Parmesan Nutrition Benefits and Facts

Nutritional summary

Parmesan is a lower-lactose dairy option because the aging process naturally reduces the lactose content found in fresh milk .
Italian dietary guidelines recommend a standard portion size of 15 grams for seasoned cheeses like Parmesan, which is significantly smaller than the 25-30 gram serving suggested for fresh or semi-seasoned varieties .
Because it is a fermented and aged cheese, Parmesan is often included in specialized anti-inflammatory dietary patterns as a preferred alternative to processed cheeses .
Early research in a small crossover trial observed that Parmesan may lead to a more rapid peak in serum triglycerides (fats in the blood) shortly after consumption compared to certain other regional cheeses, though larger studies are needed to confirm this effect .

Interesting fact

Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano is often referred to as the 'King of Cheeses' and was famously mentioned in Boccaccio's 14th-century Decameron as being piled on a mountain of macaroni.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Calcium

EPIC

SOURCE

Protein from Amino Acids

EPIC

SOURCE

Phosphorus

EPIC

SOURCE

Protein

391

kcal per 100g

Protein32.5g

Fat28.3g

Carbs4.44g

Sugar0.48g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat1.00g

Monounsat6.96g

Saturated17.8g

Trans1.14g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeKetoLow Fodmap

Sustainability

Heavier footprint

As a concentrated dairy product requiring significant milk volumes and long aging, it has a higher carbon footprint than soft cheeses.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Refrigerate

1–3 months

Wrap in parchment paper then loosely in foil to allow the cheese to breathe.

Airtight Container

2–4 weeks

Best for pre-grated varieties to prevent drying out.

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 4 validated sources

French Food Database

1 contributing source food

Swiss Food Database

1 contributing source food

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

USDA

USDA FoodData Central

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Postprandial Inflammatory and Metabolic Responses Induced by Authentic Mytilinis Cheese: A Preliminary, Crossover, Nutritional Intervention in Healthy Adults - PMC

[5]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Considerations for the translation of nutrient recommendations as dietary plans for infants, children, and adolescents as reported in Italian Guidelines for healthy eating - PMC

[6]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Anti-inflammatory diet and inflammatory bowel disease - PMC - NIH

[7]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

From Evidence to Practice: A Narrative Framework for Integrating the Mediterranean Diet into Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management

[9]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

37.7

Version

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