Cheese is an popular part of the American diet. It can be used to top sandwiches, burgers, salads and pasta dishes, all the while adding important nutrients. Pepper Jack is a mildly spicy variety of cheese that uses a hint of jalapeno to give it a kick. Pepper jack is popular in Mexican foods, such as quesadillas, enchiladas and nachos. It is available in many grocery store chains, in full-fat and reduced-fat varieties.
Calories
According to the CalorieKing.com nutritional database, regular pepper jack cheese contains 100 calories per ounce. Since 1 oz. is about the slice of a small slice of cheese for a sandwich or one small cube, the calories in pepper jack can really add up. Cabot Cheese, which makes reduced-fat pepper jack cheese states that 1 oz. of reduced-fat pepper jack cheese has only 70 calories.
Fat
Dietary fat is necessary for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and the creation of hormones in the body, but eating too much dietary fat can contribute to weight gain and heart problems. Regular, full-fat pepper jack cheese has 8g of fat per ounce, according to CalorieKing.com. Reduced-fat pepper jack has only 4.5g of total fat, according to Cabot Cheese. Reduced-fat cheese also has less saturated fat, which is a the type of fat that is unhealthy for the heart.
Protein
According to the nutritional database CalorieKing.com, there are 6 g of protein in each ounce of regular pepper jack cheese. Reduced fat cheese actually has more, with 8 g per ounce, according to Cabot Cheese. Protein is important because it helps to contribute to a feeling of fullness. The Harvard School of Public Health also states that protein can contribute to weight loss, because people tend to eat less when their meals and snacks are rich in protein.
Carbohydrates
Cheese is naturally free of dietary carbohydrates. Therefore, regular pepper jack cheese has no carbohydrates. Cabot Cheese states that reduced-fat cheese has less than 1g of carbohydrates per serving, which comes from some of the additives put in the cheese to maintain consistency.
Calcium
Calcium is a mineral that strengthens the bones and teeth. Cheese is known for its calcium content, and all dairy products contain calcium. Whether it is regular or reduced fat, cheese contains about the same amount of calcium per ounce, which is 200mg, or 20 percent of an adult's daily recommended calcium intake, according to CalorieKing.com.
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