The sheep milk industry is largely located in Europe and most of the sheep's cheese sold in America is imported. Several types of cheese are made with sheep's milk and include feta, Romano and Roquefort. Adding sheep's cheese to your diet offers health benefits and some of the nutrients are available in higher amounts than cheese made from cow's milk. A serving of sheep cheese is 1 oz.
Fat and Calories
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends choosing low-fat cheese whenever possible to keep saturated fat intake low, which offers protection against heart disease. Keeping calorie intake moderate controls your weight. A serving of feta cheese has 75 calories and 6 g of fat, of which 4 g is saturated. A serving of Roquefort cheese contains 105 calories and about 9 g of fat, with about 5 g being saturated. Romano cheese contains 110 calories and about 8 g of fat per ounce, with about 5 g being saturated.
Calcium
Milk products are one of the best sources of calcium in American diets. Sheep cheese contains calcium in varying amounts, depending on the variety. Getting adequate amounts of calcium in your diet is important for strong bones and teeth and adults should get 1,000 to 1,200 mg each day. An ounce of feta cheese contains 140 mg of calcium, an ounce of Roquefort has 188 mg and an ounce of Romano weighs in with 302 mg.
Vitamin A
The daily recommendations for vitamin A intake for adults ranges from 2,310 IU to 3,000 IU. An ounce of feta cheese contains 120 IU, Roquefort contains 297 IU per ounce and a serving of Romano has 118 IU. Vitamin A is a nutrient that supports immunity by making white blood cells that fight infections, bacteria and viruses that could make you sick. It also supports healthy vision, bones and reproduction. Vitamin A is also considered an antioxidant, which means that it fights the free radical damage that could lead to the development of cancer and heart disease.
Protein
Eating sheep cheese is a healthy way to increase your protein intake when consumed in moderate amounts. Protein is important for the cells in your body and repairs and replaces them as needed. It also supports healthy skin, hair, nails and muscles. Aim to get 10 to 35 percent of your daily calories from protein, which equates to 50 to 175 g each day for a 2,000-calorie diet. An ounce of feta cheese has 4 g of protein, an ounce of Roquefort has 6 g and an ounce of Romano contains 9 g.
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