Nutrition For Low-fat String Cheese

String cheese is a form of mozzarella cheese, and can be a healthy and convenient snack. Dairy products, such as string cheese, are typically high in fat and cholesterol, but low-fat varieties have many of the nutritional benefits while limiting the risk of cardiovascular disease. Low-fat string cheese still provides the vitamins, minerals and protein of regular string cheese but about half the fat, reports the Sargento website.

Calories

A serving size of low-fat string cheese is one piece, weighing about 21g. Each piece of low-fat string cheese has 50 calories. MyPyramid.gov bases its standard dietary information on a 2,000 calorie-per-day diet, so one piece of low-fat string cheese provides 2.5 percent of the recommended caloric intake for a typical adult.

Fat

One piece of low-fat string cheese contains 2.5g of fat. About 25 of the 50 calories in a piece of low-fat string cheese are from fat, representing about 4 percent of the daily recommended value for this nutrient. Low-fat string cheese contains 1.5g of saturated fat, about 8 percent of the daily recommended value. Both fat and saturated fat are associated with cardiovascular disease, but your body does need some fat.

Cholesterol

One piece of low-fat string cheese contains 10mg of cholesterol, about 3 percent of the recommended daily allowance. Cholesterol is a substance that is both naturally produced by the body and found in many fatty foods. The body needs cholesterol to produce some vitamins and hormones, but too much cholesterol in the diet can lead to heart disease.

Sodium

Sodium is a mineral that gives food a salty and flavorful taste. Too much sodium in the diet can result in high blood pressure and an increased risk for heart disease. One piece of low-fat string cheese contains 160mg of sodium, about 7 percent of the recommended daily allowance. You should avoid consuming more than 1,500mg of sodium each day to prevent cardiovascular problems and high blood pressure.

Carbohydrate

Dairy products are typically low in carbohydrates, but low-fat string cheese contains a small amount of this nutrient. One piece of low-fat string cheese contains about 1g of carbohydrate, less than 1 percent of the recommended daily allowance. The body needs carbohydrates for energy, and you should consume between 50 and 100g per day, advises the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Protein

One piece of low-fat string cheese contains 6g of protein. Protein is broken down into amino acids that are needed to repair and regenerate damaged tissues. There is no daily recommended value for protein, but you should generally strive to consume about 0.8g of protein per 1kg. of body weight.