In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleHow to ChooseFresh MozzarellaSwissRicottaMascarponeCottage Cheese
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
How to Choose
Fresh Mozzarella
Swiss
Ricotta
Mascarpone
Cottage Cheese
When people are told toreduce their sodium intake, cheese often tops the laundry list of foods to avoid. And while it is true that there are certain varieties of cheese that, while utterly delicious, are packed with salt, some cheeses can easily fit into a low-sodium diet, thanks to their lower sodium content. If you were told to limit your sodium intake but can’t live without the satisfying goodness that is cheese, here are some tips on how to choose a low-sodium cheese, as well as five dietitian-approved lower-sodium cheeses that you can enjoy in moderation.
Delicious Low-Sodium Recipes
How to Choose a Healthy Low-Sodium Cheese
The trick to including cheese in your low-sodium or heart-healthy diet is knowing which cheeses are made with less salt. Trying to find cheeses that are completely sodium free will leave you empty-handed, as salt is a necessary addition for preventing the growth of potentially harmful pathogens in our beloved dairy product, while also enhancing the flavor. But to the delight of many cheese lovers who are limiting their sodium intake, some cheese varieties contain far less added salt than others.
One of the best ways to navigate your lower-sodium cheese selection is to read the nutrition label on your cheese package and make sure that the sodium content is on the lower side. It is recommended that adults eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, with certain experts suggesting an even lower intake (closer to 1,500 mg), especially if you have high blood pressure, kidney disease or other health conditions where eating too much salt can do harm.
Some varieties of cheese can contain a lot of salt, making you reach your sodium quota rather quickly. For instance, a 1/4 cup of feta cheese contains 428 mg of sodium, which is almost one-third of the 1,500 mg limit for people with certain conditions.It’s not that you can’t enjoy saltier cheeses like feta, but it does mean you’ll want to cut back on how much salt you sprinkle on the rest of your dish.
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One thing to keep in mind: Cheese also contains saturated fat, a nutrient that people with heart disease and diabetes still need to keep in mind when making food choices. While some of these lower-sodium picks limit salt, you’ll still need to watch your saturated fat intake. There is a bit of a silver lining on this topic, though. There is some research that suggests that because dairy has varying types of saturated fats (not all saturated fats are created equal), it might not have as large of a negative effect on cardiovascular disease risk as once thought.
Saturated fat aside, if you’re looking to switch to low-sodium cheeses, here are five to include in your diet.
1. Fresh Mozzarella
There is nothing quite like taking a bite of creamy freshmozzarella cheesein yourCaprese Sandwichor on top of your fresh veggie salad. And if you are trying to eat less sodium, enjoying this cheese will only set you back 85 mg of sodium per ounce, making it one of the best choices among the cheese options.Try fresh mozzarella cheese inCaprese Stuffed Portobello Mushroomsor aRoasted Bell Pepper Salad with Mozzarella & Basil.
It’s important to note that more processed mozzarella varieties that are often presliced or shredded are typically higher in sodium to inhibit spoilage. The softer mozzarella that is sold in liquid is the variety you want to stick to if you are shooting for a lower-sodium option.
2. Swiss Cheese
Mushroom-Swiss Turkey Burgersare a delicious way to enjoy Swiss cheese as a part of your reduced-sodium diet.
3. Ricotta Cheese
Whether you love iton top of toast, as an ingredient in your lasagna or as an addition to your sandwich, ricotta cheese is one of the most delicious and versatile cheeses out there. And with only 136 mg of sodium per half-cup of cheese, you can enjoy your favorite ricotta cheese dishes knowing that you aren’t overloading your body with too much salt (as long as the other ingredients used are low in sodium as well).Eggplant Lasagna RollsandFig & Ricotta Overnight Oatsare two unique ways to include ricotta cheese in your diet. Of course, anold-school classic lasagnacan fit the bill as well.
4. Mascarpone Cheese
Creamy, buttery mascarpone cheese may be relatively high in fat, but it only contains 15 mg of sodium per tablespoon of cheese.And since a little bit of this cheese goes a long way, many people need just a light spread or a dollop to feel satisfied. To enjoy this softer cheese, try these recipes forMascarpone & Berries ToastandCreamy Spinach Pastato get your mascarpone fix.
5. No-Sodium-Added Cottage Cheese
If you are on team cottage cheese, rejoice in knowing that some varieties of this cheese are relatively low in sodium. Low-fat, no-sodium-added cottage cheese typically contains about 29 mg of sodium per cup, but check the Nutrition Facts label on your favorite brand.Regular cottage cheese usually contains a lot of sodium, which is why you want to opt for those that list “no sodium added” or “no salt added” on the label.
Cottage Cheese Saladis a unique way to add this cheese to your diet. Of course, you can always top your cottage cheese with mixed fruit for a classic combo.
The Bottom Line
If you enjoy cheese but are looking to eat lower-sodium versions, there are several delicious low-sodium cheese options that will honor any cheese craving. They also deliver necessary nutrition, like protein and calcium, making these low-sodium cheeses a healthy choice.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, feta.Zhang M, Dong X, Huang Z, et al.Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies.Adv Nutr. 2023;14(5):1170-1186. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.06.007Mozaffarian D.Dairy foods, obesity, and metabolic health: The role of the food matrix compared with single nutrients.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):917S-923S. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz053Yan Q, Zhang T, O’Connor C, et al.The biological responses of vitamin K2: A comprehensive review.Food Sci Nutr. 2023;11(4):1634-1656. doi:10.1002/fsn3.3213Giosuè A, Calabrese I, Vitale M, Riccardi G, Vaccaro O.Consumption of dairy foods and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.Nutrients. 2022;14(4):831. doi:10.3390/nu14040831U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Fresh mozzarella cheese.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, Swiss.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, ricotta, whole-milk.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Mascarpone.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, low-fat, low-sodium.
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, feta.Zhang M, Dong X, Huang Z, et al.Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies.Adv Nutr. 2023;14(5):1170-1186. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.06.007Mozaffarian D.Dairy foods, obesity, and metabolic health: The role of the food matrix compared with single nutrients.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):917S-923S. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz053Yan Q, Zhang T, O’Connor C, et al.The biological responses of vitamin K2: A comprehensive review.Food Sci Nutr. 2023;11(4):1634-1656. doi:10.1002/fsn3.3213Giosuè A, Calabrese I, Vitale M, Riccardi G, Vaccaro O.Consumption of dairy foods and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.Nutrients. 2022;14(4):831. doi:10.3390/nu14040831U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Fresh mozzarella cheese.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, Swiss.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, ricotta, whole-milk.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Mascarpone.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, low-fat, low-sodium.
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, feta.Zhang M, Dong X, Huang Z, et al.Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies.Adv Nutr. 2023;14(5):1170-1186. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.06.007Mozaffarian D.Dairy foods, obesity, and metabolic health: The role of the food matrix compared with single nutrients.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):917S-923S. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz053Yan Q, Zhang T, O’Connor C, et al.The biological responses of vitamin K2: A comprehensive review.Food Sci Nutr. 2023;11(4):1634-1656. doi:10.1002/fsn3.3213Giosuè A, Calabrese I, Vitale M, Riccardi G, Vaccaro O.Consumption of dairy foods and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.Nutrients. 2022;14(4):831. doi:10.3390/nu14040831U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Fresh mozzarella cheese.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, Swiss.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, ricotta, whole-milk.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Mascarpone.U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, low-fat, low-sodium.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, feta.
Zhang M, Dong X, Huang Z, et al.Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies.Adv Nutr. 2023;14(5):1170-1186. doi:10.1016/j.advnut.2023.06.007
Mozaffarian D.Dairy foods, obesity, and metabolic health: The role of the food matrix compared with single nutrients.Adv Nutr. 2019;10(5):917S-923S. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz053
Yan Q, Zhang T, O’Connor C, et al.The biological responses of vitamin K2: A comprehensive review.Food Sci Nutr. 2023;11(4):1634-1656. doi:10.1002/fsn3.3213
Giosuè A, Calabrese I, Vitale M, Riccardi G, Vaccaro O.Consumption of dairy foods and cardiovascular disease: A systematic review.Nutrients. 2022;14(4):831. doi:10.3390/nu14040831
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Fresh mozzarella cheese.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, Swiss.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, ricotta, whole-milk.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Mascarpone.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Cheese, cottage, low-fat, low-sodium.
