Goat cheese has a chemical profile that makes it favorable for people who suffer from aversions to dairy products made from cow's milk. Goat cheese contains less lactose than cow's milk and cheese, and contains smaller fat globules, which make the cheese easier to digest. A serving of goat cheese generally contains fewer harmful substances than a typical brand of cow's cheese, while providing similar, if not more, vitamin and mineral content.
Low in Calories
A 1-oz. serving of a typical brand of goat cheese contains 70 calories, 45 of which are from fat. A 1-oz. serving of a typical brand of cheddar cheese, however, contains 110 calories and 80 from fat. If you substitute a serving of goat cheese for cheddar each day for a week, you will cut nearly 300 calories from your diet.
Low in Fat and Cholesterol
Substituting goat cheese for cheddar can help you limit your intake of fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Goat cheese contains just 5 g of fat per 1-oz. serving, while cheddar cheese contains 9 g. Similarly, goat cheese contains half the saturated fat with 3 g per serving, compared to the 6 g of cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese contains 25 mg of cholesterol per serving, while goat cheese contains none.
Low Sodium
Excess sodium in the diet can result in increased blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association advises limiting sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day to prevent these harmful effects. Goat cheese contains 65 mg of sodium per 1-oz. serving, while a serving of cheddar cheese contains 170 mg.
Sufficient Protein
Goat cheese does not contain as much protein as cheddar, but still provides an adequate amount of this nutrient to help you meet your daily needs. A serving of goat cheese contains 4 g of protein, while cheddar cheese contains 7 g. Most Americans over the age of 4 have no trouble consuming plenty of protein in their diets and nutrition labels generally do no provide daily values for this nutrient.
Vitamins and Minerals
Goat cheese is higher in vitamins, D, K, thiamine and niacin than a serving of cow's cheese. A serving of goat cheese has the same amount of vitamin A as cheddar cheese, with 6 percent the daily value. Goat cheese is also high in the B vitamin riboflavin, as well as the mineral phosphorous. The body cannot produce vitamins and minerals on its own, so goat cheese provides a source of these micronutrients.
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