Which cheeses are the richest in calcium?

If it does not always have a good reputation, in reality, cheese turns out to be a major health ally. Its biggest asset? Its content of calcium ! But not all cheeses are created equal…

Cheese, a super source of calcium

Calcium is an essential mineral salt for the good health of the human body. Its benefits are numerous since calcium participates in:

• bone formation
• remineralization and consolidation of bones in adults
• formation and consolidation of teeth
• proper functioning of muscle cells
• proper functioning of nerve cells
• high blood pressure control

For good health, it is recommended to consume 950 mg per day for adults (and 1200 mg for women over 55 and men over 65). And it’s in the dairy productsand more particularly cheeses, that we find the most calcium! However, not all cheeses are equal because some have a much higher calcium content than others… Thus, during the manufacturing process – and in particular during cooking – some cheeses will see their calcium content increased because the heat, by causing the evaporation of water, will promote the concentration of calcium!

The 10 most calcium-rich cheeses

The most interesting cheeses when looking to fill up on calcium? The cooked pressed cheeses! The one who gets all the favors? Parmesan which has a maximum calcium content of 1310 mg per 100 g! One more good reason to enjoy this delicious Italian cheese on its pasta dishes, risottos, pizzas (and just regarding anything and everything!). However, Parmesan cheese does not rise to the top step of the podium in our ranking because we were interested in average calcium levels (and not maximum). It is Gruyère – with an average content of 1090 mg of calcium per 100 g – which steals the 1^re place ! And for good reason: a single serving of Gruyère cheese (30g) is enough to cover 30% of the recommended daily requirement (RDA)!

According to their average calcium content¹discover the 10 Highest Calcium Cheeses :

1. Gruyère: 1090 mg of calcium per 100 g
2. County: 993 mg of calcium per 100 g
3. Parmesan: 980 mg of calcium per 100 g
4. Cow cheese: 953 mg of calcium per 100 g
5. Old mimolette: 910 mg of calcium per 100 g
6. Emmental: 898 mg of calcium per 100 g
7. Dry goat cheese: 895 mg of calcium per 100 g
8. Ingredients: 802mg of calcium per 100 g
9. Cantal in-between: 791 mg of calcium per 100 g
10. Abundance: 760 mg of calcium per 100 g

With the exception of Parmesan cheese, which does rather well, we nevertheless make sure to respect the recommended limit of 30 g to 40 g of cheese per day because – unfortunately – the highest calcium cheeses are often also the cheeses richest in fat …

1. Considered. 2020. Table of nutritional composition of Ciqual foods.

Read also:

• What are the cheeses to avoid when you are pregnant?

• Which cheese is the least calorie and the best for health?