Yes, string cheese is ok to eat for weight loss, primarily because it’s high in protein and fat. These nutrients promote a sense of fullness, helping to curb hunger for an extended period.
This can be particularly beneficial for those who tend to snack frequently.
Opting for a high-fat snack like string cheese, instead of reaching for a bag of chips or candy, can be a smarter choice. Chips and candy don’t really satiate you and often lead to further snacking.
However, it’s important to note that, like all cheeses, string cheese is also high in calories and sodium.
Therefore, it’s advisable to consume it in moderation, ideally limiting it to 1 – 2 sticks as a snack. Why is it important to limit the intake? I’ll delve into this in more detail in the article.
Note that I won’t be talking about any health benefits of string cheese, so if you were here for that this post isn’t for you. This article is strictly about string cheese and losing weight.
As per the USDA 1 stick of mozzarella string cheese contains the following nutrients.
Serving Size: 1 stick (28 g)
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Calories: 85
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Carbohydrates: 1.3g
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Fat: 5.8g
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Protein: 6.7g
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Fiber: 0g
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Sugars: 0.5g
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Sodium: 198mg
If you’re looking for a long list of how string cheese helps with weight loss, you might not find what you’re expecting. I see just one main benefit to it:
Yep. The only benefit of string cheese for weight loss lies in its high protein and fat content. Often, the word ‘fat’ is perceived negatively, but it’s important to consider the type of fat.
String cheese, with its significant protein and fat content, can actually promote a feeling of fullness. Indeed, studies have shown that protein and fat can activate satiety hormones.
Protein increases the levels of satiety hormones such as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), PYY (peptide YY), and CCK (cholecystokinin).
Fat, on the other hand, digests more slowly, delaying the body’s release of hunger hormones. This means that after consuming high-fat food like string cheese, you’re likely to feel less hungry compared to eating high-carb foods like a muffin.
Also Read: Is Mac and Cheese Good For Weight Loss?
There are actually more downsides of string cheese than the benefits. But these downsides can be managed as long as you eat it in moderation. So here are the downsides.
While a single stick of string cheese contains only 85 calories, it’s easy to overindulge, especially if you’re sitting in front of the TV watching Netflix. You might find yourself consuming more than intended, perhaps 4 or 5 sticks.
The issue here is that without moderation, these calories can quickly accumulate. When aiming for weight loss, it’s essential to maintain a caloric deficit, meaning you should consume fewer calories than your body requires to maintain its current weight.
For instance, if your body needs 2000 calories to maintain its weight, you might aim for around 1700 calories.
Staying in a caloric deficit requires careful attention to your intake. So, it’s not that the calories in string cheese are problematic on their own; the concern is that the calories can add up without careful moderation.
High sodium content can temporarily cause you to gain weight and look all bloated and puffy. This is because when you consume too much sodium, your body holds onto more water.
This happens because your body tries to keep a balance between the salt and water levels. So, if there’s a lot of salt, you need more water to balance it out.
Your kidneys, which usually get rid of extra water, start holding onto it instead. This extra water in your body can make you weigh more.
It’s not fat, just extra water that your body is keeping because of the excess sodium intake.
String cheese contains approximately 3.3 grams of saturated fats per serving, which is about 17% of the recommended daily limit.
Saturated fat is known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
While this isn’t directly linked to weight loss, it’s crucial to consider overall health, especially if you have existing heart issues or hypertension, where your arteries may already be inflamed.
Consuming foods high in saturated fat could further jeopardize your health.
When your health is compromised, it becomes more challenging to adhere to a weight loss routine. Therefore, it could indirectly affect your weight loss efforts.
Also Read: Is Pepperoni Good For Weight Loss?
| Type of Cheese | Calories | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Calcium (%DV) | Sodium (%DV) |
| String Cheese | 85 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 20% | |
| Mozzarella [1] | 85 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 11% | 6% |
| Blue Cheese [2] | 100 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 12% | 14% |
| Feta [3] | 75 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 11% | 14% |
| Cottage Cheese [4] | 23 | 3 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.3% | 4% |
| Ricotta [5] | 42 | 2 | 2.9 | 2 | 4.5% | 1.4% |
| Parmesan [6] | 111 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 26% | 15% |
| Swiss Cheese [7] | 111 | 8 | 9 |