavored Cheese ❎ Cottage Cheese ❎ Feta |
► Read More: What Is Goat Cheese? Is It a Dairy? | FAQs of Goat Cheese
► Read More: 13 Types of Goat Cheese Recommended (Don’t Miss It!)
Summary
Rest assured to eat cheese when you’re on a keto diet. Pick your favorite kind of cheese from the list on the above and enjoy!
► Read More: What Is Blue Cheese? How It Is Made? | FAQs of Blue Cheese
► Read More: 11 Best Types of Blue Cheese From Mild to Sharp
