In this short article, we will answer the question “Does cheese have carbs?” and will show you what are the low-carb cheese (most of the cheeses)
Does cheese have carbs?
Most cheeses are low in carbohydrates. In this case, that carbohydrate is lactose, present in the milk that is used for the production of cheese. However, it is important that you pay attention to some details related to some types of cheese.
Generally speaking, if you want a rule of thumb, yellower cheeses – which are aged, fatty cheeses – tend to have fewer carbs. What happens in the case of these yellow cheeses is that they are fermented longer.
And it’s this fermentation process that makes them both yellow in color and with fewer carbs. Some examples are:
- blue cheese,
- camembert cheese,
- pecorino cheese,
- canasta cheese,
- roquefort cheese,
- cheddar cheese,
- gouda cheese,
- curd cheese,
- provolone cheese,
- gruyere cheese
- Parmesan cheese,
- Edam,
- emmental cheese,
- Gorgonzola,
- grana padano cheese,
However, there are some cheeses that are not so yellow but are still low in carbohydrates.
Among them, we can mention:
- cream cheese,
- brie cheese,
- mascarpone,
- ricotta,
- cottage cheese and
- white cheese.
Despite being low in carbs, cheeses elevate insulin
Cheese tends to have a relatively high effect on insulin. So don’t be fooled into thinking only about the glycemic index. Because, even with a low glycemic index (that is, even if blood glucose does not rise very much), blood insulin levels are high when consuming cheese.
Especially for those who are just starting the diet, or for those who have insulin resistance issues, this is a big problem.