The Nutrition In Colby Cheese

Colby cheese is named after Colby, Wisconsin. This cheese is vaguely similar to cheddar but tastes sweeter and has a less crumbly texture. It is lower in lactose than other hard cheeses because the curds are washed with water, which removes stray traces of lactose that remain behind. It does not store well and should be eaten promptly after purchase.

Calories and Fat

One ounce of colby cheese has 112 calories and 9.1 g of fat, 5.73 g of which are saturated fats. Like other foods high in saturated fat, colby cheese is also high in cholesterol, with 1 oz. of cheese having 27 mg cholesterol.The cholesterol content is 13.5 percent of the 200-mg limit suggested for people who have high cholesterol.

The calorie count of this food is not particularly high as it is roughly comparable to two navel oranges. However, you can't count on Colby cheese to fill you up because it has no fiber.

Protein

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that people consume 0.8 g of protein for every kg of body weight. This means that a 160-lb. adult needs approximately 64 g of protein. With 6.74 g protein, 1 oz. of Colby would satisfy 10.5 percent of a 160-lb. adult's daily protein requirement. The Harvard School of Public Health recommends getting protein from foods low in saturated fat. Soy cheeses might be a better alternative than Colby as they are a good, low-fat source of protein.

Sodium

A 1-oz. serving of Colby cheese has 171 mg of sodium. The Harvard School of Public Health recommends that people limit their consumption of sodium to 1,500 mg per day. Heeding this limitation is difficult because eating a 1 oz. of Colby accounts for 11 percent of a day's allotment of sodium. Eating 1 oz. of this cheese on two slices of wheat bread brings the total sodium to 431 mg, or 28 percent of a day's recommended limit.

Vitamins and Minerals

Cheese is considered a nutrient-dense food, as it contains far more nutrients than an equal volume of the milk that it is made from. A 1-oz. serving provides 194 mg calcium -- or slightly more than 19 percent of the recommended daily allowance, or RDA. This serving also 0.106 mg of riboflavin, which amounts to approximately 8.5 percent of the RDA. It provides trace amounts of vitamin D and no vitamin C.