Goat Cheese: Nutrition, Benefits and Recipe Ideas (2024)

Goat cheese is a nutritious dairy product that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. Its lower levels of lactose make it a better choice for people with an intolerance to cow’s milk.

Creamy and distinct in flavor, goat cheese is a dairy product enjoyed around the world.

Goat cheese comes in a wide variety of flavors and textures, from soft and spreadable fresh cheese to salty, crumbly aged cheese.

Although it’s made using the same coagulation and separation process as cheese made from cow’s milk, goat cheese differs in nutrient content.

Additionally, goat cheese is digested differently than cow’s milk and is a hypoallergenic alternative for those allergic to cheese made from cow’s milk.

This article explains the nutritional benefits of goat cheese and provides creative ways to add this delicious cheese to your diet.

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Goat cheese, also known as chèvre, refers to any cheese made from goat’s milk. It is available in many forms including fresh cheese logs, aged cheddar and even brie.

The nutritional content of goat cheese varies depending on the processing method used, such as aging or curing.

All types of goat cheese contain nutrients that are beneficial to your health such as healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.

Although the recommended serving size for goat cheese is small, eating just one ounce (28 grams) provides impressive amounts of nutrients.

A one-ounce (28-gram) serving of soft-style goat cheese provides (1):

• Calories: 102
• Protein: 6 grams
• Fat: 8 grams
• Vitamin A: 8% of the RDI
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the RDI
• Calcium: 8% of the RDI
• Phosphorus: 10% of the RDI
• Copper: 8% of the RDI
• Iron: 3% of the RDI

It’s also a good source of selenium, magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3).

A serving of goat cheese delivers 6 grams of filling protein along with a powerful combination of calcium, phosphorus and copper — nutrients that are essential for healthy bones (2).

Plus, goat cheese provides healthy fats, including medium-chain fatty acids, that can improve satiety and benefit weight loss (3).

What’s more, goat’s milk contains more medium-chain fatty acids than cow’s milk. These are rapidly broken down and absorbed by the body and are less likely to be stored as fat (4).

Certain fats found in goat’s milk may promote health in other ways, as well.

For example, goat’s milk contains capric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that has been shown to possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Test-tube and animal studies have found that capric acid is effective in combating P. acnes, a type of bacteria that increases inflammation and can be involved in the development of acne (5).

Summary

Goat cheese is a good source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. The fatty acids found in goat’s milk have antibacterial qualities and may help increase satiety.

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that benefit your health in many ways.

Depending on the type, goat cheese can contain a wide variety of probiotics including L. acidophilus and L. plantarum (6).

Diets rich in probiotics have been shown to promote digestive health, reduce inflammation and boost immunity (7).

Interestingly, cheese is a superior carrier of probiotics due to its high fat content and hard texture, which provides protection for the bacteria.

It has been found that cheese protects probiotics during the digestion process, allowing greater numbers to be delivered to the gut where the bacteria contribute to health (8).

Summary

Certain types of goat cheese contain beneficial bacteria called probiotics.

Many people find that switching from cow’s milk products to those made from goat’s milk is easier on their digestive system.

This is because goat milk products, including cheese, have a different protein structure than cow’s milk products. They are also naturally lower in lactose.

Lactose is the main carbohydrate in milk produced by mammals.

It is estimated that up to 70% of the world’s population has trouble digesting lactose, which causes symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea (9).

Experts suggest that most people with lactose malabsorption can consume a small amount (up to around 12 grams) of lactose before experiencing digestive symptoms (10).

Since goat milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk, products made from goat’s milk, including yogurt and cheese, may be a better choice for those with lactose intolerance.

However, those with lactose intolerance should keep in mind that softer cheeses contain more lactose than hard, aged cheeses, regardless of what milk the cheese is made from.

Goat milk also has lower levels of A1 casein than cow’s milk, a type of protein which may cause milk sensitivity symptoms in some people by causing inflammation in the gut (11, 12).

Goat milk products contain mostly A2 casein, a type of protein that has been shown to be less allergenic and less inflammatory than the A1 variety.

For example, a study in 45 people with lactose intolerance found that drinking milk containing A1 casein caused digestive distress and increased markers of inflammation.

When these people switched to milk containing only A2 casein, digestive symptoms were not aggravated and intestinal inflammation improved significantly (13).

Summary

Goat cheese has less lactose and significantly less A1 casein than cow’s milk, which makes it a better choice for those intolerant to dairy products made from cow’s milk.

Goat milk contains a unique fatty acid profile that has been associated with several health benefits.

For example, dairy products made from goat’s milk have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties and may even help decrease hunger.

Goat’s milk is higher in short- and medium-chain fatty acids than cow’s milk. In particular, goat’s milk contains high amounts of the medium-chain fatty acids capric acid and caprylic acid.

These fatty acids are digested rapidly, providing an immediate source of energy which leads to increased feelings of satiety.

A study in 33 adults demonstrated that consuming a goat milk-based breakfast containing goat cheese significantly reduced the desire to eat and resulted in decreased ratings of hunger compared to a cow’s milk-based breakfast (14).

Reducing hunger and increasing fullness are important factors that can help promote weight loss.

Aside from increasing fullness, studies have shown that goat’s milk products may help reduce inflammation in your body.

One study found that compared to donkey milk, goat milk significantly decreased levels of the inflammatory proteins interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 in healthy elderly people (15).

Summary

Products made from goat milk, including cheese, may help increase fullness and decrease feelings of hunger, which could promote weight loss.

In addition to its numerous health benefits, goat cheese makes a delicious addition to many dishes.

Since the cheese differs in taste depending on variety, purchasing a milder cheese that can be incorporated into a wide variety of recipes may be your best choice.

Here are some creative ways to add goat cheese to your diet:

• Crumble soft goat cheese onto fresh greens as a creamy and satisfying salad topper.
• Spread goat cheese on toast along with avocado, sautéed vegetables and eggs for a winning breakfast combination.
• Fill mini tarts with whipped goat cheese and sliced fig for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
• Top your favorite crackers with goat cheese and sliced apples for a tasty snack.
• Stuff chicken breasts with goat cheese and fresh herbs, then roast in the oven for a dinner the whole family will enjoy.
• Add goat cheese to your favorite quiche or frittata recipe.
• Combine goat cheese with cooked oatmeal, then top with sweet or savory ingredients such as fruit or vegetables.
• Fill peppers with cooked quinoa, vegetables and goat cheese before roasting or grilling.
• Swap mozzarella or ricotta for goat cheese when making homemade pizza or flatbread.
• Make an omelet with goat cheese, mushrooms and fresh herbs.
• Add goat cheese to mashed potatoes for a unique flavor.
• Use goat cheese in place of heavy cream or butter when making soups to add texture and flavor.
• Combine whipped goat cheese with a bit of honey and serve with sliced fruit for a healthier dessert.

As you can see, goat cheese can be added to many recipes.

Aside from being adaptable, goat cheese is a safe choice to use when cooking for friends and family intolerant to cow’s milk products.

Summary

Goat cheese can be added to both sweet and savory dishes to enhance flavor and texture. It has a wide variety of uses and is a delicious addition to many recipes.

Goat cheese is a nutritious dairy product that is packed with vitamins, minerals and healthy fats.

Eating goat cheese may benefit your health in several ways, including increasing satiety and reducing inflammation.

Plus, its protein structure and lower levels of lactose make it a better choice for people with an intolerance to cow’s milk.

Stocking this versatile ingredient in your kitchen can ensure that you always have a unique and delicious ingredient to incorporate into both sweet and savory dishes.